ACLU-TN Welcomes New Board Members

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee recently welcomed four new board members to support its efforts. With the addition of Katie Marchetti, Carolyn Watkins, Lisa Misosky, and Daniel Kiel, ACLU-TN currently has 16 dynamic board members to help guide its work.

“ACLU-TN board members are integral to the work of the affiliate,” said Miriam R. Nemeth, ACLU-TN executive director. “Their expertise supports ACLU-TN’s ongoing work to defend constitutional rights, promote equity within the organization, and ensure justice for all Tennesseans.”

The new board members include leaders from all three of Tennessee’s Grand Divisions, each contributing valuable perspectives.

Katie Marchetti is the head of strategic partnerships at Jefferson Bridge Capital, a company that invests in nonprofits. Her extensive experience working and volunteering with various nonprofits in Tennessee has uniquely equipped her to serve ACLU-TN and its broad-ranging constituents.

Carolyn Watkins is a retired administrator for the Shelby County Equal Opportunity Commission. Watkins has worked tirelessly throughout her career for marginalized members of her community, whether in the courtrooms as a former public defender or in the community through her work in her neighborhood.

Lisa Misosky is a prominent community advocate and the co-owner of Southland Books, the oldest and largest used and new bookstore in Blount County. Misosky hosts regular drag shows at her bookstore and has been a champion for LGBTQ+ advocacy in East Tennessee.

Daniel Kiel is an experienced attorney and professor at the University of Memphis School of Law, specializing in constitutional and education law. His scholarship and publications focus on racial inequalities in Tennessee, particularly within the educational landscape, which dovetails well with ACLU-TN’s work.

“We are ecstatic to welcome these outstanding individuals to our board,” said David Taylor, ACLU-TN board president. “Their passion, leadership, and dedication statewide will help guide our efforts at a time when protecting civil liberties is of the utmost importance.”

The ACLU of Tennessee has spent this year on the frontlines. The organization is holding Memphis city officials accountable for retaliating against people exercising their First Amendment rights, advancing racial justice, fighting for immigrants’ right to live freely in Tennessee, and more. We look forward to working alongside our new board members to continue building a more just and equitable future.

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