Leadership and Staff

Professor Ginsburg serves as the inaugural faculty director of the Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression. Ginsburg attained his BA, JD, and PhD degrees from the University of California at Berkeley. Prior to joining the University’s faculty in 2008, he held myriad roles consulting and providing legal advice to numerous international organizations, development agencies, and governments, including the Iran–United States Claims Tribunal. In addition to his work at the University, he acts as co-director of the Comparative Constitutions Project and is a research professor at the American Bar Foundation. His publications have been broadly recognized with awards from the American Society for International Law, the International Society of Constitutional Law, and the American Political Science Association. Ginsburg is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. With his guidance, the Forum will expand and enhance the University’s engagement across the constellation of issues related to free inquiry and expression, in collaboration with faculty and the broader university community. Professor Ginsburg brings to this role deep expertise in comparative and international law, with a particular focus on how democracies and constitutions function and flourish.

Banout is the inaugural executive director of the University of Chicago’s Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression, and earned his PhD from the University’s Divinity School, where he was a Martin Marty Center Junior Fellow and Provost Dissertation Fellow. His career has spanned leadership in social sector organizations including healthcare and community organizing, as well as academia. For over a decade, he served as the senior vice president for Interfaith America, guiding a national civic organization in the development of strategies and programs devoted to democratic discourse and civil conversation across deep difference. He has spoken and published widely on free expression, constructive engagement of difference, and the civic relevance of religious diversity. An advocate for ideological diversity and inclusion in academia, Banout serves as a board member of the Heterodox Academy.

David Blood is the Associate Director of Operations at the Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression, bringing a wealth of experience from both public and private educational institutions. His career began at the Law School at the University of Chicago, where he made significant contributions for 15 years. He then worked at the State University of New York at Geneseo, his alma mater, before joining the Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression at the University of Chicago. His extensive background in educational operations has equipped him with a unique perspective and a comprehensive understanding of the academic landscape. He is dedicated to finding innovative ways to connect departments and optimize processes. His collaborative approach ensures that all facets of an institution work seamlessly together, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive.

Dr. Leila Brammer is the Director of Curriculum at the Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression at the University of Chicago. She studies and builds frameworks in which organizations and community members understand issues from multiple perspectives and work together to develop evidence-based approaches. She established a nationally recognized civic learning and engagement curriculum and a community-based public deliberation and dialogue program. At the University of Chicago, she works with high schools, colleges, educational organizations, and civic leaders to advance freedom of expression by creating conditions and building capacities for productively engaging about, with, and across differences and disagreements.

Dennis comes to the University of Chicago from Employment & Employer Services where he was a career counselor that focused on workforce development; previously, he was a customer service supervisor within U.S. Bank. Dennis has an MBA with a concentration in Human Resource Management and a BS from the University of Phoenix. Dennis is currently working at The Chicago Forum as the Operations Coordinator and the Executive Assistant to Professor Tom Ginsburg and Tony Banout.

Born and raised in Chicago, Jocelyn is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants and a passionate advocate for cross-cultural connection and community building. She graduated from The University of Chicago in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Romance Languages and Literatures, with a concentration in Spanish. With over five years of experience in communications and event management, she has honed her expertise in crafting impactful messages and orchestrating seamless events that bring people together.

Ankit Manandhar Khadgi is a writer, artist, journalist, and communications professional whose work has appeared in prominent outlets such as The Kathmandu Post, The Guardian, Gaysi Family, and F Newsmagazine. Born and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal, Ankit brings five years of professional experience in strategic communications, writing, editing, multimedia storytelling, organizing, queer archiving, and event management. In 2024, he earned a Master’s degree in Visual and Critical Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Talla grew up in a household steeped in the rich traditions of Iran and invigorated by American freedoms. The contrasting experiences between her family and friends in Iran and the US fuel her commitment to this space. As the Director of Programs, Talla oversees the Chicago Forum’s programs, events, marketing, and student engagement efforts. She has nearly 15 years of experience in strategy and program management. She previously worked at Deloitte Consulting and later held leadership positions in Deloitte’s technology and marketing departments. Talla received her MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.