OUR TEAM
DEVOTED TO HELPING CHILDREN
PROF. MARCI A. HAMILTON
Founder & CEO
MARCI A. HAMILTON is the Founder and CEO of CHILD USA. She is also a Professor of Practice in Political Science and a Fox Family Pavilion Non-Resident Senior Fellow in the Program for Research on Religion at the University of Pennsylvania. Before moving to Penn, Professor Hamilton held the Paul R. Verkuil Chair in Public Law at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University.
Prof. Hamilton is the leading expert on clergy sex abuse and child sex abuse statutes of limitation (“SOL”). She has been invited to testify and advise legislators in every state where significant SOL reform has occurred. She is the author of Justice Denied: What America Must Do to Protect Its Children (Cambridge University Press), which advocates for the elimination of child sex abuse statutes of limitations. She has filed countless pro bono amicus briefs for the protection of children at the United States Supreme Court and the state supreme courts. She is the co-author of Children and the Law (Carolina Academic Press 2017).
Hamilton is a leading and influential critic of extreme religious liberty and the author of God vs. the Gavel: The Perils of Extreme Religious Liberty (Cambridge University Press), which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Hamilton successfully challenged the constitutionality of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (“RFRA”) at the Supreme Court in Boerne v. Flores (1997), and defeated the RFRA claim brought by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee against hundreds of child sex abuse survivors in Committee of Unsecured Creditors v. Listecki (7th Cir. 2015). She has represented numerous cities, neighborhoods, and individuals dealing with church-state issues as well as claims under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”).
Hamilton has been honored with the 2019 Distinguished Daughters Award by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf; the 2018 Louis H. Pollak Award for Public Service by the University of Pennsylvania Law School; the 2015 Annual Religious Liberty Award, American Humanist Association; the 2014 Freethought Heroine Award; the 2016 Voice Today, Voice of Gratitude Award; the National Crime Victim Bar Association’s Frank Carrington Champion of Civil Justice Award, 2012; the E. Nathaniel Gates Award for outstanding public advocacy and scholarship, 2008; and selected as a Pennsylvania Woman of the Year Award, 2012, among other awards and honors. She is also frequently quoted in the national media on child sex abuse, statute of limitations issues and constitutional, RFRA, RLUIPA, and First Amendment issues.
Hamilton clerked for United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Judge Edward R. Becker of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Professor Hamilton is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, B.A., summa cum laude; Pennsylvania State University, M.A. (English, fiction writing, High Honors); M.A. (Philosophy); and the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Order of the Coif.
KATE FARLEY
Chief Financial Officer
Kate Farley is the Chief Financial Officer of CHILD USA, bringing well over a decade of expertise in financial management and the non-profit sector. With a proven track record of driving profitability, performance, and sustainable growth, Kate is poised to help CHILD USA reach new heights in its mission to preserve and strengthen children’s rights.
Before joining CHILD USA, Kate served as Chief of Staff for a reentry non-profit in St. Louis, Missouri focused on dramatically reducing reincarceration rates. Prior to that, she spent 10 years as Director of Operations & Finance for a growing real estate development and investment firm in Lambertville, New Jersey.
Kate holds a BA in Written Communications from Delaware Valley University and has more than 15 years of experience with QuickBooks and various financial management systems. As a mother to a young child, she is passionate about leveraging her skills to advocate for initiatives that empower children, ensuring a brighter and more equitable future for the next generation.
THOMPSON SMITH
Chief Development Officer
Thompson Smith, the Chief Development Officer of CHILD USA, comes to us with a wealth of experience in fundraising, federal grants, and corporate support.
Thompson earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, where he became a lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Cheney University of Pennsylvania, and has served as Director of Development for several nonprofits.
Thompson’s innovative and entrepreneurial background and dedication to community building make him well-suited for his role at CHILD USA. “Protecting children is everyone’s responsibility,” he says. Support CHILD USA’s vital work to safeguard our future generations. Together, we can make a difference!”
With more than 15 years of experience in development, Thompson has the knowledge to help our organization thrive and grow exponentially.
JESSICA SCHIDLOW, ESQ., MA, NCC
Legal Director
Jessica Schidlow joins CHILD USA with an extensive background in child welfare. Jessica holds a Master’s degree in Professional Clinical and Counseling Psychology and worked as an out-patient child and family-based therapist before pursuing her legal education. After law school, Jessica joined the Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office in their Child Advocacy Unit where she represented hundreds of at-risk and dependent youth in their Juvenile and Orphan’s Court proceedings. Jessica is committed to advancing the rights of children and improving the outcomes for court-involved youth by ensuring practices that are trauma-informed and congruent with legal, medical, and social-science research.
Jessica earned her B.A. in Psychology from Temple University, Honors Program. She earned her M.A. in Professional Clinical and Counseling Psychology from LaSalle University, graduating with distinction. Jessica earned her J.D. from of Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law, 2-year accelerated program, where she served as a research assistant and president of the Health Law Society. Jessica is a National Board-Certified Counselor and member of the National Association of Counsel for Children. She also serves on the Children and the Law Committee for the Montgomery County Bar Association and the Children’s Rights Legislative Subcommittee for the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Stephanie Dallam, RN, MSN, PHD
Visiting Scholar
Dr. Dallam is a former researcher for the Leadership Council on Child Abuse & Interpersonal Violence, a nonprofit organization that seeks to disseminate high quality scientific research concerning the prevalence and consequences of child abuse and other forms of interpersonal violence in the general population. She is a former clinical instructor for the Family Nurse Practitioner Program, School of Nursing, University of Missouri. She also worked as a Nurse Practitioner in the Department of Pediatric Surgery and Trauma at the University of Missouri Hospitals and Clinics. She has authored numerous articles, reports, and book chapters and conducted presentations at a number of professional meetings on childhood maltreatment and its aftermath.
TIFFANY DURKSON
Administrative Assistant
Tiffany is a dedicated advocate for children’s access to unstructured free play, driven by a passion for creating meaningful, immersive experiences that spark joy and creativity. With over seven years of experience in nonprofit child advocacy, Tiffany has made a lasting impact in the lives of countless children and families.
At Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse, Tiffany curated engaging arts and crafts activities for over 10,000 families and created the now-iconic “Happy Noon Day” New Year’s celebration, where children welcome the new year with a festive balloon release at the historic 125-year-old slide. She also partnered with OIC Philly to organize a Back-to-School bookbag giveaway, distributing 600 bookbags filled with supplies to Philadelphia students.
At Studio Ludo, Tiffany contributed to critical field research for the System for Observing Mask Adherence and Distancing (SOMAD) study and coordinated efforts for the National Study of Playgrounds, overseeing field researchers across 60 playgrounds in 10 major U.S. cities. During the pandemic, Tiffany’s ingenuity led to the development and distribution of 10,000 Play Packs, delivering joy and creativity to families during a challenging time.
Tiffany was also the visionary creator and manager of The Playbrary, a vibrant community resource she built from the ground up. Curating thousands of gently used toys and imaginative loose parts, the Playbrary has diverted over 4,000 pounds of materials from the waste stream while building a thriving network of 1000+ members. The Playbrary has earned recognition as Philadelphia Magazine’s Best Play Space of 2022, presented at the US Play Coalition at Clemson University, and been featured on PHL17, Philadelphia Magazine, and Good Day Philadelphia.
With creativity, compassion, and a deep commitment to fostering play, learning, and connection, Tiffany continues to make an indelible mark in the field of child advocacy and community engagement.
MARYCLARE MALADY
Event Planner
MaryClare joins CHILD USA having enjoyed a successful career as a preschool teacher, volunteer, and active member of various local and national nonprofit organizations. Her passion for the well being of every child is what inspired her to leave the classroom to join CHILD USA. MaryClare will draw on her past experiences and wide-ranging skills as liaison to members of the CHILD USA team as well as organization ambassador. “Children are amazing. They all develop using the same principles. It is our job to make sure they feel loved, nurtured, and valued.”
MaryClare received her BFA from West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. She continued her education at The Art Institute of Philadelphia where she received a Continuing Education Certificate. MaryClare continues her education by completing courses in various areas of personal and professional interest.
CARINA NIXON, ESQ.
Senior Staff Attorney
Carina Nixon joins CHILD USA as a Staff Attorney. Prior to CHILD USA, Carina worked as an Attorney-Advisor for the Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Assistance where she aided small business owners in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, she worked as an Attorney-Advisor in the General Counsel’s Office of the National Endowment for the Humanities in Washington, D.C.
Carina graduated from Pepperdine School of Law, where she served as a Note and Comment Editor for the Pepperdine Law Review. As a staffer for the Law Review, Carina wrote an article exploring and arguing against the constitutionality of juvenile solitary confinement in the U.S. prison system. Her article was chosen for publication in Pepperdine’s Law Review and earned Pepperdine Law’s Sorenson Award for best student article. Carina additionally acted as President of Pepperdine’s International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court Team and was a member of the Moot Court team. Prior to law school, Carina graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.A. in International Studies and a B.A. in Spanish Language. As a mother herself, she is passionate about ensuring every child is afforded the legal protections and human rights they deserve.
ANNELIES SMILDE, MPHTM
Social Science Researcher
Annelies joins CHILD USA as a social science researcher with a profound commitment to advancing the rights and well-being of children. Armed with a Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and a dual bachelor’s degree in Public Health and Gender and Sexuality from Tulane University, Annelies has cultivated a strong foundation in social science research methods, epidemiology, and data analysis.
Annelies’s professional journey showcases her dedication to researching critical issues affecting children. During her time at Tulane, she worked on an NIH-funded study focused on reducing child maltreatment risk, and on a study looking at teen pregnancy in Latina America and the Caribbean.
In addition to research, Annelies has actively engaged with the Latinx community of New Orleans through translating health and wellness content, voter engagement, and advocating for the rights of migrant workers. She also enjoyed her time as a children’s soccer instructor.
Annelies is passionate about utilizing rigorous mixed methods research to reduce health inequities locally and globally. Her multidisciplinary expertise and unwavering commitment to child advocacy align seamlessly with the mission of CHILD USA, and we are happy to have her!