On Monday, January 13th , Nancy Northup began her tenure as President for the Center for Reproductive Rights. Initially appointed President on October 31st 2002, Ms. Northup was formerly the Director of the Democracy Program of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law and former Consulting Attorney at the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project.

"The right to reproductive choice is fundamental to women’s ability to participate equally and fully in a democratic society," said Northup. "I am thrilled to be joining the Center, the foremost international legal institution in the reproductive rights arena, and to be leading the organization into its next decade. Together with the Center’s Board and staff, I look forward to a time when a woman’s right to control her reproductive life is secured as a fundamental human right, which cannot be denied in the name of religion, culture, or politics."

"Nancy is an energetic, passionate and innovative leader who brings her skills and experience in litigation, policy development, and coalition building," said Betsy Karel, Chair of the Center’s Board. "Her commitment to equality and self-determination is the perfect complement to our mission, and we look forward to the vision and vigor she will bring to this organization."

A former Deputy Chief Appellate Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Northup joins the Center with extensive experience in high-impact litigation and program development. In 1996, Northup joined the Brennan Center as a Senior Attorney, and in 1998 became Director of the Center's Democracy Program. Under her leadership, the Program expanded from its initial focus on campaign finance reform to encompass a broader range of democracy issues, including voting rights, judicial independence, ballot access, and redistricting. Throughout her career, she has also worked with national and state affiliates of reproductive rights organizations, including NARAL, NOW, the Women’s Political Caucus, and the ACLU.

"For more than twenty years, I have fought to protect and promote reproductive rights through various means, including litigation, grassroots organizing, lobbying, electoral work, and clinic protection," said Northup. "The Center will work to ensure that all women, regardless of age, income, race or ethnicity, have access to the full range of reproductive health services, and to tear down barriers thrown in the way of women seeking abortion and family planning services. Across the globe, we will expand the use of international human rights standards to effect fundamental change for women. I am delighted to lead a team that will take on the toughest battles, pursue the most challenging cases, and work in coalition with others to achieve our common goals," she stated.

Northup graduated from Columbia Law School, where she was a Kent Scholar and Managing Editor of the Columbia Law Review. She clerked for the Hon. Alvin B. Rubin of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Northup succeeds Janet Benshoof, who founded the Center in 1992 as a non-profit legal advocacy organization dedicated to advancing and protecting women’s reproductive rights worldwide. With a staff of over 60 people, the Center currently has 25 cases in 14 states and collaborates with more than 50 organizations in 44 countries.