ACLU-DE Board Leadership
Helen K. Foss, President ACLU-DE
Helen K. Foss has had a career ranging from classroom teaching, to leading a non-profit human relations organization, to providing leadership in education reform from the Delaware Governor’s office. She served as the executive director of the Delaware Region National Conference of Christians and Jews for nine years during the days of the New Castle County desegregation process, and then became Governor Mike Castle’s Education Advisor for six years. She then joined Pat Forgione, then the new State Superintendent at the Department of Public Instruction, as he was forging the state’s standards based reform. Afterward Ms. Foss became project director for the National Science Foundation’s Statewide Systemic Initiative, then moved on to serve as Senior Associate for Program Development at the Delaware Education Research and Development Center at the University of Delaware, continuing reform-related work until she retired in 2000. Helen remains active in a number of organizations in addition to ACLU, including WHYY’s Community Advisory Board, Christiana Care’s Board of Trustees, and the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League’s Education Advisory Committee.
Elizabeth M. McGeever, Vice President
Elizabeth M. (Betsy) McGeever has been a member of the Board of Directors of ACLU of Delaware since 1990, serving as its representative on the National Board of the ACLU from 1990 to 1995. She was the recipient of the 2010 Kandler Award. Currently, Betsy serves on the Court of Chancery Rules Committee and as General Co-Chair for the Combined Campaign for Justice. Her corporate litigation practice concentrates on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, fiduciary law. She also handles complex business litigation and serves as Delaware counsel in commercial, intellectual property, antitrust and securities litigation in the Delaware District Court. In 2007-08, Betsy was president of the Delaware State Bar Association. In 2003, she received the Association’s Women’s Leadership Award. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and earned her J.D. from Villanova University.
Jeff Raffel, Secretary
Jeffrey A. Raffel is the Charles P. Messick Professor of Public Administration in the School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Delaware and was director of the School for 10 years. His books include Public Sector Leadership (co-edited); Selling Cities: Attracting Homebuyers through Schools and Housing Programs (with David Varady), The Politics of School Desegregation: The Metropolitan Remedy in Delaware, and Historical Dictionary of School Segregation and Desegregation: The American Experience. Jeff was a co-founder of the Delaware Academy for School Leadership and has conducted numerous studies for the Delaware Department of Education on teacher mentoring and induction, teacher recruitment and retention, and teacher and administrator supply and demand, as well as serving on various education reform task forces in the state and consulting, researching, and serving as an expert witness in the Wilmington metropolitan area school desegregation case. He now serves as chair of Common Cause Delaware and is the immediate past president of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs & Administration. Jeff received his PhD from M.I.T. and A.B. from the University of Rochester in political science.
Grace E. Messner, Treasurer
Grace Messner is a native Delawarean, a graduate of the University of Delaware, and a Chartered Financial Analyst. She is retired from the investment management business, with First Boston in New York, Wilmington Trust and Cypress Capital Management. She has held various positions including Director of Research and Manager of Institutional Equities. Also active in professional and community organizations, she is a past Board President of Financial Analysts of Wilmington, YWCA Delaware and Kentmere Nursing Care Center. Grace and her husband, Blair, live in North Wilmington.
Norman M. Monhait, President ACLU-DE Foundation
Norman M. Monhait is a member of Rosenthal Monhait & Goddess, P.A. His professional work includes membership on, and currently serving as Vice-Chair of, the Council of the Corporation Law Section of the Delaware State Bar Association. He has also served as appointed defense counsel in criminal cases in United States District Court, and as guardian ad litem for children in dependency and neglect proceedings in Delaware Family Court, and as counsel in a number of civil rights litigations. Mr. Monhait has served as a member of the Boards of Directors of the Wilmington Jewish Community Center and the Delaware Council on Crime and Justice (currently the Delaware Justice Center), and of the Board of Trustees of Wilmington Friends School. He is a member of the Boards of Directors of the American Civil Liberties Union of Delaware and The Kutz Home, Inc., a residential skilled nursing facility for the elderly. Mr. Monhait is a graduate of Lehigh University and Harvard Law School. Before locating to Wilmington, Mr. Monhait was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.
Alice E. Eakin, Affirmative Action Officer
Alice Eakin is Co-Director of the Academic Success Program at Widener University School of Law’s Delaware campus, where she teaches Legal Methods III and Intensive Legal Analysis. Alice received a B.A. in Political Science from Temple University in 1984 and a J.D. from Temple University School of Law in 1987. Following graduation from law school, Alice was an Assistant Public Defender in Kansas City, Missouri. She later worked at the Delaware Criminal Justice Council and clerked for Judge Carl Goldstein of the Delaware Superior Court. Alice has served on the Board of Directors for the ACLU of Delaware since 2000 and is currently serving as the affiliate’s Affirmative Action Officer.
Peggy E. Strine, National Board Representative
ACLU-DE Board Members
Melissa R. Allman
Melissa Allman is originally from North Canton, Ohio. She holds an undergraduate degree from Georgetown University (1999), a Masters Degree in Russian literature from Ohio State University (2001) and her law degree from the James E. Beasley School of Law at Temple University (2005). Since 2005 Ms. Allman has worked as a staff attorney in Wilmington, Delaware at Community Legal Aid Society (CLASI), representing clients who are experiencing discrimination under the Fair Housing Act. She investigates allegations of discrimination as well as filing and enforcing discrimination complaints with HUD and the Division of Human Relations.
Timothy F. Brooks
Timothy Brooks has been on the ACLU Board for over 15 years. He has major interests in disability rights, First Amendment issues and separation of church and state. He holds a doctorate in education and worked in higher education for 40 years, including over 20 years as the Dean of Students at the University of Delaware. He is retired now but volunteers for a variety of disability groups. Prior to his involvement in higher education, Tim served as an Army combat platoon leader in Vietnam and Cambodia.
Theresa V. Brown-Edwards
Theresa Brown-Edwards is a partner in the Delaware law firm of Potter Anderson Corroon, LLC. Ms. Brown-Edwards concentrates her practice on corporate reorganization. She has been recognized by Chambers USA: American’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2011) as a leading lawyer in bankruptcy/restructuring and “is developing a strong reputation for creditor work.” Terri has served as Past Chair and Special Advisor to the Multicultural Judges & Lawyers Section of the DSBA and DE Committee Liaison and Sub-Committee Co-Chair of the Pro Bono Sub-Committee of the ABA Committee on Corporate Counsel of the Litigation Section.
Santino Ceccotti
Santino Ceccotti is an Assistant Public Defender in the Appellate Unit of the Delaware Public Defenders Office. He attended law school at Widener University School of Law and received his B.S. in Finance at the University of Delaware. Santino also serves as a member of the Delaware State Bar Association Executive Committee for the 2011-2012 term.
Sherry Dorsey
Sherry Dorsey, a native of Wilmington, Delaware, earned a Masters in Film from Howard University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Delaware in English/Journalism. In 2001, Sherry established SWAP (Sisters With A Purpose) Productions LLC, an independent film production company. Sherry humbly believes that her purpose in life is to educate, entertain and enlighten through her films. As well as serving on the ACLU of Delaware board, Sherry is Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Kind to Kids, and a board member of the Biden Breast Health Initiative and the Public Allies of Delaware. She is a member of the Delaware Independent Filmmakers and the Peace with Justice Task Force. She is also a member of Bethel AME Church in Wilmington, DE.
Alan E. Garfield
Alan E. Garfield has been a professor on Widener University’s Delaware campus since 1986, where he was awarded the 2004 Outstanding Teaching Award and the 2006 Douglas E. Ray Excellence in Faculty Scholarship Award. He received his Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Brandeis University, and his Juris Doctorate from UCLA School of Law, where he was a member of the UCLA Law Review and the Order of the Coif. Prior to joining the Widener faculty, Professor Garfield worked for three years in the litigation department of Weil, Gotshal & Manges in New York City. He is licensed to practice in California and New York. From 2005-2007, Professor Garfield writes and teaches in the areas of Constitutional Law, Copyright and Contracts. He currently writes a monthly column on the Supreme Court, Bench Press, for the Opinion section of The News Journal. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Delaware ACLU since 2006.
Douglas D. Gerdts, D. Min.
The Rev. Dr. Douglas D. Gerdts, an ordained clergyperson in the Presbyterian Church (USA), has served First & Central Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware since July of 2003. Prior to coming to Delaware, he served two churches in Kentucky: Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church in Lexington, and First Presbyterian Church in Maysville. Doug is a “second-career” pastor after having spent nearly 20 years in the hotel management and development business based in Santa Barbara, CA. In addition to his service on the Board of Directors of the ACLU, Doug is the treasurer and a trustee of New Castle Presbytery, an advisory board member of Equality Delaware, board member of Market Street Music, former chair and board member of the New Castle County Diversity Commission, and a member of the Interdenominational Ministerial Action Committee (IMAC). His passion is for social justice and he seeks to engage the community in uplifting the lives of those persons who are ignored or overlooked.
Lawrence A. Hamermesh
Lawrence A. Hamermesh is the Ruby R. Vale Professor of Corporate and Business Law at Widener University School of Law and the director of the law school’s Institute of Delaware Corporate and Business Law. After earning a B.A. from Haverford College and a J.D. from Yale Law School, Hamermesh practiced law with the Wilmington law firm of Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell from 1976 to 1994. Hamermesh has been a member of the board of directors of ACLU of Delaware since 1985, and was a member of the national board of the ACLU from 2004 to 2009. He served as President of ACLU of Delaware from 1996 to 2003 and is a long-time member of the legal review panel. He has also served on the board of Delaware Volunteer Legal Services, Inc. and as Secretary of the Delaware Board of Bar Examiners. Hamermesh received the Delaware State Bar Association’s Daniel L. Herrmann Professional Conduct Award in 2004. Since 1995, he has been a member of the Council of the Corporation Law Section of the Delaware State Bar Association. Hamermesh earned a certificate in Jewish learning from the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School in 2004, and is a member of Congregation Beth Israel in Media, Pennsylvania. He is also a violinist, and has played for many years with the Wilmington Community Orchestra of the Music School of Delaware, and the Ardensingers orchestra.
Kathryn M. Jakabcin
Kathryn M. Jakabcin is an attorney, social worker, educator, and musician and currently works with Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor LLP in Wilmington, Delaware in Administration. Prior to law school, she was a social worker with the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging. After fifteen years of private law practice in Pennsylvania and South Florida, she was General Counsel to Resources for Human Development in Philadelphia, PA. She is devoted to the concerns of older Americans in legal practice, in service, and as an advocate for over thirty years. She regularly engages in adult legal and civic education and is an avid arts advocate.
Dariel Janerette
Dariel Janerette is an attorney and education policy analyst. Ms. Janerette serves as a hearing officer and arbitrator. In addition, she represents students and counsels school administrators on a variety of civil liberties issues. She has authored education policy briefs on school leadership, student achievement, academic achievement gaps, and school discipline. Her policy brief, Zero Tolerance Policies and School Discipline, was credited with “spurring change in statewide legislation” on school discipline policies in Delaware. Ms. Janerette earned her B.A. from Clark Atlanta University, J.D. and LL.M. in Corporate and Finance Law from Widener University School of Law, and Ph.D. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy from the University of Delaware.
Enno Krebbers
Enno Krebbers was born in the Netherlands and raised in several places inside and outside the U.S. His formal training is a as a scientist, working on plant molecular biology and biotechnology. That career has allowed him to live and work in different countries, experiencing other systems and value sets. He currently works for DuPont. He has been interested in current affairs, history, politics and civil liberty issues since high school and is excited to contribute to the Delaware community as well as defense of civil liberties by serving on the board of the Delaware ACLU. He also serves as town chair of the village of Ardentown in northern Delaware.
Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman
Elizabeth is pleased to put her various professional and personal experiences to work playing a role in bringing outreach projects such as With All Deliberate Speed: The Legacy of Brown v. Board and the Hearts & Minds Film Initiative to fruition. Fueled by a personal interest in multiculturalism, tolerance, social justice and service, Elizabeth focuses on community outreach as fulfillment of Serviam’s goals of achieving broader historical understanding and social awareness and fostering dialogue between society’s many disparate groups. She believes that accomplishing this essential work locally will ripple outward to the world at large. Elizabeth graduated from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, with a concentration in film and linguistics. Her years in New York brought her a wide range of professional experience, including stints at Nickelodeon Studios, Lions Gate Pictures, and Simon & Goodman Picture Company.
Judith E. Mellen
Judy Mellen was executive director of the ACLU of Delaware for 15 years, retiring in 2001. She was the first paid, full-time director of the agency. Prior to joining the ACLU, she was director of Educational Services at the Pilot School, a Wilmington school for children with learning problems and a therapist at Children’s’ Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Michigan. Always an activist, Judy was an early feminist and president of Wilmington N.O.W. In retirement, she continues to work for children on the executive committee and a panel of the Child Placement Review Board and for justice issues with the Delaware Center of Justice, where she is a past president.
Joseph S. Naylor
Joseph S. Naylor is a lawyer who focuses his practice area on advising and representing clients in toxic tort and complex commercial litigation. He has substantial experience litigating before all of Delaware’s state and federal courts and helping the firm’s clients achieve positive resolution of a wide variety of disputes. Joe received his B.A. in history education, cum laude, from the University of Delaware in 1996. He received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Widener University School of Law in 1999, where he was an editor of the Delaware Journal of Corporate Law. During his third year of law school, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Jack B. Jacobs on the Delaware Court of Chancery. After graduation, he spent a year clerking for the Honorable Joseph T. Walsh of the Delaware Supreme Court. Joe is a member of ACLU-DE’s Legal Review Panel.
William A. Oberle, Jr.
Representative William A. Oberle, Jr. served in the Delaware State Assembly from 1976-2010. Mr. Oberle worked across party lines in order to address wide range of issues including: state finances, school desegregation, gay rights, green space and farm-land preservation, and ensuring police officers have modern technology to keep Delaware safe. During his years in the Delaware State Assembly, Representative Oberle has received the Distinguished Service Award from the U.S. Jaycees, Delaware Bar Association Legislator of the Year Award, Educational Achievement Award from D.S.F.A, Award of Merit from the National Guard and an Award of Merit from the Delaware State F.O.P. Mr. Oberle was a recipient of the Kandler Award in 2010. Representative Oberle is a lifelong Delaware resident. He graduated from Brandywine High School and attended the University of Delaware and Wilmington University. He currently resides in Newark with his wife of 43 years, Sally. They have three daughters and eight grandchildren.
Carl Schnee
Carl Schnee has had a long and fruitful law career. After completing undergraduate studies at Muhlenberg College, he earned his Law Degree from Villanova University and a Master of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies from the University of Delaware. In addition to spending 47 years in private practice (1962 – 2009), he was also a senior partner at Prickett, Jones, Elliott, Kristol and Schnee (1981-1999). Mr. Schnee served as Chair of the Criminal Justice Council from 1985-1993; as well as holding the position of U. S. Attorney for the District of Delaware from 1999-2001. He retired from practice in 2009 and is presently special assistant to Mike Graves, President of the YMCA of Delaware.
Amy L. Simmerman
Amy is an attorney in the corporate counseling group at Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP in Wilmington, Delaware. In addition to serving on the board of ACLU-DE, Amy serves on the Advisory Council of Equality Delaware. She received her B.A. at the University of Pennsylvania and attended law school at Georgetown University. Amy previously was an aide to United States Representative Rob Andrews and has worked on several LGBT rights projects.
John R. (“Randy”) Tiffany, MD
John R (“Randy”) Tiffany MD practices Family Medicine in Claymont, Delaware. He graduated from Yale University and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He has been active on the ACLU board since 2000. In addition to his general interest in civil liberties, and issues of church-state separation in particular, he is passionate about Jewish study, long distance running, biological evolution, and gardening. He lives in North Wilmington with his wife, Rabbi Marjorie Yudkin. They have two daughters.
Leland B. Ware
Professor Leland Ware is the Louis L. Redding Chair for the Study of Law and Public Policy at the University of Delaware. Before his present appointment, he was a professor of law at St. Louis University School of Law from 1987 to 2000. He is a co-author, with Robert Cottrol and Raymond Diamond, of Brown v. Board of Education: Caste, Culture and the Constitution (2003). He is the editor of Choosing Equality: Essays and Narratives on the Desegregation Experience (co-edited with Robert L. Hayman with a Foreword by Vice President Joe Biden) Penn State Press (2009). Professor Ware is a graduate of Fisk University and Boston College Law School.
Eric Wilensky
Eric Wilensky is an associate with the Delaware Corporate Law Counseling Group. His practice is primarily focused on the statutory requirements of the Delaware General Corporation Law and the fiduciary duties of directors, officers and controlling stockholders of Delaware corporations. Eric has provided advice to members of independent committees in the context of potential transactions, and has represented corporations generally in corporate governance matters. He is a frequent contributor to the Drexler, Black, and Sparks, Delaware Corporation Law and Practice annual publication. Eric is actively engaged in the regional community and volunteers for a number of non-profit organizations.
Serena M. Williams
Serena M. Williams is a Professor of Law and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at the Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Delaware. Prior to joining the faculty at Widener, Serena taught at the University of Louisville and at the Howard University School of Law. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of the ACLU of Delaware, Serena serves on the Board of the Delaware Housing Coalition and is a delegation advisor to the Delaware Youth In Government Program, a mock legislative program sponsored by the YMCA of Delaware. While in Kentucky, she served on the Board of Directors of the ACLU of Kentucky.
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