Dana Matsunami

Dana Matsunami (they or she) is a Skadden Legal Fellow with the Child Welfare team at the National Center for Youth Law. Dana’s fellowship project is focused on advocating for voice and choice on behalf of youth who are impacted by the child welfare system in the state of Hawai’i. She collaborates with youth in Hawai'i as well as local and national advocacy partners to develop legal strategies that ensure foster children's rights are upheld. Dana’s work includes policy advocacy for the right to culturally responsive, youth-centered legal representation for minors during child welfare proceedings in Hawai'i.
 
Dana is a graduate from Whitman College and University of California, Irvine School of Law. While in law school, Dana was the president of OutLaw, a member of the National Lawyers Guild Board, a participant in a full-time clinical program at Columbia Law School focused on advancing educational rights for children, and represented clients in “crimmigration” cases in an Immigrant Rights Clinic. Dana was also the recipient of the UCI School of Law Legacy Award and received high honors for her pro bono leadership. Prior to law school, Dana worked in schools and at youth-focused nonprofits.
 
Dana's passions include spending time in and on the ocean, watching live women’s sports, and searching far and wide for the perfect donut.