Friend –

My name is Dr. Melinda Brennan, and I'm writing to you today to introduce myself as the new Executive Director of the ACLU of Wisconsin.

I'm honored to have the opportunity to lead this organization, which has been on the front lines of crucial civil liberties and civil rights battles in Wisconsin for over 90 years.

First and foremost, I believe that community is central to this work. In addition to carrying on the ACLU's legacy of defending civil rights and liberties, I am committed to building stronger ties with both the people and communities we serve. I want the ACLU to be a site of community and a place where the people of Wisconsin know they can turn to when they're in need.

I come to the ACLU from a career in higher education and equity consulting, where I most recently served as a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Board Consultant for the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition Project, training and educating board members about disability, race, and class issues related to accomplishing their mobility justice mission.

I've been a trusted leader at the UW System, operating as Co-chair of the Women's and Gender Studies Consortium and a member of the task force on caregiving and work, while serving as the assistant chair of the Women's and Gender Studies Program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

In my career and community service, I prioritize working collaboratively, foregrounding how our different backgrounds and needs bring strength and clarity to our work, with a deep fire for the pursuit of justice.

I look forward to using my passion and expertise to serve the ACLU and Wisconsin, and to face the battles ahead – justice, activation, care, and quality of life.

The ACLU and our mission mean a lot to me, and I look forward to working together alongside you to make Wisconsin a state we all want to live in. We will build on the momentum we've built over the past years, and we truly appreciate our members, donors, and community partners for their steadfast support.

Sincerely,

Dr. Melinda Brennan
Pronouns: She, her, hers
Executive Director, ACLU of Wisconsin