Christopher P. Chapman
Christopher P. Chapman
President and Chief Executive Officer, Helix Bar Review® and AccessLex Institute®
President and Chief Executive Officer, Helix Bar Review® and AccessLex Institute®
Christopher P. Chapman has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of AccessLex Institute® since January 2008 and joined its Board of Directors in 2012.
Immediately prior to joining AccessLex, Chris was the President and Chief Executive Officer of ALL Student Loan, a California-based nonprofit student loan provider, from 2001 to 2007. Earlier, he served as Vice President of Student Loan Funding Resources, a student loan originator and secondary market, and as Director of its joint venture loan servicing company. From 1999–2000, Chris practiced law as a Senior Attorney with Calfee, Halter & Griswold, LLP, working in its corporate, public finance, and higher education practice areas. His early career was spent in the policy arena, including acting as Special Assistant and Policy Counsel for two members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Chris has served on numerous nonprofit boards, committees, and task forces throughout his career, and regularly presents on matters relating to the financing of higher education, the state of legal education, and public policy matters. In 2026, The National Jurist named him third on its list of The 25 Most Influential People in Legal Education.
Chris earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Xavier University, his post-baccalaureate certificate in finance and accounting from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. Chris is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
Cynthia Cassity
Cynthia Cassity
Chief Operating Officer — Helix Bar Review®
Senior Vice President — Strategic Engagement, AccessLex Institute®
Chief Operating Officer — Helix Bar Review®
Senior Vice President — Strategic Engagement, AccessLex Institute®
Cynthia is responsible for overall operations, product development, and stakeholder engagement for Helix Bar Review by AccessLex®. She also provides leadership and oversight for the AccessLex Center for Education and Financial Capability®, ensuring the highest quality resources, service, events, and experience.
Before joining AccessLex Institute in 2005, Cynthia held positions with Grey Advertising, the American College of Physicians, the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), and was principal of her own successful marketing and event planning company. Her 25-year career spans the association, corporate, and international markets.
Cynthia earned her bachelor’s degree in communications with emphases in journalism and speech from Ithaca College, receiving a Scripps Howard Foundation scholarship for academic excellence and professional promise in the field of journalism. Throughout her career, Cynthia also achieved the Certified Meeting Professional designation and a certification in nonprofit board management.
Lyssa L. Thaden
Lyssa L. Thaden
Vice President — Strategic Growth, Helix Bar Review® and AccessLex Center for Education and Financial Capability®
Vice President — Strategic Growth, Helix Bar Review® and AccessLex Center for Education and Financial Capability®
Lyssa L. Thaden joined AccessLex Institute in 2016 and is currently the Vice President — Strategic Growth for Helix Bar Review by AccessLex® and the AccessLex Center for Education and Financial Capability®.
Lyssa’s career in higher education includes work as a faculty member, administrator, consultant, and sales executive. She loves connecting the dots between research and application, especially as it relates to product development, instructional design, platform design and delivery, and audience engagement.
Lyssa has a B.S. in Mathematics Education and Computer Science (Rocky Mountain College), an M.A. in Organizational Leadership (Gonzaga University), a Ph.D. in Sociology (Washington State University), and a Sales Growth Certificate from Cornell University. She is also an Accredited Financial Counselor®.
Sophie S. Martin
Sophie S. Martin
Senior Managing Director — Operations and Administration
Senior Managing Director — Operations and Administration
Sophie Martin is the Senior Managing Director, Operations and Administration for Helix Bar Review®, where she focuses on Helix’s partnerships with law school faculty and bar success professionals to support students preparing for the bar exam.
Sophie brings deep experience in bar admissions, legal education, and national stakeholder engagement to her role with Helix. Before joining the Helix team, she served as the Director of Communications, Education, and Outreach at the National Conference of Bar Examiners, where she led national communications strategy and messaging related to the NextGen Uniform Bar Exam. In that role, she collaborated with law schools, courts, and jurisdiction leaders across the country. Prior to that, she was Executive Director of the New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners, overseeing all aspects of attorney admissions, including policy development, operational management, and exam administration.
Sophie currently teaches leadership and nonprofit law at the University of New Mexico Anderson School of Management, where she also developed the university’s graduate test preparation programs.
Sophie earned a Bachelor of Arts from Occidental College and both a Master of Business Administration and Juris Doctorate from the University of New Mexico. She is admitted to practice law in New Mexico.
Meghan Short
Meghan Short
Senior Managing Director — Product and Customer Experience
Senior Managing Director — Product and Customer Experience
Meghan Short is the Senior Managing Director – Product and Customer Experience at Helix Bar Review®. Prior to joining the Helix team, Meghan spent over a decade helping students navigate law school and bar preparation at Wayne State University Law School and Michigan State University College of Law. Before that, she started her career as a city attorney and public defender in Chicago.
Fidel A. Calero
Fidel A. Calero
Managing Director — Helix Bar Review Engagement
Managing Director — Helix Bar Review Engagement
Fidel A. Calero is the Managing Director of Helix Bar Review Engagement. He leads a dynamic national team of regional directors that are the external face of the Helix Bar Review® program. Before joining AccessLex Institute® in 2017, Fidel held positions with American Student Assistance and EdFund. With over 20 years of experience in higher education, he has dedicated his career to helping students navigate the financial, academic, and personal hurdles they face on their way to licensure.
Allie Robbins
Allie Robbins
Managing Director — Academic Programs and Partnerships
Managing Director — Academic Programs and Partnerships
Allie Robbins is the Managing Director of Academic Programs and Partnerships for Helix Bar Review by AccessLex®. Prior to joining the Helix team, she spent more than 10 years working in a variety of administrative and teaching roles at the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law, including as Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and an Associate Professor of Law. Allie also practiced labor and employment law and is a licensed attorney in the State of New York.