Connie Utada is the State Legislative Director for NCLR. She is responsible for coordinating NCLR’s efforts to secure legislative and policy victories on the state and local level. Prior to joining NCLR, she worked as Policy Counsel for Immigration Equality to lobby Capitol Hill and key stakeholders on pro-LGBT immigration legislation, and played a major role in campaigning for the Uniting American Families Act and the Reuniting Families Act. Before working with Immigration Equality, Connie worked as a public defender in Massachusetts, representing indigent clients charged with both misdemeanors and felonies. She earned her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law and is an alumna of Smith College, with a bachelor’s degree in American studies.