IU School of Law-Indianapolis Grad is New Indiana ACLU Chief

ACLU Executive Director and Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis Graduate, Claudia Porretti

INDIANAPOLIS – A recent Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis graduate has taken the helm of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana.

The ACLU of Indiana Board of Directors on Wednesday (July 12) announced the appointment of Claudia Peña Porretti as executive director, effective July 17, 2006. Porretti is a 2006 graduate of the IU-School of Law Indianapolis, which is located on the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis campus.

“Claudia Porretti has an extraordinary blend of commitment, achievement and passion for the cause of protecting all Americans’ civil liberties,” Catherine Gibson, president of the ACLU of Indiana board, said. “Her understanding of minority rights, the legal process, and her experience in fund raising and non-profit management will allow her to continue to ‘carry the torch’ for Hoosiers.”

Porretti succeeds Fran Quigley, who has accepted a position as director of development and operations for the IU School of Medicine’s Kenya Partnership.

While attending law school, Porretti served as secretary of the Hispanic Law Association and was a member of the Black Law Student Association.

Porretti is currently attending the IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IUPUI and expects to earn a master’s degree in nonprofit management in May 2008. She has also completed courses at the Fund Raising School of the IU Center on Philanthropy, part of the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI.

The new ACLU chief is a former development director for HVAF of Indiana, Inc., an organization dedicated to eliminating homelessness for veterans and their families; and La Plaza, Inc, a non-profit Hispanic organization that provides programs and services to the Central Indiana Latino community.