GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) announces Shane Dunn as the new Chair of its Board of Directors and Mario Nimock as the new Vice Chair. The organization also welcomes new board members Alexandra Chandler, election and democracy protection advocate, and Sarah Kaplan, corporate equity innovator.

“GLAD’s newest board leadership, Chair Shane Dunn and Vice Chair Mario Nimock, are the leaders we need to respond to the moment,” says outgoing Board Chair Darian Butcher. “Shane has been a consistent leader on the Board throughout his eight-year tenure. He asks the right questions, brings relevant and creative perspective from his background as a Development and Advancement professional, and is a consummate supporter of his colleagues. Mario, in his 2+ years on the Board and through time spent co-chairing events, has already demonstrated tremendous leadership at GLAD. Mario brings expertise as a litigator and, like Shane, leads with enthusiasm and a steady hand. With these two at the helm, the GLAD Board is well-poised to support GLAD in the fight ahead.”

“It is a true honor and deeply humbling to be elected as Chair of GLAD’s Board of Directors,” says Shane Dunn. Over the course of more than four decades, GLAD’s talented staff have worked tirelessly to create a more fair and inclusive society for the LGBTQ+ and HIV+ communities while never backing down in the face of challenging circumstances. There is so much more work to do as we aim higher than ever before, and that work requires the participation and contributions of supporters from all backgrounds. I am thrilled to work with my fellow Directors and our many partners in support of such an effective organization that has changed millions of lives and the course of history. “

“Authoritarians are trying to reverse the gains our communities have made within our legislatures, our courts, and our culture,” says Alexandra Chandler. “They are succeeding in too many places across our country. GLAD is at the forefront of the legal and policy battles that will determine how our communities survive and thrive amidst the backlash of this moment in history. It’s a privilege to support GLAD’s efforts on all these fronts through serving on the Board, and it has already been a joy to work with and learn from the talented and committed leaders that make up the Board.”

“GLAD has been and continues to be at the center of critical human rights struggles in our society,” says Sarah Kaplan. “GLAD fights for people on the margins so that all of us can live safe and fulfilling lives and engage in the pursuit of happiness that is the core foundation of our country. Despite many wins, we still live in perilous times, and forces that want to oppress people in the LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV are increasingly powerful and virulent. I could not be more thrilled to be joining the board to help GLAD in its mission to create a just society free of discrimination.”

Shane Dunn (he/him) has served on GLAD’s Board since 2014. Shane is Chief Advancement Officer at Rosie’s Place, a Boston-based nonprofit founded in 1974 as the first women’s shelter in America that provides a sanctuary of services for poor and homeless women. In this role, Shane serves on the executive team and leads all fundraising, communications, volunteer services, and public policy efforts for the organization. Prior to joining Rosie’s, Shane was Senior Director of Development and Alumni Relations at Brandeis International Business School. Previously, he worked in a variety of roles in K-12 and higher education at Harvard University, Tufts University, MIT Sloan School of Management, Excel Academy Charter Schools, and Uncommon Schools.

Mario Nimock (he/him) is a Labor and Employment Defense Attorney with Morgan, Brown, & Joy LLP in Boston. He earned his Bachelor’s in Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and his JD from the University of Massachusetts School of Law at Dartmouth in 2013. At UMASS-Dartmouth, Mario received the Massachusetts Black Judges Conference Book Award, was the President of OUTLaw, and Student Representative to the MA LGBTQ Bar Association. Mario previously served as Co-Chair of the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association and has been active with GLAD for many years as both a member and former co-chair of the Spirit of Justice Committee.

Alexandra Chandler (she/her) is a Policy Advocate at Protect Democracy, where she leads the National Election Advocacy Team and coordinates the activities of the National Task Force on Election Crises, a cross-ideological group of over 50 civil society leaders who worked to ensure a free and fair 2020 election, and now seeks to prevent election crises in 2024 and beyond. Previously, Alexandra was a career national security professional for 13 years, including roles at the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. She ultimately led the Intelligence Community analytic effort to disrupt the proliferation of WMD by sea, and supported many successful U.S. policy initiatives. After leaving government in 2017, Alexandra was the first openly transgender candidate to run for Congress from Massachusetts.

Sarah Kaplan (she/her) is Distinguished Professor, Director of the Institute for Gender and the Economy (GATE), and Professor of Strategic Management at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. She is a co-author of the bestselling business book, Creative Destruction. Her latest book, The 360° Corporation: From Stakeholder Trade-offs to Transformation, is based on her award-winning course at the Rotman School. She regularly advises corporations, governments, and agencies on policies related to environmental, social, and governance issues such as board diversity, board governance, care work, employment, pay equity, gender-based analysis, and other topics. In recognition of her contributions, the Governance Professionals of Canada awarded her the Peter Dey Governance Achievement Award, and she was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women Executive Network.

“We are excited to welcome Alexandra, who brings expertise in the critical area of protecting our democracy from all potential threats, and Sarah, who brings valuable  experience in corporate innovation for equity and social justice,” said Executive Director Janson Wu. “And we are looking forward to the leadership of Shane and Mario, whose commitment to our one justice movement and extensive networks and community connections will be an enormous asset in the challenging fights ahead.”

GLAD’s full list of board members can be found on our website.