Dearra Godinez is a Senior Attorney with CLINIC. In her role, she provides training and technical assistance on immigration law and program management to CLINIC members and other community-based organizations.

Prior to joining CLINIC, Godinez most recently worked as the chief program officer for an organization amplifying the voice of and advocating for youth in foster care. Additionally, she served as the senior director of operations and director of legal services for a statewide immigration legal service nonprofit, Immigrant Legal Center. There, Godinez was instrumental in developing a new strategic plan, building efficiencies, improving service delivery, revamping success metrics, implementing new policies and procedures, managing organization growth, leading change management through an organizational restructure, and overseeing the intake, legal, social work, and refugee resettlement programs. Godinez also has experience as a litigator in state and federal courts.

Godinez graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and Oklahoma City University School of Law. She is a member of the Nebraska and Oklahoma State Bar Associations. She is fluent in English and proficient in Spanish.