Dr. Brennan, born and raised in Wisconsin, called the opportunity “a dream come true.”

Dr. Brennan earned her bachelor’s degree in women’s studies and her master’s degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She went on to earn her doctorate in gender studies at Indiana University, where she wrote a dissertation on the nexus between hate acts, nationalism, white supremacy, and American Islamophobia.

Before joining the ACLU, Dr. Brennan served as a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Board Consultant for the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition Project, training and educating board members about disability, race, and class issues related to mobility justice. She also has expertise in the DEIJ space, with years of experience as a consultant and community advocate.

“Many of the issues I am devoted to reveal the way difference is weaponized and cast as problematic, rather than honoring difference, being accountable to justice, and supporting communities held at the margins,” Dr. Brennan said. “My commitment to this work is informed by scholarship and action, much of which was done by women of color, queer people of color, and other multiply marginalized leaders who speak truth to power.”

Dr. Brennan was previously a trusted leader in the UW System, operating as Co-chair of the Women’s and Gender Studies Consortium, served as a member of the Rapid Response Team for Hate and Bias Incidents, and worked at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as the assistant chair of Women’s and Gender Studies.

“In my career and community service, I prioritize working collaboratively, foregrounding how our different backgrounds and needs bring strength and clarity to our work, with a deep fire for the pursuit of justice. I am delighted to bring this focus to serve the ACLU, Wisconsin communities, and the battles ahead —  justice, activation, care, and quality of life,” Dr. Brennan said.

Shaadie Ali, who served as interim director, will stay with the organization until March as the ACLU of Wisconsin’s interim deputy executive director.

“We are so excited to welcome Melinda to lead our organizations,” said William Sulton, board president of the ACLU of Wisconsin. “Her extensive leadership experience, passion for the equity of all people, and commitment to the protection of civil rights and civil liberties will serve her well in this role. I do not doubt the affiliate will reach even greater heights under her leadership.”

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CONGRATULATIONS TO , Women’s & Gender Studies’ Alumna, ON BEING NAMED THE RESIDENT-TEACHER SCHOLAR AT THE NEW BELL HOOKS CENTER AT BEREA COLLEGE

Women’s & Gender Studies has received wonderful news from 51���� alum Dr. Megan Feifer, who is the new the bell hooks center Teacher-Scholar in Residence at . While at UW-Milwaukee, Megan completed her B.A. in English and Women’s and Gender Studies, with Minors in Africology and Film Studies, in 2006, and a M.A. in English (Modern Studies) in 2008. In 2018, Megan received her Ph.D. in English, with graduate minor in Women’s and Gender Studies, at , Baton Rouge.

Congratulations on this amazing achievement and opportunity, Megan!

From Dr. Feifer:

My time at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee culminated in two degrees and a wealth of community, critical knowledge, and self-growth. On transfer, I came to 51���� as a working poor first-generation college student. At that time, I was unaware of the theories used to describe my positionality, but I had ample experiential understanding. Through coursework in Africology, English, and Women’s and Gender Studies, my critical consciousness grew. I was a most engaged listener in Dr. Sangari’s classes while discussing colonization in its many forms; I learned feminist theory from Dr. Mansson-McGinty and took my first course on women’s literature with Dr. Kennedy. I studied Octavia Butler’s work with Dr. Grayson well before the arrival of Afro-futurism as praxis and theory in higher education classrooms. I learned firsthand about care and community from Dr. Buley-Meissner, and I grew significantly as a writer under the tutelage of Dr. Banerjee. Finally, I learned to challenge white skin privilege in conversation with Dr. Bellegarde-Smith and Dr. Jay.

I took on jobs at the Women’s Resource Center and, later, Sociocultural Programming. During my time at the WRC, I played a central role in bringing to campus and had the once-in-a-lifetime chance to introduce her in front of a large audience. I can still remember the crack in my voice and my sweaty palms while at the podium, as well as the deeper understanding that the experience would be one of the most definitive moments of my life. bell hooks’s work continues to shape how I think about myself and my place in the world, informing my scholarship and pedagogy while framing how I engage in social justice.

When I saw the position advertised for a Resident-Teacher Scholar at the bell hooks center at Berea College, I knew it was a dream job and a long shot; I applied. As I filled out the application, imposter syndrome reared its head- the feeling and deep insecurity of “not being enough” that elides with being from a positionality like my own. I found myself questioning my abilities, fit, and education at public universities instead of ivy league institutions. I chose to cite the experience of bringing bell hooks to campus in my cover letter. Reflecting upon that fortuitous introduction, I started connecting its relationship to my learning and growth trajectory. I recognized the role each faculty and staff member played in guiding me along the way. I reminded myself that I’d been studying and applying bell hooks’ work for almost twenty years in non-profit organizations and in K-12 and secondary education settings across the United States. I submitted the application. During the interview process, I thanked the committee for considering me. I shared that I felt simply honored to be considered for such an exciting opportunity. I will never know if my students at Berea College fully understand the sincerity with which I shared how excited I was to be there on the first day of class, but I am so very grateful for the chance, journey, and all of the folks who guided me along the way.

You can review Dr. Feifer’s CV here.

Published 09/08/2021

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