Southern Poverty Law Center

A Message from the Southern Poverty Law Center

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Friend,

I am pleased to share that the Southern Poverty Law Center's Board of Directors has unanimously selected Ryan Haygood as our next President and Chief Executive Officer.

Following a robust national search process that included input from across the organization, the Board was fortunate to consider an outstanding group of candidates. Ryan emerged as the clear choice because of his deep commitment to civil rights, his proven leadership, and his unwavering belief in the power of communities to advance justice and strengthen democracy.

Ryan brings decades of experience at the forefront of civil rights advocacy, democracy reform, coalition building, and organizational leadership. For more than a decade, he has led the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice ([link removed]) as President & CEO, where he has helped develop a national model for how states can build community power and dismantle racial inequity — turning people power into durable, lasting change and leading some of the most significant democracy — expanding victories in New Jersey’s modern history. Throughout his career, he has worked to expand opportunity, challenge systems of inequality, and defend the rights and dignity of communities too often left behind.

But beyond his résumé, what drew us to Ryan were his values, his deep faith and his approach to this work as a calling. I have every confidence in his commitment to justice and equality, his collaborative leadership style, his ability to build trust across movements, and his belief in the enduring importance of organizations like ours. And I know that at this defining moment when our country desperately needs both the courage to resist and the vision to construct what has never existed before, Ryan has the heart and vision to lead us forward.

With democratic institutions facing increasing pressure and civil rights organizations confronting unprecedented challenges, the work of the Southern Poverty Law Center remains as vital as ever. The Board is confident that Ryan is the right leader to guide the SPLC into its next chapter — building on our strong foundation while helping us meet the opportunities and challenges ahead.

On behalf of the entire Board and the SPLC team, I also want to express my gratitude to Bryan Fair for his exceptional service as Interim President and CEO. We will be forever grateful for his willingness to step into this role; his generous and unwavering dedication to the SPLC is a gift to us all. Bryan has led the organization with integrity, steadiness, and purpose during a consequential period for the SPLC and the nation. We thank him for his commitment to the SPLC and wish him the very best as he returns to teaching and scholarship, inspiring the next generation of lawyers.

For our partners, supporters, and friends, this transition represents continuity in our mission and confidence in our future. The Southern Poverty Law Center remains steadfast in its commitment to confronting hate and extremism, protecting civil rights, strengthening democratic participation, and advancing justice throughout the South and across the nation.

We are excited to welcome Ryan to the SPLC community and look forward to sharing more about his vision in the weeks ahead. Ryan will officially begin his tenure as President and CEO in late August.

Thank you, as always, for your partnership, trust, and commitment to this work.

With gratitude, 

Karen Baynes-Dunning 
Chair, Board of Directors 
Southern Poverty Law Center 

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The Southern Poverty Law Center

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