SPLC
People need need a dig?
A lot of changes around 2019?
——
Key leadership at the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) since 2015 has undergone significant changes, particularly following a 2019 internal crisis. Key figures include interim CEO Bryan Fair (July 2025), former President/CEO Margaret Huang (2020-2025), Interim CEO Karen Baynes-Dunning (2019-2020), and co-founder Morris Dees, who was fired in 2019.
Southern Poverty Law Center
Southern Poverty Law Center
+3
Key SPLC Leadership and Board (Since 2015)
Margaret Huang: President and CEO (Early 2020 – July 2025).
Bryan Fair: Interim CEO (July 2025).
Karen Baynes-Dunning: Interim President and CEO (April 2019 – 2020); Board Member (joined 2017) and Chair.
Richard Cohen: President (Resigned 2019).
Morris Dees: Chief Trial Counsel/Founder (Fired March 2019).
Rhonda Brownstein: Legal Director (Resigned 2019).
Emery Wright: Board Vice Chair (elected 2023).
Southern Poverty Law Center
Southern Poverty Law Center
+1
Significant Governance Changes
2019 Upheaval: Following the firing of Morris Dees, the SPLC saw a major leadership shakeup, including the resignation of President Richard Cohen and Legal Director Rhonda Brownstein.
Workplace Review: Tina Tchen was appointed in 2019 to investigate workplace culture.
Recent Transitions: Margaret Huang resigned in July 2025, with Bryan Fair stepping in as interim.
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
Note: The SPLC board composition is distinct from its executive leadership (President/CEO).
——-
PB Notables
>>24532358 So, the Premise Behind Biden's 2020 Run Was Built on a Lie Paid for By the SPLC?
———-
Between 2015 and 2019, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) board underwent significant changes, particularly during the 2019 leadership crisis. Key figures during this period included Karen Baynes-Dunning (joined Oct 2017), Morris Dees (fired March 2019), and Richard Cohen (resigned March 2019).
House.gov
House.gov
+2
Key SPLC Board and Leadership Members (2015–2019)
Morris Dees: Co-founder, served on the board until his firing in March 2019.
Richard Cohen: President, served on the board until his resignation in March 2019.
Karen Baynes-Dunning: Joined the board in October 2017, later becoming interim president in April 2019.
Joseph J. Levin, Jr.: Co-founder and long-time board member/emeritus.
Other Board Members (approx. 2018-2019): Bryan Fair (Chair), Bennett Grau (Vice Chair), Pam Horowitz, Marsha Levick, Will Little, Howard Mandell, James McElroy, Lida Orzeck, and Elden Rosenthal.
Southern Poverty Law Center
Southern Poverty Law Center
+2
————-
Key figures at the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) between 2015 and 2019 included senior leadership, legal directors, and prominent members of its Intelligence Project, many of whom departed during a leadership crisis in early 2019.
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
+1
Key Leadership and Staff (2015-2019)
Morris Dees: Founder and Chief Trial Counsel until his firing in March 2019.
Richard Cohen: President of the SPLC from 2003 until his resignation in March 2019, following the firing of Morris Dees.
Karen Baynes-Dunning: Served as Interim President and CEO starting in April 2019 after the leadership shakeup.
Rhonda Brownstein: Legal Director who resigned in March 2019 along with Cohen.
Heidi Beirich: Intelligence Project Director and prominent spokesperson on hate groups during this period.
Joseph J. Levin, Jr.: Co-founder and member of the Board of Directors.
Meredith Horton: Associate Legal Director who resigned in 2019.
Mark Potok: A senior fellow and key figure in the Intelligence Project who provided expert commentary on extremism.
Laurie Wood: Director of Investigations for the Intelligence Project.
Rachel Janik: Assistant Editor/Reporter for Hatewatch.
Keeghan Hankes: Interim Director of Research for the Intelligence Project.
For Purpose Law Group
For Purpose Law Group
+5
Contextual Developments (2015-2019)
2019 Leadership Shakeup: In March 2019, the organization faced intense internal turmoil, resulting in the firing of co-founder Morris Dees and the resignation of President Richard Cohen and Legal Director Rhonda Brownstein.
Internal Review: Following the 2019 events, the SPLC appointed Tina Tchen to review workplace culture issues.
Rise in Hate Groups: During these years, the SPLC reported a record high in the number of active hate groups, totaling 1,020 in 2018.
Intelligence Project: The team focused on tracking hate groups and providing resources to law enforcement
—————-
Cont: