Meet Our Team
Tanya Martinez-Gallinucci
Executive Director
(she/her)
Tanya Martinez-Gallinucci is the Executive Director of the New York City Bar Association’s Office for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (ODEIB). Ms. Martinez-Gallinucci was previously a litigation associate at Cleary Gottlieb Steen, & Hamilton LLP, where she dedicated much of her time to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives and pro bono work. As a Member of the Diversity Advisory Committee and liaison to the Latinx Affinity Group, Ms. Martinez-Gallinucci focused on creating access to developmental opportunities, senior lawyer networks, meaningful mentorship, and programming in support of associates from historically excluded groups. Her broad-based pro bono practice also reflected her commitment to equality and justice and included an externship at Mobilization for Justice where she worked with indigent clients in landlord-tenant disputes, various immigration-related matters, and work with special-needs students as co-counsel with Advocates for Children.
Prior to receiving her JD from Columbia Law School (following her BA from Yale and Masters from City College), Ms. Martinez-Gallinucci taught at a middle school in the Bronx and at City College Academy of the Arts in Washington Heights, and served as a law clerk in the NYC Department of Education. Ms. Martinez-Gallinucci is proud to be the product of the New York City public school system herself and a first-generation professional.
Angie Avila-Lanciotti is a graduate of the University of Hartford and has worked in the not-for-profit sector since 2013. In August of 2018, Angie joined the New York City Bar Association as the Manager of Membership Outreach and Sponsorships. In this role, she developed a business understanding of the legal industry. In February of 2022, Angie transitioned to the Office for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging as the Manager of Development and Communications, a role in which Angie has been able to combine her learned knowledge of the legal profession and her passion for inclusivity in the workforce.
As a first-generation Latina – Angie has a strong passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and offers a unique understanding; of representation and the importance of belonging.
Angie Avila-Lanciotti
Manager of Development & Communications
(she/her)
Mary Ellen LaRosa
Manager of Pipeline Initiatives & Education
(she/they)
Mary Ellen LaRosa is the Senior Diversity Coordinator for ODEIB. Prior to joining the City Bar, she interned with and later worked for the Child Center of NY, managing talent development systems and securing greater employee satisfaction and belonging; her 10 years of management experience in the service industry comes in handy on occasion too.
Mary Ellen holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University as well as a master’s in psychology with a focus on industrial/organizational psychology from the New School.
Mary Ellen is committed to using their unique skill set to further anti-racism and inclusion efforts in both her professional and personal life.
Deynna Rey Tovar is a senior at Yale University, working towards her bachelor’s degree. Originally from Venezuela, Deynna served as a summer intern for ODEIB in 2023 and now holds the position of Communications and Diversity Coordinator. In this role, she focuses on ODEIB’s administrative coordination, program development, and media production.
Deynna’s passion lies in fostering and strengthening pipeline programs and legal pathways for underrepresented and marginalized students to access the legal profession. In her free time, she enjoys reading and going to the beach.
Deynna Rey Tovar
Communications and Diversity Coordinator
(she/her)
Eli Cohen
(he/him)
Eli Cohen has worked at the City Bar for over six years in various roles. Eli is a newcomer to the professional DEIB space. His involvement in ODEIB’s work started while contributing his communications expertise to the production of the Building Belonging podcast. Eli’s immersion in DEIB work proceeded by steps as he took on more substantive projects with ODEIB and he formalized a split Communications/ODEIB role in early 2024. Eli is very proud to demonstrate that getting involved in “the work” can be as simple as showing up and raising your hand.