Janai Nelson

Janai Nelson, the President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF), stepped into this role in March 2022. She previously held prominent academic positions such as Associate Dean for Faculty Scholarship and Associate Director of the Ronald H. Brown Center for Civil Rights and Economic Development at St. John's University School of Law. As a professor of Law, Nelson was a significant figure in academia and was recognized for her influence in legal education by Lawyers of Color's 50 Under 50 minority professors in 2013.

Nelson has been involved in several major legal cases, including "Hayden v. Pataki," "NAACP v. Hood," "Banks v. Dretke," "Veasey v. Abbott," and "National Urban League, et al. v. Trump." Her work in these cases, dealing with issues such as voting rights, capital murder, and discrimination, demonstrates her adeptness in navigating complex legal terrains. Notably, she represented Professor Nikole Hannah-Jones in a tenure lawsuit against the University of North Carolina Board of Regents, further showcasing her commitment to addressing discrimination in academia.

In addition to her legal and academic pursuits, Nelson has made significant contributions to the NAACP. She helped launch the Marshall-Motley Scholars Program and the Thurgood Marshall Institute at LDF, initiatives aimed at fostering civil rights leadership. Moreover, Nelson's role as an activist within the NAACP is indicative of her dedication to advancing civil rights. Nelson, an alumna of the UCLA School of Law and New York University, is indeed a significant figure in 21st-century American law, particularly in the realm of civil rights.