Board of Directors Full Bios
James Dold, Director
James Dold is the Founder & CEO of Human Rights for Kids (HRFK) a D.C.-based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the human rights of children in the U.S. and around the world. Under James’ leadership HRFK has successfully authored or co-authored Amicus Briefs in state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, on human rights issues impacting children. HRFK’s advocacy has led to the introduction of more than two dozen child rights bills in Congress and states across the U.S.
Prior to launching HRFK, James developed and implemented the advocacy strategy that led to the quadrupling of states that ban life without parole sentences for children in the U.S. James also led successful state legislative campaigns resulting in the passage of 40 new anti-human trafficking laws across the country.
James received dual baccalaureates in Criminal Justice and Psychology from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and graduated Cum Laude from the University of Maryland School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in the state of Maryland and is a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States. He is also a human rights abuse-survivor himself.
gina reiss, Board Chair
Gina Reiss is an entrepreneurial, executive leader who has dedicated her career to an intersectional approach to social justice and human rights: advocating for women’s and LGBTQ+ rights in the US, combating sex trafficking in the brothels of Cambodia, keeping girls educated and safe from child marriage in Jijiga refugee camps of Ethiopia, and empowering communities to prevent child labor in the Ghana’s fisheries. Gina has raised over $35 million for nonprofits and has worked across many cultures, managed diverse teams in the US, Southeast Asia and East Africa. She has held leadership positions in three anti-trafficking organizations (Somaly Mam Foundation, ASSET and Free the Slaves) where she prioritized amplifying survivor voices through community engagement and advocacy efforts. She served as the Director of the United Nations Foundation’s Girl Up Campaign where she launched a network of adolescent girls for gender equality, now in 120 countries. Prior to that, Gina spent a decade as the Managing Director of GenderPAC, and was co-founder of TrueChild, a consultancy that challenges rigid gender norms through intersectional approaches to reconnect race, class and gender. She is a graduate of UCLA with an English literature/Women’s Studies degree. Fast Company selected Ms. Reiss among their 2012 “League of Extraordinary Women.”
PAULINA LIN, TREASURER
Paulina was born in a Thailand refugee camp after her parents fled the war in Viet Nam. At the age of 2 years old, she and her family resettled in San Diego, CA where she spent the rest of her childhood. Growing up in a low-income family and being the first of her family to go to college heavily influenced and fuelled her passion to get involved in the Asian American/Southeast Asian community during her time at the University of California, Berkeley. This is where she began to contextualize her experiences and sought out ways to fight against social injustices. After graduation, Paulina continued to find different ways to work with the community such as sitting on advisory boards, mentoring, and volunteering her time, all while advancing her career. She is currently a mother of three: Mason (6), Samantha (5) and Ava (2). Although life can get hectic at times, her children are her greatest motivation. In her free time, she enjoys cycling on her stationary bike.
Paulina is a Certified Public Accountant licensed to practice in California. She received a B.S. in Business Administration from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley in 2008.
Paulina is currently a Director of Technical Accounting at Palo Alto Networks. In her role, she advises the business in various technical areas and ensures the company’s accounting is in compliance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
Previously, Paulina was at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for over 13 years. She was a Director in PwC’s Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) Assurance Practice. In addition to audits, she has experience in assisting companies manage their internal controls (Sarbanes-Oxley 404 compliance). Paulina has worked with companies from both the public and private sectors, including newly public companies as well as large multinationals.
Paulina also worked in PwC’s National Quality Organization supporting teams through PCAOB inspections and advising teams through a variety of auditing consultations.
In addition to service on the Board of Survivor Alliance, Paulina also serves on the board of Teen Success, Inc. The organization creates economic advancement for multiple generations by partnering with young mothers to further their education, build life and career skills, and nurture their children’s development.