MILWAUKEE — The ACLU of Wisconsin today announced the hiring of a new advocacy director —Tomás Clasen.

Tomás has been with the organization since September, previously serving as the organization’s community engagement manager, promoting and protecting the civil liberties and civil rights of all residents of Wisconsin through education, outreach, advocacy, organizing, direct action, and programming for adults and youth. He works on a number of issues, including police, prisons, criminal law reform, voting rights, immigrants’ rights, and public education.

“Tomás has really impressed us with his work on issues including criminal justice reform, police accountability, and voting rights in the time he has been at the ACLU,” said Chris Ott, executive director of the ACLU of Wisconsin. “We are thrilled to have him move up into this new role.”

In this new role, Tomás will navigate Wisconsin’s political terrain and lead nonpartisan political efforts for policy reform, as well as help staff, board members, and volunteers work strategically to advance the ACLU of Wisconsin's advocacy and organizing efforts.

“I am thrilled to continue my professional development at the ACLU of Wisconsin,” Tomás said. “Since joining the ACLU I have been able to work on important issues like criminal justice reform, immigration, voting rights, and policing. I look forward to engaging with these issues in order to both advance and protect the civil rights and civil liberties of my fellow Wisconsinites.”

Before joining the ACLU, Tomás worked at a large Milwaukee area law firm. In law school, he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Wisconsin Law Review and as a member of the Moot Court Board. Prior to law school, he participated in Teach For America and spent four years helping raise the student achievement rates within New York public schools.

Tomás received his bachelor's degree with academic distinction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2011, his master's degree at the City University of New York-Hunter College in 2013, and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2018, where he graduated cum laude.