The strength of any organization depends highly on the experience, education, integrity and commitment of its staff. As a staff member of MLJ Adoptions I am proud and privileged to be working with some of the most dedicated and highly experienced adoption staff in the industry. Nicole Skellenger is just one of those who I feel privileged to be working with.
Nicole Skellenger is MLJ Adoptions’ Chief Operating Officer as well as an adoption attorney. In this position she provides a wide array of services to our adoptive families. Nicole has been with agency since its founding in 2008 and as such is considered one of its founding staff members. Initially beginning as an intern while in law school, Nicole demonstrated her strengths and commitment and worked her way to her current position as Chief Operating Officer.
Nicole graduated from the Indiana University School of Law with a Doctorate of Jurisprudence in May of 2010. While in law school, Nicole achieved the Gold Level Award for exceptional pro bono service and for volunteering over 300 hours representing low income individuals in need of legal representation. Nicole guided her law career for over the last five years focusing on domestic and international adoption. Nicole’s interest in the application of law to both domestic and international adoption began to take focus in 2008 when she began working as a law clerk for Michele Jackson. Taking a mission trip to Nicaragua in 2009 helped solidify her interest in focusing her law career in adoption and the plight of orphans. Additional trips worldwide have allowed Nicole to see firsthand the need and plight of orphaned children, further driving her mission and her career in matters of international adoption.
Today Nicole’s passion for assisting adoptive parents and the worldwide orphan crisis is seen every day. As Chief Operating Officer, Nicole’s job duties are wide ranging and include overseeing both internal and external operations of the agency, presenting international adoption seminars, assisting families with re-adoptions, quality improvement and program development. Nicole also is MLJ’s Hague Compliance expert and researches changes to domestic and international adoption law.
In addition to her very busy professional life, Nicole still manages to volunteer her time and services to many organizations such as the Global Orphan Foundation (assisting orphans worldwide), Starfish (mentoring under-served high school students in need to ensure graduation from high school) and volunteering as a Guardian ad Litem for Hamilton County, Indiana (representing abused and neglected children in Court matters).
MLJ Adoptions is proud and its clients privileged to have such an experienced and dedicated professional as Nicole on staff. Nicole’s focus since beginning her career has been relieving the suffering of those in need through adoption and assisting adoptive families to realize their dreams. Nicole’s commitment and integrity shine every day through her excellence at work and serving those in need.
Sonja Brown
Sonja Brown works as the International Program Director for MLJ Adoptions’ programs in Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti and Samoa. Sonja is also proud to work directly with our Individualized Country Program families who are adopting from countries where no adoption service providers currently operate.
Sonja Brown
Sonja Brown works as the International Program Director for MLJ Adoptions’ programs in Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti and Samoa. Sonja is also proud to work directly with our Individualized Country Program families who are adopting from countries where no adoption service providers currently operate.