Meet the team.

The Institute for American Policing Reform (IAPR) is a non-partisan nonprofit organization addressing transformative change in American policing services in five pillar areas: policing laws and policies, policing accountability, community partnership in public safety, policing leadership development and police standards, education, and training. Our services to communities and governments aim to help ensure immutable regard for human dignity, inculcate servant leadership, and fortify citizens’ trust in police service across the United States. 

As we navigate the complexities of modern policing, the Institute for American Policing Reform stands at the forefront of driving meaningful, transformative change. Since its establishment, the Institute has tirelessly worked to discover what policing can be in America. Our commitment to research-informed initiatives and community-driven strategies has led to impactful outcomes for policing agencies and the communities they serve.

The journey to discover a promising pathway to policing reform is not straightforward, easy, or something that can be achieved quickly. Our experiences have reinforced that real change requires persistence, diligence, collaboration, and innovation. At IAPR, we have made significant strides by fostering inclusive dialogues, deepening trust among residents and their peace officers, and facilitating efforts to address the root causes of important public safety concerns. Our work, grounded in Five Pillars of Reform©, encourages communities to re-invest in public safety in a way that is sensitive to the rigorous and challenging role of being a peace officer and the need for residents to be confident that policing services are predictable, trustworthy, and conducted with reverence for the life and dignity of all persons.

We are proud of our accomplishments. We have published critical policy recommendations, trained police executives from throughout the United States, assisted police departments in identifying and understanding their authentic culture, and invested in facilitating a long-term and comprehensive community forum to reassert community ownership of public safety. There is still much work to be done. As we move forward, we remain committed to empowering residents and their policing agencies to work together for safer communities through trust, transparency, accountability, fairness, and equity.

In service with you for public safety,

Chief (Ret.) Nicholas A. Sensley

Our Leadership

  • KRYSTA MASCIALE

    COO

    For nearly two decades, Krysta Masciale has used strategy and storytelling to shape brands through organizational leadership and consistent messaging. After working primarily in entertainment and tech spaces including YouTube, LumaForge and B!G DEAL BRANDING, Ms. Masciale turned her professional attention to the worlds of politics and advocacy. She created and hosted the short form documentary series “Rebranding America,” and ran a 2022 Congressional campaign before beginning her work with the Institute for American Policing Reform. She has a BA in Integrated Marketing and Communications and an MA in Organizational Leadership. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.

  • ERIC LITCHFIELD

    VP (Ret.) and Executive Fellow

    Eric Litchfield is a retired police captain from the Santa Rosa Police Department in CA with over 28 years of experience. He has managed the divisions in the police department with responsibility for patrol, traffic, tactical teams, the incident management team, detectives, training, professional standards, hiring, recruiting, and promotional assessments. Captain Litchfield has extensive experience and training in personnel investigations, policy development, training development, recruiting, crowd control tactics, union contracts, and managing large-scale critical incidents. He has a BA in Sociology and is a graduate of the POST Command College Strategic Foresight program.

  • AMBER WEBER

    Director of Research, Evaluation & Assessment

    Amber Weber is a dedicated researcher with a passion for understanding the complexities of social determinants of health and human behavior. With an MPH in Behavioral Sciences and Health Education from Emory University, Ms. Weber spent five years with Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance (Georgia CTSA) designing, implementing, and conducting various evaluative research studies related to increasing health equity and access among underrepresented minority populations. Ms. Weber holds experience tracking and analyzing bibliometrics and programmatic data outcomes and outputs to develop Georgia CTSA's yearly strategic working plans. Also certified in UX Design, Ms. Weber is interested in finding novel ways to apply research design skills to identify key opportunities for improving people’s lived experiences through the development of purposeful, innovative health technology and data visualizations. She lives in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Our Board of Directors

  • LAURENCE J. HEIFETZ, MD, FACP

    Chairman of the Board

    Dr. Laurence J. Heifetz is a medical oncologist with 40 years of experience in community and academic oncology in both urban and rural settings. After completing his medical oncology fellowship at MD Anderson Hospital & Tumor Institute in Houston in 1979, he spent 23 years in private practice at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he was a founding partner of the Tower Hematology Oncology Medical Group, and an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCLA School of Medicine.

    He then moved to Truckee, CA as Medical Director of iKnowMed, an oncology-specific electronic medical record company based in Berkeley, CA. After iKnowMed was acquired by US Oncology, he became President of Matrix Oncology, an oncology services company, and was instrumental in establishing the Oncology Circle of highly performing community practices in the US. In 2006, in response to the absence of oncology services in the Lake Tahoe area, Dr. Heifetz founded the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center in Truckee, CA. In 2008, the cancer center affiliated with the UC Davis Cancer Care Network and established a virtual tumor board project. Dr. Heifetz is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at UC Davis School of Medicine. In 2019 he retired from practice. He is currently a consultant with X-CO Partners, a subsidiary of Strategy Advantage Inc., providing seasoned expertise on healthcare strategy needs, and is a founding board chair of the IAPR.

  • DOUGLAS ALLEN

    Director

    Mr. Doug Allen is a labor educator with 35 years of experience as a leader for three different national union organizations: National AFL-CIO, NFL Players Association, and Screen Actors Guild. He served as a Regional Political Director for the AFL-CIO, Assistant Executive Director for the NFLPA, and National Executive Director for SAG. In addition, from 2009-2018, Mr. Allen served as a Professor of Practice and Labor Educator for the School of Labor and Employment Relations at Penn State University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Labor Studies in 1973.

    Mr. Allen has also worked as a consultant on leadership development for the International Association of Fire Fighters, and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.

  • HAJIR NURIDDIN

    Director

    Assistant Chief Nuriddin (Ret.) is a 34 year law enforcement veteran. Recently retired as the Assistant Chief of Police Coral Gables, FL Police Department. Assistant Chief Nuriddin previously served at Bakersfield California Police Department where she commanded a variety of Divisions including Operations, Narcotics, Investigations, SWAT/ EOD and Special Enforcement Units throughout her career. Assistant Chief Nuriddin was also the first female motorcycle supervisor in the history of the department. She holds a Bachelor and Master of Public Administration Degree from California State University, Bakersfield. She is a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum / Harvard University Senior Management Institute for Police, the FBI 242nd National Academy, and various executive development courses. Asst.Chief Nuriddin is a nationally recognized speaker and trainer on leadership and diversity in the public and private sector and has trained thousands of law enforcement officers and executives nationally. She has also instructed internationally with the Federal Bureau of Investigations International Police Academy. Author of IACP 2018 article “Today’s Police Chief Greatest Challenge: Accountability, Accountability, Accountability!

  • LAURA M. GROEN, ESQ.

    Director

    Ms. Laura Groen is an executive coach and speaker with Novus Global, an international executive coaching firm that works with Fortune 500 companies, business leaders, lawyers, and professional athletes to transform teams and elevate companies and individuals to explore their full capabilities. Prior to becoming an executive coach, Ms. Groen served as a corporate trial attorney to Fortune 500 clients around the globe and led multi-national teams of attorneys in tackling complex litigation challenges. Ms. Groen finds deep fulfillment in her ongoing pro bono work, which has centered on anti-human trafficking efforts, immigration challenges for unaccompanied minors, and police reform policy work. She serves as a board member for the Institute for American Policing Reform and is chairperson of the Law and Policy Subcommittee.

  • VALENCIA P. WALKER, MD, MPH

    Director

    Dr. Valencia Walker is a practicing Neonatologist and the recently appointed Associate Chief Diversity and Health Equity Officer for Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

    Dr. Walker is a member of the Executive Committee for the AAP’s Section on Minority Health Equity and Inclusion, in addition to her current position as Program Chair for the Section. She is also the Central Region Representative for the AAMC Group on Diversity and Inclusion. Previously, she served as president for the Association of Black Women Physicians, a nonprofit organization dedicated to diversifying the physician workforce, advocating for under-resourced communities and promoting health equity. Dr. Walker completed undergraduate studies at the HBCU, Florida A&M University, and received her medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine. She finished a Pediatrics residency at UT Memphis and a Neonatology fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Prior to joining Nationwide Children’s Hospital, she served as an inaugural Assistant Dean of Equity and Diversity Inclusion for the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and obtained a MPH in Health Policy from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

  • WALTER REDMAN

    Director

    Chief Walter Redman currently serves with the Harris County Texas District Attorney's Office. He previously served as a Chief Police Advisor for the U.S. Department of State.

  • ROBERTA RIGA

    Director

    Roberta is a Silicon Valley based executive coach and leadership development consultant with over 25 years of experience partnering with leaders to realize their potential and increase their effectiveness. Through mindset conditioning and EQ Roberta positions workplace challenges as opportunities for deep transformation to expand leadership capacity. Roberta held executive HR positions at Elevation Partner’s BioWare/Pandemic Studios, Wired, Shopping.com, Interval Research, Media Vision and Zynga, and was COO of Humanity United, a human rights organization in the Omidyar Group. Roberta has consulted for 100+ clients including Google, Nest, Verily, Impossible Foods, Riot Games, Carvana, Aurora Solar, CSG and Micron. She founded POWER to advance women in leadership, co-founded Coaching BOLD to help social impact leaders, and co-founded Power Play Improv!. Roberta is an advisor to Baobab Studios, an interactive animation studio, and a lifetime advocate for animal welfare and sustainability. Roberta has a BA in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley and an MA in Organization Development from the University of San Francisco.

  • STEVEN A. REISS, ESQ.

    Director

    Mr. Steven Reiss retired from Weill, Gotshal & Manges LLP in 2019. He was nationally recognized for complex civil, criminal, and international matters, especially those with multi-jurisdictional or parallel civil and criminal components. Mr. Reiss also has extensive experience in representing companies and individuals in a variety of other high-stakes/high-profile matters, including major constitutional litigation, at trial and on appeal. Mr. Reiss was named a "recommended" lawyer by Legal 500 in four categories, and was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America, Benchmark Litigation, Who's Who Legal, and Chambers USA. He is widely recognized for his pro bono work. He was named the American Bar Association's 2020 John H. Pickering Achievement Award winner for dedication to pro bono service and furtherance of access to justice for all, and he was the recipient of the Law and Society Award, the highest award given by New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.

    Prior to joining Weil in 1989, Mr. Reiss was a tenured professor of law at New York University Law School, where he taught criminal law, constitutional law, evidence, and trial advocacy. He is currently a Lecturer in Law at Columbia Law School, and he serves as General Counsel to the Brennan Center for Justice, an independent, nonpartisan law and policy organization that specializes in constitutional issues and public policy litigation. Mr. Reiss received a Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College and is a graduate of Stanford Law School.

  • CHANNING MARTIN

    Director

    Channing Martin is IPG’s Global Chief Diversity and Social Impact Officer. In this role, Martin is responsible for advancing IPG’s diversity, equity and inclusion objectives and continuing to strengthen the company’s progress to being one of the world’s most diverse and inclusive companies.

    Prior to joining IPG, Martin was Chief Diversity and Social Responsibility Officer of CSG, a global provider of consumer engagement and digital experience solutions. In this role, Martin worked across the company to promote and build effective strategies for equity, diversity and inclusion. She was also responsible for environmental, societal and governance (ESG) initiatives, recommending investments, activities and programs focused on sustainable, socially aware business practices that incorporate diverse people and perspectives, voices and ideas.

    Martin previously held the positions of Diversity and Inclusion Manager at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and Diversity Lead and Strategic Planner for the U.S. Department of State and the Diversity Recruitment and Assessment Manager for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

  • KEVIN MARSHALL

    Director

    Mr. Kevin Marshall is a technologist and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience building businesses, software, and products across a variety of industries. In 2001, he co-founded ClearCapital.com in the mountain ski town of Truckee, CA. Clear Capital grew to have a national footprint as it became one of the nation’s most innovative and leading real estate analytics, technology, and valuation firms, serving the majority of large mortgage banks, servicers, and government-sponsored entities. Mr. Marshall retired from Clear Capital in 2019 and now serves as a Board Member and Strategic Advisor. Prior to working in the technology industry, he worked leading a local organization mentoring high school students. He has continued the pattern of volunteerism and working with nonprofits throughout his career. Mr. Marshall currently spends his time pursuing various passions in technology, environmentalism, education, non-profits, collecting and racing cars, and many other adventures across the globe on foot, water, or wheels.

Partners

  • With approximately 1,100 lawyers in offices around the world, Weil operates according to the "one firm" principle, allowing us to bring the right mix of firm-wide skill and local-market presence to deliver the coordinated legal advice necessary to help our clients achieve their sophisticated goals and objectives.

  • Hogan Lovells serves as pro bono counsel to the Institute for American Police Reform.

    Hogan Lovells is a global law firm that works as part of your team; helping solve your toughest and most complex legal issues.

    Giving back to communities and society is fundamental to good business. And, it's part of our core. Around the world, our people are making a difference through pro bono activities, community investment, and social justice.

  • The American Institutes for Research® (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. and around the world. We do this work because when we look to the future, we see opportunities to close gaps that are rooted in injustice. At AIR, we know that equity begins with systems that work for everyone, so we lead with expertise, follow the evidence, and never stop drawing new connections to build a better, more equitable world.

  • The firm’s commitment to pro bono focuses on three primary areas: strengthening families, empowering communities, and protecting civil rights. Our commitment to systemic change and focus on these three areas have become even more urgent as we consider the disparate impact of COVID-19 and the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and too many others. We are more aware than ever of our special responsibility as a law firm to address these crises of inequality and racial injustice.