meet our team
Our team
Our team is comprised of dedicated, hard-working pro-life individuals who are willing to get their hands dirty for the vulnerable every day. We’re a small but mighty group with decades of combined experience in the pro-life movement and a personal passion for the cause.
PRESIDENT
MARY KATE ZANDER
Mary Kate Zander is the president of Illinois Right to Life. Prior to her work in the pro-life movement, Mary Kate was an operative and communications advisor on numerous state and federal political campaigns. She has been quoted in the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, the New Yorker, the Washington Post, and has been featured on WGN, ABC-7, CBS, EWTN, and Fox News, among others. Mary Kate has spoken before thousands on the need for abortion restrictions in Illinois. She has presented to law and medical students at Northwestern University and to undergraduates at the University of Chicago, where she debated Professor Geoffrey Stone, who was a clerk on the Supreme Court when Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973. In August of 2022, she married her husband, Will. Together, they have two children.
CHIEF OF STAFF
Katie Jerome
Katie is a dedicated mom of four and the Chief of Staff at Illinois Right to Life. Living in the state almost her entire life, Katie brings a strong passion for the right to life in Illinois. Outside of work, she enjoys homeschooling her children, being actively involved in her church, and traveling with her husband, kids, and dog in their RV.
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Sarah Michalak
In utero, Sarah was misdiagnosed with spina bifida, and her parents were pressured to abort. They chose life — a decision that shaped Sarah’s passion for defending the voiceless. Today, Sarah is a devoted wife and mother of two boys. She brings over 6 years of experience in activism and program management from Students for Life of America and now serves preborn children and their mothers as the Program Director for Illinois Right to Life.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & OUTREACH
MAGGIE JOUTRAS
Maggie Joutras has served as Director of Community Engagement & Outreach for Illinois Right to Life since September 2024. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Lewis University (2023) and is pursuing her Master’s in the same field. Maggie brings experience in social services and event planning, having supported women in crisis at a domestic violence agency in Atlanta and worked in hospitality at Chateau Elan Winery & Resort. At Illinois Right to Life, she leads major events, including the Pro-Life March and Leaders for Life Banquet, focusing on community building and outreach across Illinois.
OFFICE MANAGER
Denise Zabor
Denise has worked for Illinois Right to Life for the past 29 years. She has been in charge of financial management, accounts payable, and accounts receivable. While holding the title of Office Manager, she has handled a variety of tasks related to the numerous programs of the organization, such as Project Love, the IRL Annual Dinner reservations, the IRL Banquet Ad Book, as well as graphic design. She has been married to her husband, Dennis, for 43 years, has two children, and 9 grandchildren.
DATA MANAGEMENT
JANE ADDUCCI
Jane and her husband have been married for 49 years and are blessed with 2 children and 3 grandchildren. After praying a novena to St. Therese, Jane began pro-life work with Illinois Citizens for Life in 1994, later joining Illinois Right to Life. Jane has served in research, data management, and resource roles, and remains active through her church’s pro-life committee, 40 Days for Life, and Life Chain.
DATA MANAGEMENT
Jerry hinkleman
Jerry’s pro-life activity started several months after Roe v. Wade when his late wife Daena heard about a pro-life organization starting up in the Darien/Westmont/Downers Grove area. Together, the two started Illinois Citizens for Life’s newsletter, Lifeline. For decades, Jerry was ICL’s resident technology expert – managing the organization’s first donor database, printing and labeling newsletters, and, in later years, designing and updating the voter guide. Jerry continues to support IRL and IRLAction with use of his technical skills.
