Afshan Paarlberg, Esq. is an assistant research scholar at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Her research and publications range from understanding global philanthropy trends to improving access to justice for immigrant and refugee communities.

She previously led the immigration practice at Saeed and Little, a boutique law firm based in Indiana. She represented various clients, including victims of crimes and trafficking, asylum seekers, students, businesses, and married couples. Before that, she led access to justice initiatives with legal aid providers in Indianapolis.

Afshan has a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Houston Law Center and a BBA and BA from the University of Texas at Austin. She is currently pursuing her PhD in philanthropic studies. Her dissertation-in-progress brings an understanding to the comparative advantages and limitations of nonprofit legal aid to U.S. asylum seekers when asylum legal protection frameworks fail.

In addition to joining the board of The Appellate Project, she serves as secretary for the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding and past president of Exodus Refugee Immigration. She enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time with her family in her free time.