Defending Rights & Dissent Welcomes Todd Wolfson to Board of Directors

Defending Rights & Dissent is honored to announce that Todd Wolfson is the newest addition to its Board of Directors. Wolfson is president of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), a national vice president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and has served for the past six years in the leadership of the Rutgers Academic Workers Union, representing 6,000 faculty, graduate workers, postdocs, and counselors at Rutgers University. In 2023, he helped lead a historic strike of 10,000 workers across three unions at Rutgers. Before becoming an academic union leader, Todd worked as a community and labor organizer in Philadelphia.

Wolfson welcomed the news in a statement:

“I am honored to join the Board of Defending Rights & Dissent at this pivotal moment for First Amendment rights in the United States. It is a privilege to be the labor representative on the board, and I look forward to strengthening the collaboration between AAUP and Defending Rights & Dissent. Together, we will work to safeguard and advance the fundamental freedoms of expression and association—on campus and across our nation.”

Sue Udry, Executive Director of Defending Rights & Dissent, said of the announcement:

“We are thrilled to welcome Todd Wolfson to our Board of Directors. At a time when free speech and academic freedom are under intense pressure on college campuses, Todd has been a courageous and unifying leader—bringing together faculty, students, and staff to defend the right to think, teach, and speak freely. His steadfast commitment to the First Amendment and his willingness to speak truth to power, even when others have stayed silent, make him an invaluable addition to our board and to our shared mission.”

Sascha Meinrath, Board Co-President, said:

“I am thrilled that my longtime friend and ally, Todd Wolfson, has joined the Board of Defending Rights and Dissent! Todd’s lifelong work has focused on critiquing inequality and fostering social change — whether supporting gig workers or leading the American Association of University Professors — Todd has been a champion for economic justice, and DRAD is honored to have him on our team.”

Shannon Al-Wakeel, Board Co-President, said:

“We are elated that Todd is bringing his expertise to our Board of Directors. His vision and deep experience building power at the intersection of labor and higher education is an invaluable asset in any environment, and especially now as repression of campus dissent escalates.”