NIFLA Leadership
Thomas Glessner founded the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates nearly thirty years ago. On the anniversary of the Dobbs decision, Mr. Glessner was profiled as one of the top fifty pro-life leaders of the last fifty years in the Legacy of Life, alongside Ronald Reagan and Mother Teresa.
- Serves and represents a network of more than 1,700 pregnancy centers and medical clinics across the nation, NIFLA has challenged laws targeting its member centers in several states – including California, Hawaii, Illinois, North Dakota, New York, and Vermont.
- NIFLA successfully challenged a California law forcing pro-life pregnancy centers to advertise for abortion. That landmark case, NIFLA v. Becerra, secured the free-speech rights of not only pregnancy centers, but all Americans, on June 26, 2018.
- Authored several books; his most recent, entitled, “Created Equal: Reflections on the Unalienable Right to Life,” highlights the constitutional protection of our most vulnerable citizens - children in the womb.
- Appeared in media outlets such as Fox News, USA Today, Tucker Carlson, CBN News, EWTN, 700 Club, The Washington Examiner, The Washington Times, Townhall, National Review, The Federalist, and many more.
- A University of Washington School of Law (Seattle, WA) graduate, 1977; member of the bar associations for the Supreme Court of the United States as well as the states of Washington and Virginia.
To book interviews with Thomas Glessner, J.D., please contact NIFLA’s media team at [email protected].
- SANDY CHRISTIANSEN, MD, FACOG, is an advocate for the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death and for medical professionals’ right to practice according to principles of conscience.
- Dr. Sandy Christiansen is an advocate for the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death, and for medical professionals’ right to practice according to principles of conscience.
- She completed her internship and residency training in obstetrics & gynecology in 1990 at the Hospital of the Medical College of Pennsylvania and subsequently obtained her board certification, becoming a Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists.
- Dr. Sandy currently serves as the Associate Medical Director and Practicum Director for NIFLA. She is also the medical director and staff physician of a medical pregnancy center in Maryland. She is a member of the Christian Medical Dental Association,, and the American Association of Pro-life Obstetricians & Gynecologists. Dr. Sandy is a Charlotte Lozier Institute Associate Scholar and adjunct professor for Mount St. Mary’s University's Master's in Health Administration.
- In addition, Dr. Christiansen teaches life advocate training to healthcare professionals in African and Asian countries through Life Equip Global. She is an author and speaker on the topics of abortion, Hippocratic medicine, and unplanned pregnancy, addressing a variety of forums and media outlets.
Dr. Byron C. Calhoun, MD, FACOG, FACS, MBA is a diplomat of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is board certified in general Obstetrics/Gynecology and the sub-specialty of Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
- He has authored over 60 peer review articles in the obstetric and gynecologic literature, presented over 100 scientific papers, participated in over 40 research projects, and published several articles on perinatal hospice. He is an original author of the perinatal hospice concept, which provides a multidisciplinary care to families with a lethal prenatal diagnosis.
- Calhoun serves as professor and vice-chair in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at West Virginia University-Charleston.
Teresa Cooper Ward is Vice President and General Counsel of the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA). Before she became a part of NIFLA, Teresa spent more than four decades practicing law both inside and outside the courtroom. As a solo practitioner, she developed the first Medicaid Estate Recovery Program for the State of Florida, later serving as Deputy General Counsel to the Speaker and then as Senior Attorney for the Florida House of Representatives. Teresa has over a dozen successful appeals to her credit, is admitted to practice in Florida, Indiana, the United States Supreme Court, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and federal courts in Florida. Teresa served as Chairman of the Board for the Florida Pregnancy Care Network, a statutory entity which supports pregnancy centers. Teresa is a mother of four, and a graduate of Stetson University College of Law and the University of South Florida.
- Jeanneane Maxon is a non-profit law and compliance consultant in Dallas, Texas, with nearly a decade of executive leadership experience. She focuses on serving pro-life organizations and pregnancy centers
- From 2012 to 2015, Jeanneane served as vice president of external affairs and corporate counsel for Americans United for Life (AUL). Prior to AUL, she was general counsel for Care Net, a network of over 1,200 pregnancy centers.
- In 2015, Jeanneane was diagnosed with Grade IV Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, and her battle was highlighted on Lifetime's "Behind the Mystery."
- Jeanneane holds a B.S. in political science and history from Westminster College, and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law. She received the Dr. Mildred Jefferson Courageous Servant Award from the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA) in 2026.
NIFLA’s Practicum Instructors
Stacy Grimmett serves as an ultrasound instructor for NIFLA. She is currently working in her 8th year as the Sonography Education Coordinator for the Department of Emergency Medicine at West Virginia University Hospitals. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography from Mountain State University in 2009. She received her license as an OB certified RDMS in 2010. She is grateful for the opportunity to use her education and experience in women's health to serve with NIFLA, in the ministry of protecting the sanctity of life, and humbled that the Lord would lead me to this work.
Kay Hanson serves as an ultrasound instructor for NIFLA. Kay has over 37 years of experience in Abdominal and OB/GYN Sonography. She has previously served as an instructor and clinical coordinator in hospitals, local colleges, and Pregnancy Medical Centers. She is grateful for the opportunity to serve God in the wonderful ministry of Pregnancy Medical Centers, where she helps mothers choose life for their precious unborn babies.
Eva serves as an ultrasound instructor for NIFLA. She is a U.S. Army veteran and experienced healthcare professional with over 15 years of expertise in diagnostic medical ultrasound, clinical operations, and patient education. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology, a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies, and a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (2024). Eva has extensive experience in obstetric and diagnostic imaging, staff training, and mentorship, and is committed to developing hands-on, competency-based learning environments that combine technical excellence with patient-centered care.
Bilingual in English and Spanish, she brings a unique blend of clinical knowledge, leadership, and faith-based service to her role at Choices Women’s Center, supporting clients and mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Kim’s career in medical imaging began over 40 years ago with a focus on sonography. She developed an accredited sonography educational program at a community college in West Virginia, where she also served as an associate professor/department chair for 11 years. Kim is also an accreditation site visitor for the JRC-DMS, which reviews sonography educational programs throughout the country. Currently, she is working in a clinical setting that provides the opportunity to perform sonography for multiple specialties, including OB/Gyn. Kim had the privilege of helping to train a nurse in OB/Gyn sonography at a pregnancy center when it first opened in Charleston, WV, and she is looking forward to serving at NIFLA.
Tammy has over 25 years of experience in diagnostic imaging. She is an ARRT-registered radiologic technologist and an ARDMS-registered sonographer specializing in abdominal, breast, ob/gyn, pediatrics, and vascular imaging. Tammy holds a Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography and a Master’s in Business Administration. Her career spans from serving as an Ultrasound Supervisor and Clinical Instructor in hospitals and diagnostic centers to providing mobile imaging services to rehabilitation centers and correctional institutions. Tammy currently works as a Client Advocate and Sonographer at A Caring Center for Women in Vero Beach, FL, where she not only helps clients choose life for their unborn baby, but she also finds resources to help them from the community. She is excited to teach at the practicums to give nurses the knowledge, skills, and confidence in order to serve clients in their community.
Malena serves as an ultrasound instructor for NIFLA. With over 14 years of experience in diagnostic imaging, Malena is a multidisciplinary ARDMS-registered sonographer and ARRT-registered radiologic technologist specializing in abdominal, OB/GYN, pediatric, and vascular imaging. Outside of NIFLA, she works as an Adjunct Faculty Member at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Sonography Program, where she teaches Sonographic Physics, OB/GYN, and Abdominal Sonography, while mentoring students in lab and clinical settings. She also provides limited obstetric ultrasound services and staff training at the Pregnancy Help Center of Chesterfield, combining clinical care with community education. Malena is excited to work with Pregnancy Centers and is passionate about using her clinical skills in a purpose-driven environment that allows her to combine faith, compassion, and medical care. She is also excited to be able to train nurses in limited obstetric ultrasound and equip them with technical skills and confidence to serve women in a life-changing way.