Our Team

Kaitlyn Pieper, Executive Director

Kaitlyn Pieper is the Executive Director of the Utah Center for Legal Inclusion. Kaitlyn came to UCLI after spending time at the Salt Lake Chamber as the Director of Community Policy, where she led out on housing affordability efforts, supported rural engagement initiatives, and strengthened community partnerships. At the onset of the pandemic, she led Hope Corps’ vanguard program as the liaison for minority and women-owned businesses. She has been a Research Associate with Utah Women & Leadership Project. In previous positions, Kaitlyn worked in translation services – both as an interpreter in the local community and as a translation manager, where she traveled globally to deliver training. She has also regularly taught university courses on world literature. Kaitlyn earned a master’s degree from SOAS, University of London. She speaks multiple languages and enjoys people, travel, and hot springs.

Sabrina Ruiz-Monroy, Associate Director

Sabrina Ruiz-Monroy is the Associate Director at UCLI. She is excited to serve the Utah County community and bring her background in environmental studies and international development from Brigham Young University. Growing up in South Florida, she was guided by values of civility and justice, especially in social and environmental spaces, and she aspires to live those values daily in this role. Sabrina grew up with mentors who cared so much about her and for that she is beyond grateful. Now she is here to be that support for others. One phrase from Sabrina’s family resonates deeply with her: De muchos, ser uno. Be the one to show kindness, to lend support, to speak up, to stay curious, and to inspire change. As she prepares  to enter the field of law, she looks forward to working alongside like-minded individuals who are both resolute and compassionate, committed to building a more just and inclusive Utah.

Emily Zárate, Administrative Coordinator

Emily Zárate is the Administrative Coordinator of the Utah Center for Legal Inclusion. Emily attended Utah State University, where she graduated in May of 2022 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and a Certificate in Law and Society Studies. While at USU, Emily worked at the Latinx Cultural Center, an organization which focuses on academic, educational, personal, and professional growth within the Latinx community on campus. During her time at the LCC, she worked closely with first-generation Latinx students to ensure their success on campus by helping them navigate through college. Emily intends to pursue a J.D. next year. Her interests include technology law, immigration law, and criminal justice reform. In her free time, Emily enjoys weightlifting, reading, and hanging out with her family. 

Winter 2025 Interns

Pegah Arani

Program Development Intern

University of Utah

I was born in Sandy, Utah, but grew up in Los Angeles, California. Currently, I’m a senior at the University of Utah, double majoring in Psychology and Criminology, with a minor in Political Science. I’ve gained valuable experience through internships, including serving as a legal clerk at Pace Johnson Law Group in Salt Lake City, where I assisted with case organization and legal research. Additionally, I was a part of the university’s PRE-LAW Leap program, which provided me with deeper insights into the legal field. I also interned with TurnUp, where I contributed to legal research focused on social justice issues. Outside of academics and work, I enjoy singing, traveling with my family, reading, and spending time in nature. A fun fact about me is that I’m bilingual and fluent in Farsi!

Victoria Roberts

Program Development Intern

Utah Valley University

Victoria is a Pre-Law Political Science student at Utah Valley University. She was a UCLI Pre-Law Fellow in 2024 and has been working as a paralegal at a law firm over the past 3 years. She has volunteered as a translator at No Mas Legal and is currently volunteering with Ace Test Prep. Victoria plans to be the first lawyer in her family and is extremely dedicated to giving back to her community. Victoria looks forward to hopefully starting law school in 2025 and is excited to dedicate more time to UCLI as an intern.

Olivia Berhan

Program Development Intern

Brigham Young University

Olivia Berhan is a double major in Economics and Sociology at BYU with a strong interest in antitrust law and environmental negligence. She is passionate about the potential of the law to protect underrepresented groups and seeks to explore how legal frameworks intersect with corporate practices to drive meaningful change. Olivia is dedicated to understanding the ways in which economic and social systems can be shaped to promote justice and equity. She is eager to apply her academic background and passion for advocacy to contribute to impactful legal and policy solutions.