Lisa Eschleman is the new executive director of the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education.

Lisa Eschleman is the new executive director of the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education.

To say Lisa Eschleman is excited to become the executive director of the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education today is an understatement. She calls the new opportunity a “once in a lifetime” job.

Leading one of the country’s premiere civic education organizations feels like it was meant to be, she said. “As a volunteer since 1995, there’s nothing more professionally rewarding than to see these students in action and engaged in learning how participating in our democracy can create positive systemic change.”

OCLRE provides civic education programs to teachers and hosts mock trials and civic competitions for students with a goal of bringing citizenship to life. The Ohio Supreme Court supports OCLRE as a sponsor along with the ACLU of Ohio Foundation, the Attorney General’s Office, the Ohio State Bar Foundation and the Ohio State Bar Association.

Eschleman replaces Deborah DeHaan who served as executive director for 13 years. Her last day was Tuesday.

“It’s an honor to follow Deb,” Eschleman said. “Through her leadership, OCLRE has grown to become one of the most respected programs in the country.”

By mid-August, Eschleman will be on board full-time after completing her commitment as chair of the Environmental Review Appeals Commission. Her work for OCLRE has already begun, however, as she recorded a video message for the high school mock trial competition and judged the 4-H state finals of the middle school Project Citizen competition at the Ohio State Fair.

Previous to her leadership position with ERAC, Eschleman served as associate director for pro bono at the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation, as a senior attorney at the Capital University Law School Family Advocacy Clinic and as a partner with Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur.

Among the challenges facing OCLRE are fewer funds for their civic education programs and a lack of funds for school districts to send their students to Columbus to compete in competitions, Eschleman said. She said OCLRE’s board has charged her with exploring how to better connect with students digitally.