LINCOLN, Neb. – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Nebraska is naming two current team members to new leadership roles.
The ACLU of Nebraska’s Board of Directors recently selected Mindy Rush Chipman as the organization’s next executive director, concluding a national search and her time as interim executive director. In tandem, Rush Chipman promoted Rose Godinez to legal director. Both changes are effective immediately.
Rush Chipman joined the ACLU of Nebraska last year as its legal director, bringing experience from leadership roles at Immigrant Legal Center and the Lincoln Commission on Human Rights. Shortly after starting as legal director at the ACLU of Nebraska, she also began serving as its interim executive director. Over the last year, Rush Chipman has overseen the launch of new lawsuits across multiple priority areas, robust grassroots mobilization efforts focused on bills before the Nebraska Legislature, and new community collaborations — including partnerships to distribute rights awareness information in Nebraska’s most spoken languages and the creation of a formal advisory team to support work related to transgender Nebraskans’ rights.
Godinez joined the ACLU of Nebraska in 2017 in a role focused on policy and litigation. Her litigation and policy work has primarily focused on the First Amendment, immigrants’ rights, students’ rights, police practices, racial justice and Indigenous justice. Godinez has successfully settled cases on unlawful police practices and in support of students’ rights. She is lead counsel on all of the ACLU of Nebraska’s current First Amendment cases. In policy, Godinez’s research helped secure support for a 2020 law requiring annual anti-bias training for law enforcement officers and a recently passed law that protects students’ rights to wear their natural hair, protective hairstyles, headdresses and tribal regalia. As legal director, Godinez will direct the ACLU of Nebraska’s litigation strategy and oversee its legal portfolio, which covers a wide range of constitutional issues.
ACLU of Nebraska Board President Ashlei Spivey made this statement on the recent appointments:
“Now more than ever Nebraska needs a strong ACLU of Nebraska and I am confident these two transformative leaders will ensure we continue to show up and rise to every challenge,” Spivey said. “Mindy has led the team with brilliance, grace, drive and dedication throughout this interim period. She is the right person at the right time to keep the team moving forward as our next executive director. She’s already made a great choice in naming Rose as legal director. Ultimately, these are two proven leaders who are both well positioned to keep working alongside our communities to build power and achieve change. I look forward to seeing the team’s continued impact in the months and years to come.”
Rush Chipman succeeds longtime ACLU of Nebraska leader Danielle Conrad, who left the organization last spring to run for office.
