The Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine Names Amanda Allen as Executive Director
ACT welcomes Amanda Allen as ED — after her nearly two decades advocating for reproductive health, rights, and justice — to lead the organization into its next stage
New York — The Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine (ACT), a nonprofit innovation hub dedicated to advancing telemedicine abortion access, today announced the appointment of Amanda Allen as its new Executive Director. Amanda is a nationally recognized expert on telemedicine abortion and shield laws, and currently serves as Deputy Executive Director for Legal Programs at The Lawyering Project, which she co-founded in 2017. Amanda also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Abortion Care Network.
As opponents of abortion attack mifepristone and other components of care, Amanda will lead ACT to break new ground to create and develop new initiatives and strategies to strengthen the abortion landscape, convene partners to anticipate and address threats to the provision of safe and effective care, enhance coordination across the reproductive health and rights landscape, and build the infrastructure needed to sustain telemedicine abortion.
Amanda brings nearly two decades of experience as an attorney, advocate, and leader in the reproductive health, rights, and justice movement. She has spent her legal career advocating for meaningful access to reproductive health services. At The Lawyering Project, she created and leads the organization’s Access & Innovation Program, which advises abortion providers, abortion funds, social science researchers, and advocates on their rights to provide, support, and study abortion care.
Over the course of her career, Amanda has drafted legislation and litigated cases protecting the right to abortion, led teams of legal and advocacy professionals, and managed the implementation of policy strategies at the local, state and national levels, all while working closely in coalitions and partnerships within the abortion rights movement and other social justice causes. She has advised dozens of abortion providers on launching and sustaining telehealth abortion services, resulting in meaningful, on-the-ground impact in service delivery and availability.
Statement from Kim Chirls, Board Chair, Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine
“I am thrilled to announce Amanda Allen as ACT’s next Executive Director. Amanda is an exceptional executive leader with a proven record across policy, litigation, and coalition building — all grounded in service to abortion providers. Following an extensive search, we are confident that her experience, judgment, and unwavering commitment to patients and providers make her the right leader for ACT at this critical moment.
“Attacks on telemedicine and abortion care are expected to intensify after this year’s midterm elections. Amanda is a bold, fearless leader who has built powerful reproductive health coalitions and pioneered innovative strategies to protect and expand abortion access. The fights ahead will demand cross-movement collaboration, and Amanda brings the grit, relationships, and expertise to meet the threats facing providers, patients, and access. She is uniquely positioned to lead ACT into its next chapter and advance our mission: ensuring that everyone who seeks an abortion can get one safely and easily.”
Statement from Amanda Allen, incoming Executive Director, Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine
“People around the country will always need access to care — and innovation in shield laws and telemedicine are rising to meet this challenging moment. Telemedicine’s cemented role in abortion provision is a testament to the resilience of abortion providers and the leadership and ingenuity of organizations like ACT. At ACT, we will continue to innovate the latest and strongest lines of defense – like shield laws – to ensure abortion remains available amid politicians’ scorched-earth attacks on abortion rights and access.
“I could not be more proud to be selected to lead ACT in ushering a new era of innovations, protections, and resources to sustain telemedicine abortion. Though attacks on abortion and telemedicine access are increasing around the country, so are the opportunities to build durable, patient-centered infrastructure that ensures everyone across the country can get the care they need.”
Statement from Amy Hagstrom Miller, Founder, President, and CEO of Whole Woman’s Health and Whole Woman’s Health Alliance
“Anyone who knows Amanda knows she doesn’t back away from a fight. Directly supporting, advising, and representing abortion providers is the backbone of Amanda’s professional work, and I know her to be a powerful partner and coalition builder focused on protecting and expanding abortion access. Amanda’s unwavering commitment to building a legal landscape that protects patients and providers is a win for the movement, and I can’t wait to see her successes at ACT.”
Statement from Maya Rupert, Author, Political Strategist, and Social Justice Leader:
“Amanda has been a compelling leader in the reproductive health and rights movement since I’ve known her. Her impactful track record as a collaborative partner and strategic leader, deep understanding of the political and legal landscape, and shared commitment to protecting and expanding telemedicine providers is unmatched. ACT is gaining a powerful and progressive advocate as a leader and I can’t wait to see what Amanda accomplishes at ACT’s helm.”
Statement from Kelly Baden, Vice President for US Policy and Communications, Guttmacher
“ACT has been instrumental in enacting strong telehealth shield laws in states around the country, and I couldn’t think of a better leader than Amanda Allen to come on board. Amanda’s deep legal expertise on shield laws and telemedicine abortion provision is coupled with a successful history of innovative approaches to preserving and expanding abortion access. Amanda takes a rigorous, evidence-based approach to innovating vanguard models of protecting and expanding access, and will be a powerful executive through these challenging times.”
ACT envisions a future where abortion is safe and accessible to all who need it, and telemedicine abortion providers can serve patients across the country safely and without fear. ACT is working toward a time when everyone has equitable access to abortion care and the autonomy to make their own decisions about pregnancy—supported by accurate information, comprehensive options, and new frameworks that center reproductive freedom. ACT supports a community of telemedicine abortion providers, including programs and advocacy in states around the country to enact and strengthen shield laws.
Prior to co-founding the Lawyering Project in 2017, Amanda held several leadership positions at the Center for Reproductive Rights, including overseeing the Center’s state and local policy and advocacy initiatives. She also held positions with the National Institute for Reproductive Health, the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum as a Georgetown Law & Public Policy Fellow, and If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice.
Amanda received a J.D. from CUNY School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Minnesota. As a sought-after expert on abortion access, she has been featured on TV, podcast, and print media. Amanda is a frequent public speaker on abortion rights and telehealth policy at conferences, convenings, and before state and federal lawmakers, and her writing on the intersections between miscarriage, postpartum mental health, and abortion access have appeared in the New York Times, Slate, and Elle.
Amanda will begin her new role on September 1, 2026.
The Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine (ACT) is a nonprofit innovation hub dedicated to supporting telemedicine abortion providers so they can safely and sustainably deliver care. Through legislative advocacy, policy work, and direct provider support, and by centering the unique needs of providers, ACT’s work promotes safe, timely, and affordable abortion care as a normal part of healthcare across the country.
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