On January 3, 2019, Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan appointed Rebecca Lucero to serve as the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Rebecca has spent her life fighting to end racism and transform policies that lead to structural inequities. She strives to lead her life with an intersectional lens, honoring complex identities.

Before her appointment as Commissioner, Rebecca worked in public policy and civil rights law, working to create a more just and joyous world. She worked at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, and for U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison to change the law, systems, and structures that cause institutional inequities. As an attorney, she worked as a civil rights lawyer in private practice, as an administrative law judge, and for the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis.

Rebecca earned her Bachelor’s degree from Grinnell College, and her law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School, with a focus in employment law.

Rachel Moran, Associate Professor of Law, University of St. Thomas

Rachel Moran is an associate professor and founder of the Criminal and Juvenile Defense Clinic at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. The 2020 graduating class selected her as the law school’s Professor of the Year. Moran focuses her scholarship on issues pertaining to police accountability, policing reform, and public access to records of police misconduct. In 2019 she was named a Bellow Scholar, a biennial national recognition for clinical professors engaged in empirical research that has significant potential to improve the quality of justice. Her articles have appeared in the Boston College Law Review, UC Irvine Law Review, Washington Law Review, Cardozo Law Review, Villanova Law Review, and Buffalo Law Review, among others. Her work has also been cited in CNN, The Economist, Vox, Bloomberg News, and many other media outlets.

Justin Terrell, Executive Director, MNJRC
Justin Terrell is a community leader with a track record of executing successful issue campaigns. With an expertise in Criminal Justice and Democracy reform, Terrell has led campaigns to expand fair hiring and remove barriers to voting. Terrell is an accomplished trainer and has led political education locally, nationally and in Central Europe. He has mobilized thousands across the state of Minnesota and has worked to develop community members as advocates, organizers and leaders. In his new role as the Executive Director of the Minnesota Justice Research Center, Terrell brings his leadership and expertise to an organization whose mission is to transform Minnesota's justice system. Through research, education and policy development, the MJRC is positioned to build a statewide effort to build a justice system that is more humane and reflects our commonly shared values

 This program is open to the public. Register below!