Anne D. Neal
Encyclopedia
Anne deHayden Neal is the president of the non-profit organization American Council of Trustees and Alumni
(ACTA).
in 1977 with an A.B. magna cum laude in American history and literature and subsequently earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1980. As a practicing attorney, Ms. Neal specialized in First Amendment law at the firm of Rogers & Wells
in New York City; she later served as Senior Vice President of the Recording Industry Association of America
where she spearheaded the RIAA campaign to oppose mandatory lyrics labeling.
In the early 1990s, Ms. Neal served as general counsel and congressional liaison for the National Endowment for the Humanities
under Lynne V. Cheney, where she addressed a range of issues including academic freedom, intellectual diversity, and historical literacy. After the founding of ACTA (then known as the National Alumni Forum) by Lynne Cheney, Senator Joe Lieberman
, Richard Lamm
, Hank Brown
and others, Ms. Neal served as vice president and general counsel from 1995–2003; she succeeded Jerry L. Martin
as president in 2003.
In addition to her professional work, Ms. Neal serves or has served on the boards of numerous charitable organizations including All Hallows Guild, Washington National Cathedral, National Association for Olmsted Parks, Sabre Foundation, U.S. Capitol Historical Society and the Friends of the U.S. National Arboretum. She is married to Congressman Thomas E. Petri (R-Wisconsin).
American Council of Trustees and Alumni
The American Council of Trustees and Alumni is a non-profit organization whose stated mission is to "support liberal arts education, uphold high academic standards, safeguard the free exchange of ideas on campus, and ensure that the next generation receives a philosophically rich, high-quality...
(ACTA).
Biography
Ms. Neal spent her childhood in Indiana, where her father was the editor of the small-town newspaper, the Noblesville Daily Ledger. She graduated as a member of Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard CollegeHarvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1977 with an A.B. magna cum laude in American history and literature and subsequently earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1980. As a practicing attorney, Ms. Neal specialized in First Amendment law at the firm of Rogers & Wells
Rogers & Wells
Rogers & Wells was a New-York based international law firm founded in 1873. After several name changes, it was renamed for William P. Rogers and John A. Wells. The firm was well known for its litigation arm...
in New York City; she later served as Senior Vice President of the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
where she spearheaded the RIAA campaign to oppose mandatory lyrics labeling.
In the early 1990s, Ms. Neal served as general counsel and congressional liaison for the National Endowment for the Humanities
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
under Lynne V. Cheney, where she addressed a range of issues including academic freedom, intellectual diversity, and historical literacy. After the founding of ACTA (then known as the National Alumni Forum) by Lynne Cheney, Senator Joe Lieberman
Joe Lieberman
Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman is the senior United States Senator from Connecticut. A former member of the Democratic Party, he was the party's nominee for Vice President in the 2000 election. Currently an independent, he remains closely affiliated with the party.Born in Stamford, Connecticut,...
, Richard Lamm
Richard Lamm
Richard Douglas "Dick" Lamm is an American politician, Certified Public Accountant, college professor, and lawyer. He served three terms as 38th Governor of Colorado as a Democrat and ran for the Reform Party's nomination for President of the United States in 1996.He is currently the Co-Director...
, Hank Brown
Hank Brown
George Hanks "Hank" Brown is a former Republican politician and U.S. Senator from Colorado who served as president of the University of Colorado system from April 2005 - January 2008.-Education:...
and others, Ms. Neal served as vice president and general counsel from 1995–2003; she succeeded Jerry L. Martin
Jerry L. Martin
Jerry L. Martin is chairman of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. He served as president of ACTA from its founding in 1995 as the National Alumni Forum until 2003, when he was succeeded by Anne D. Neal...
as president in 2003.
In addition to her professional work, Ms. Neal serves or has served on the boards of numerous charitable organizations including All Hallows Guild, Washington National Cathedral, National Association for Olmsted Parks, Sabre Foundation, U.S. Capitol Historical Society and the Friends of the U.S. National Arboretum. She is married to Congressman Thomas E. Petri (R-Wisconsin).