Sherrilyn Ifill, who is also related to Gwen Ifill, is retiring as head of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund from 2022.
Sherrilyn Ifill is the seventh president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, a leading civil rights organization and law firm based in New York.
Ifill took over the role of president of LDF in 2013. The firm grew and expanded under her guidance and she brought out phenomenal changes in the company through her hard work and passion.
The firm grew from just 55 employees to more than 150 staff. It created a separate historical archive to record legal milestones of the civil rights movements.
During her tenure, NAACP has become the United States’ most high-profile racial justice legal organization.
What incredibly big shoes to fill, though I know @JNelsonLDF will do so. Thank you @SIfill_LDF for all of the great work you’ve done! https://t.co/DX7T5lIyFY
— Jamal Murphy (@Blacketologist) November 17, 2021
Yes, Sherrilyn Ifill Is Related To Gwen Ifill- Family Details
Sherrilyn Ifill is the cousin of Gwen Ifill, the late PBS NewsHour anchor, and television newscaster.
Sherrilyn’s and Gwen’s fathers were brothers who moved to the United States from Barbados together. Both of their fathers became Africa Methodist Episcopal ministers.
Gwen earned recognition as the first African-American woman ever to host the nationally filmed U.S. public affairs program in 1999.
She was also known for working with Washington Week and PBS NewsHour. In addition, she served as a political analyst. She was a moderator of the 2004 and 2008 vice-presidential debates.
Both Sherrilyn and Gwen are known for their contributions to American society.
Furthermore, Sherrilyn is the youngest of 10 kids in her family. Her mother, Lester was a Harlem social worker, and her father’s name was Myrtle.
After nearly a decade of leadership, growth & transformation, LDF’s President & Director-Counsel Sherrilyn Ifill will be stepping down from her role. Current Associate Director-Counsel Janai Nelson will become LDF’s 8th President & Director-Counsel.https://t.co/hxSt8ENdjm pic.twitter.com/12uySUM4Tk
— Legal Defense Fund (@NAACP_LDF) November 17, 2021
Who Is Sherrilyn Ifill Husband Ivo Knobloch?
A law professor by training, Sherrilyn Ifill is married to her husband Ivo Knobloch.
The couple tied the knot in 1988 and has been together for over three decades. They have three children between them.
Knobloch, unlike his wife, prefers to stay on the down-low, so personal information about his life is obscure on the web right now.
He is most famous as Ifill’s husband and is not active on any social media platforms.
Is Sherrilyn Ifill Leaving NAACP Because Of Illness?
It’s uncertain if Sherrilyn Ifill is leaving NAACP because of some illness as the exact reason for her retirement is not yet disclosed.
So many emotions today. Pride at what I’ve been able to accomplish @NAACP_LDF.Love for our amazing staff. Intense gratitude to my civil rights colleagues who have walked this walk w/me. Excitement abt the leadership of my sis @JNelsonLDF. https://t.co/QfApVRMcs6
— Sherrilyn Ifill (@Sifill_LDF) November 17, 2021
According to The Washington Post, Ms. Ifill decided to step down as president of NAACP after ten years of leading the organization to new heights of achievements.
Ms. Janai Nelson, the current Associate Director-Counsel of LDF, will precede her as the next president and director-counsel of the NAACP.
Ifill also confirmed the news on her Twitter handle and shared her excitement for Ms. Nelson’s leadership. Both of them worked together for eight years, dedicating their lives to advocating for racial justice.