Staff

Ryan Kiesel

Executive Director

Ryan Kiesel served three terms in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2004-2010. During his time in the legislature, Kiesel held various leadership roles and often led the fight against efforts to curb reproductive rights and trample civil liberties.
In addition to his service in the legislature, Ryan has filled key roles on local, state and national campaigns.
Ryan continues to write and speak on a wide range of political and legal issues, and has been cited by local and national media outlets.
Prior to joining the staff of the ACLU of Oklahoma, Kiesel was in private practice with a law firm in Oklahoma City. Ryan also teaches a seminar, Politics and the Law, as an adjunct professor at the University of Oklahoma College of  law.
Ryan received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Oklahoma and a J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law.
Ryan lives in Seminole with his wife Allison. They gladly share their home with three dogs and two cats.

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Tamya Cox

Tamya Cox

Tamya Cox

Deputy Director and Legislative Counsel

Tamya Cox grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, and moved to Tulsa when she was 15. Cox graduated from Oklahoma State University and during her time at Oklahoma City University School of Law, she began interning at the ACLU of Oklahoma office. In 2004, she was hired as the part-time Litigation Coordinator, and it was at that time that she got infected with the ACLU bug. After law school, she began working full time and has been at the affiliate ever since.

She became interested in the ACLU at a young age when she heard Bill O’Reilly saying horrible things about the organization. Cox says she knew if he hated the ACLU that much, it was something of which she just had to be a part. Cox is currently the Legislative Counsel and Deputy Director.

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Allie Shinn

Allie Shinn

Allie Shinn

Outreach Coordinator

Allie Shinn has been with the ACLU since January of 2010. She first held the position of Govern­ment Affairs Intern, then served as part-time Litigation Coordinator be­ginning in November 2010. In 2011, Allie took on the role of Outreach Coordinator, a position designed to focus on organizing and education. Allie holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Science in International Studies, both from Oklahoma State Univer­sity. Her primary civil liberties in­terests are women’s rights and abol­ishing the death penalty.

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Bryan Newell

Accountant

Bryan Newell relocated to Oklahoma City in 2000. He is a native Arkansan that holds a BSBA in Accounting from the University of Arkansas. Bryan worked as financial analyst in the manufacturing, service, and telecommunications industries. Bryan joined the ACLU in 2010 as the Staff Accountant. His duties mainly include the day to day financial operations of the organization. Bryan is also a realtor in Oklahoma City.

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