ACLU of Florida - Board of Directors


Accomplishments Annual Reports Bill of Rights Newsletters Shop Online Staff Board	Home » About ACLU of Florida Board of Directors EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (click on the image to read Jeanne's 2007 "State of the Union") President Jeanne Baker is an attorney in private practice in Miami, specializing in criminal defense at the trial and appellate levels. She was elected to a 3rd consecutive term as president in February 2006, having served as a board member since the early 1990s. Prior, she served on the ACLU Boards of MA and VT. During her FL tenure, Jeanne has served for 6 years as FL's representative to the National Board. Jeanne has assisted on numerous ACLU cases since joining the organization in the mid-1970s. She has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from donors for the ACLU of FL, including a special gift to launch the organization's Religious Freedom Project. Vice President Steve Phillippy is a principal in a consulting firm that offers computer systems consulting, statistical studies, computer/web based training/learning, and web development including real estate web marketing. Previously the Secretary, Steve oversaw ACLU movement towards electronic and web based documentation (including the minutes) and communications. Steve continues to advocate for increased ACLU use of technologies including web centric, supporter empowering, communications & quality information resources for civil liberties students everywhere. Steve is a member of and advocated for the Development, Stratigic Communications and Drug Policy Reform Committees. Secretary Lorie Fridell was elected to the Board and to the position of Secretary in February 2006. Dr. Fridell is a criminology professor at University of South Florida in Tampa. Her major research area is law enforcement; she is a national expert on both police use of force and racially biased policing. In the late 1980s and early 1990s she was the volunteer chair of the ACLU's Tallahassee Chapter, and also served as the state board secretary during those years. She then moved to Washington, D.C. for six years, returning to Florida in 2005. She has provided valuable advice to the board regarding the issue of non-lethal weapons such as Tasers. Treasurer Before being elected Treasurer in February 2006, Larry Roberts was chair of the Investment Committee, providing wise guidance during years where ACLU's investments prospered nicely under adverse market conditions. Larry is a longtime member of the ACLU of Florida's Greater Miami Chapter and has served as its treasurer for many years. Larry taught marine biology at both the University of Miami and Florida International University. National Board Representative Mike Pheneger spent 30 years in the U.S. Army as an Intelligence Officer before retiring in 1993, serving in a variety of assignments in the U.S. and overseas. Mike first joined the ACLU in 1960. Mike is a frequent spokesman for the ACLU in local and national media, especially on issues relating to national security. He has been the representative to the national ACLU board for 6 years and is the first Florida board member to serve on ACLU National's Executive Committee. He served the ACLU of FL as its treasurer for several years from 2002 - February 2006, advocating for a strong cash flow position based on renewable income. Chair of the Development Committee Marcia Hayden Chair of the Legal Panel Mike Masinter has been a professor of law at Nova Southeastern University since 1978, specializing in civil rights law, employment discrimination law, and related subjects. The Legal Panel consists of a dedicated group of volunteer attorneys who review, and approve, all requests for legal action by the ACLU of Florida. Affiliate Affirmative Action Officer Ethelene Crockett Jones, M.D. moved to FL in the late 1990s and soon became not only chair of the ACLU of FL Palm Beach Chapter, but also a leader on the state Development Committee, an expert witness as a gynecologist in a reproductive freedom case, and recently Affiliate Affirmative Action Officer. In that role she is charged with keeping the ACLU of FL in compliance with national policies regarding minority representation on the state board and staff. AT-LARGE BOARD MEMBERS Altaf Ali Altaf is the Executive Director of the Florida Office of the Council on American-Islmaic Relations (CAIR). John de Leon John De Leon is the managing partner of the Miami office of Chavez and De Leon, P.A. and has acted as lead counsel on cases involving sophisticated legal issues resulting in multi-million dollar awards. He obtained his Juris Doctor in 1986 from the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington D.C. Mr. De Leon also holds a Masters of International Affairs from the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, New York, New York (1992) and an A.B. from the University of Miami, Coral Gables Florida (1983). Lorie Fridell Lorie Fridell is a criminology professor at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Dr. Fridell is an expert on law enforcement including law enforcement issues related to civil liberties. She conducts research, writes and speaks nationally on both use of force and racial profiling. She was a Tallahassee ACLU chapter chair in the late 1980's and early 1990's. She is a former member of the ACLU state board and a former secretary of the state board. She returned to Florida in 2005 after living in Washington, D.C. for six years. Mike Masinter Mike is a professor of law at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Law Center. He is a former legal services attorney and a nationally recognized expert on civil rights and civil liberties law. He is a frequent author of amicus briefs in courts at all levels. Siobhan McLaughlin Siobhan received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Barry University. She also holds an associates degree in nursing as well as a Bachelor of Arts in English. As of July 1992, Siobhan has been working as a Staff Nurse II in the trauma and intensive care unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital. She is the chair of BC Commission on the Status of Women (a county advisory board). She is involved with many professional as well as community organizations. Aside from being a nurse, she is a feminist, a civil libertarian and a practicing Catholic. She's an aunt to three wonderful nephews and admires her mom the most. Russell Mootry Russell is the Dean of the School of Sciences at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach. Amy Obugu Ongiri Amy is a Professor at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Maria Rodriguez Maria is the Director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, based in Miami. Sonya Rudenstine Sonya lives in Gainesville. She attended New York University School of Law and served as the Death Penalty Clerk for the New Jersey Supreme Court following law school. While at NYU, she was granted the Herbert Rauscher ACLU fellowship and has, since law school, practiced primarily in the area of capital post-conviction representation. She has also taught at the University of Florida and Florida Coastal School of Law. ACLU OF FLORIDA CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVES Kevin Aplin - Brevard Chapter Ray Arsenault - Pinellas Chapter Michael Barfield - Sarasota Chapter Joe Barley - Panhandle Chapter Richard Benham - Tallahassee Chapter Shirley Broughton - Panhandle Chapter Lisa Bruno - Greater Jacksonville Chapter Karen Clegg - Collier County Chapter Thom Foley - Pinellas Chapter Richard Friedman - Lee County Chapter Carol Greene - Palm Beach Chapter George Griffin - Volusia/Flagler Chapter Samuel Hart - Greater Jacksonville Chapter Marcia Hayden - Palm Beach Chapter Adrien Helm - Pinellas Chapter Michael Hittleman - Broward Chapter Ken Hurley - Greater Jacksonville Chapter John Johsnon - North Central Chapter Geoff Kashdan - Palm Beach Chapter Brad Koogler - Broward Chapter Glenn Lang - Tallahassee Chapter Vanessa Macomson - Greater Bay Chapter George Maurer - Keys Chapter Jose Miranda - Central Chapter John Pauly Jr. - Palm Beach County Chapter John Richardson - Broward Chapter Ethel Rowland - Treasure Coast Chapter Robert Salzberg - Sarasota Chapter Roger Sanderson - Greater Tampa Chapter Carlene Sawyer - Greater Miami Chapter Bill Schoolman - Broward Chapter Dan Stokes - Volusia/Flagler Chapter John Szymonik - Lee County Chapter Pete Tannen - Sarasota Chapter Ray Taseff - Greater Miami Chapter Khatanga von Heitman - Treasure Coast Chapter Grissim Walker - Sarasota Chapter David White - Brevard Chapter Darlene Williams - Greater Tampa Chapter