American Bar Association President Deborah-Enix Ross announced July 31 that Alpha M. Brady has been named the association’s new executive director, following an extensive nationwide search. Brady is the first person of color to lead the ABA.
As executive director, Brady has overall management responsibility for staff operations at the association’s headquarters in Chicago, at its Washington, D.C., office and at program sites in Texas, California and some 60 countries throughout the world. She oversees a staff of more than 1,000 and a consolidated budget of more than $200 million.
The executive director is also responsible for membership and non-dues revenue programs, directs implementation of the ABA’s strategic goals and has responsibility for programs and activities adopted by the ABA’s governing and policymaking bodies, the Board of Governors and House of Delegates.
The ABA Board of Governors selected Brady for the executive director position following a nationwide search that was overseen by a committee of ABA volunteer leaders working with international search firm Korn Ferry.
Brady has been serving as ABA interim executive director since the departure of former Executive Director Jack Rives in March. She joined the ABA staff in 1988 after a year as assistant corporation counsel with the City of Chicago. She started as assistant director of the ABA Commission on Opportunities for Minorities in the Profession (now the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession).
Later, she became special assistant to the president, director of policy administration, senior manager of the Governance and Public Services Group, and senior associate director and chief governance officer.
Brady was named deputy executive director in September 2022, serving on the executive director’s Leadership Team along with the ABA general counsel, chief financial officer and chief of staff.
She holds a juris doctor degree from the Northwestern University School of Law.
