Athar Haseebullah, Esq. is the Executive Director of the ACLU of Nevada. The first person of color to lead the organization since its founding in 1966, Athar is a prolific leader, lawyer, and strategist with a breadth of professional experience. Since he took over the ACLU of Nevada in January of 2021, Athar has overhauled the organization, leading the organization to significant wins in Nevada courtrooms and legislative bodies on issues related to voting rights, criminal legal system reform, public education, government transparency, and other civil rights issues. Athar leads a dedicated team of more than a dozen professionals statewide and is frequently referenced in media stories involving significant civil liberties and civil rights issues.
Athar is a double graduate of Howard University, receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Howard University with highest honors and his Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law. Among other recognitions, Athar has received the Clark County Law Foundation’s Liberty Bell Award, the National Bar Association’s 2024 National Excellence in Activism Award, the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law’s Service Award, and the African Chamber of Commerce’s Advocate for Justice and Equality Award. Athar was recognized as a trailblazer by the Asian Community Development Council, was named to Vegas Inc.’s “Top 40 Under 40” and the National Bar Association’s “40 Under 40: Best Advocates in the Nation,” and was also named the Las Vegas Chapter of the National Bar Association’s Attorney of the Year in 2023.
Athar serves as a board member for several organizations, including the Urban Chamber of Commerce, Nevada GrantLab, and the local alum chapter of his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Athar is based in Las Vegas, NV, where he grew up and in his spare time, mentors young people in the community.
