Lillian R. Aponte, Esq.

Lillian Aponte Miranda was born and grew up in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. She has a long-standing career in public service and human rights advocacy. Prior to joining the Florence Project, Lillian served as an Associate Professor of Law at Florida International University (FIU) College of Law in Miami, Florida. During her eleven years as a professor at the FIU College of Law, Lillian taught advanced level courses on International Human Rights, Indigenous Peoples’ Rights under International Law, and Complex Litigation as well as foundational courses on Civil Procedure, Property, Legal Research and Writing, and Appellate Advocacy. Lillian’s research, advocacy, and publications as a law professor focused on advancing the status and rights of historically disadvantaged and marginalized communities under international human rights law. Her work has been published in the University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Law, the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law, the Oregon Review of International Law, the Lewis and Clark Law Review, and the American Indian Law Review. As a law professor, she lectured both nationally and internationally on myriad issues pertaining to the advancement of human rights for vulnerable populations. Lillian earned her J.D. with Honors from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where she served as the Articles Editor and Senior Research Editor for the University of Florida Journal of Law and Public Policy. Lillian began her work with the Florence Project as a pro bono attorney in September 2014 and thereafter formally joined the Children’s Program as a Staff Attorney in May 2016 prior to enthusiastically transitioning to the Children’s Program Pro Bono Mentor role. She became the Pro Bono Manager in February 2019 and became the Children’s Program Manager in late 2019. Lillian was appointed Co-Executive Director in 2021.