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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOANN BELL

Joann Bell began working as Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma Foundation in 1990. Prior to her appointment to that post, she had served as part-time Litigation Coordinator since 1987.

Bell's commitment to religious liberty has earned awards from groups like Americans United for Separation of Church and State, The Freedom from Religion Foundation and The American Ethical Union. She is also a past winner of the ACLU of Oklahoma Angie Debo Civil Libertarian of the Year Award. The Playboy Foundation bestowed a First Amendment Law Award upon her in 1989. In 2007, she was named Abolitionist of the Year from the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, and in 2009, she was awarded the Oklahoma Heritage Award from the Oklahoma Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

At the request of U.S. Representative Don Edwards, Bell testified before a Congressional hearing considering the Equal Access Act of 1984, which allowed student-initiated religious clubs the same use of public school facilities as other non-curricular clubs. She has discussed civil liberties issues with numerous television, radio and print media and is currently in demand as an outspoken opponent of the USA PATRIOT Act.

In addition to her work with the ACLU, Bell also serves as state co-chair for the Oklahoma Coalition to Preserve Religious Liberty. While the First Amendment is her major concern, she also actively advocates for reproductive freedom, Lesbian/Gay rights and the abolition of capital punishment.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
JOANN BELL