ABOUT US
OUR PURPOSE
Advancing equality, freedom, and community for all people.
OUR VISION
We envision a world where we are all treated as equals, in control of our own lives, and everyone’s voice is heard- where laws and institutions uphold human dignity, individual rights are secure, and where people and communities are empowered to chart their own destinies.
OUR MISSION
Through scholarly research, policy advocacy, and community organizing, The Equal Freedom Institute recommits liberal politics to human dignity, individual rights, and democratic self-government.
OUR VALUES
Integrity
We pursue our work with ethics, rigor, and accountability, ensuring that our research, arguments, and actions reflect our values.
Inclusivity
We welcome diverse perspectives and cultivate collaboration across communities, creating space for dialogue, feedback, and shared purpose.
impact
We focus on meaningful action on new and underexplored problems, advancing practical solutions through research, advocacy, coalition-building, and public engagement.
OUR TEAM
Chris Boom, JD, LLM, PhD
President
Both a practicing lawyer and an active scholar, Chris Boom’s dedication to advancing justice and knowledge led him to found the Equal Freedom Institute. With over 15 years of experience advocating for immigrants, he is the former Chair of the New Orleans Bar Association’s Immigration Law Committee and a current member of the Cornell Law School/Zolberg Institute on Migration and Mobility’s Global Strategic Litigation Council for Refugees. Following his LLM in transnational law and PhD dissertation on human rights and the rule of law, he also held appointments as a Visiting Scholar in Philosophy and a Visiting Lecturer in Law at Tulane University. Chris’s research has been published in the International Journal of Refugee Law and American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Law Journal, and presented at Cambridge University and the London School of Economics, among other places.
Jarrell Cook, JD
Executive Vice President
Interim Vice President, Policy Advocacy
Interim Vice President, Policy Advocacy
A graduate of Morehouse College and Stanford Law School, Jarrell Cook has more than a decade of experience in legislative, regulatory, and legal advocacy. As Senior Manager of State and Local Government Affairs at Workday, he is directly involved in the development of emerging artificial intelligence legislation around the United States. Outside Workday, he also plays an ongoing role in shaping California state policy as a lobbyist and strategic consultant. Previously, Jarrell worked as a Policy Director for the California Manufacturers & Technology Association, and as an associate attorney at the Washington, DC offices of Jenner & Block and Davis Wright Tremaine LLP.
Brianna Coyle
Director, Digital Infrastructure
Experienced in event organizing, social media, and other forms of traditional and digital outreach, Brianna Coyle has quickly gained recognition for her exceptional talents in communications and marketing. She has held key roles in political campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels including campaign manager, communications director, and videographer. Currently, she serves on the Steering Committee of the Center for New Liberalism, a grassroots advocacy group with chapters across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Brianna is also the founder of a digital marketing and creative agency specializing in website design and hosting.
BILL GLOD, PHD
Vice President, Scholarly Research
An accomplished philosopher and nonprofit administrator, William Glod has devoted his career to promoting personal autonomy and building scholarly networks. Alongside respected philosophy journals, his work criticizing paternalism in government was published in his 2020 Routledge manuscript “Why It’s OK to Make Bad Choices.” As Senior Program Officer at the Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) from 2015 to 2023, he oversaw faculty mentorship programming, organized scholarly events, and managed a fellowship with a $1 million annual budget. William currently works as a freelance author, contributing essays to outlets like Liberal Currents and the Online Library of Liberty.
TOMAS REYNA, BS
Chief of Staff
Combining a talent for field organizing with a commitment to strategic communication, Tomas Reyna has built a record of turning grassroots infrastructure into concrete political outcomes. A graduate of Albright College with a degree in political science, he has served as field director on campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels — most recently for Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan’s successful 2024 reelection in Pennsylvania, where he led staff and volunteers, coordinated events, and developed new community leaders. Across campaigns in Pennsylvania and Virginia, he has built communication infrastructure, served as a primary liaison between campaigns and their communities, and collected and organized field data to sharpen operational efficiency. Alongside this work, Tomas has contributed research and advocacy communications as a staff writer at Washington Premier Group and served on the board of the Maryland Immigrant Rights Coalition, where he supported a network of nonprofits advancing immigrant rights across the state.
Natalie Rupp, Mpp
Vice President, Community Organizing
Combining expertise in program evaluation with a passion for social justice, Natalie Rupp’s accomplishments span international development, public policy, and civil rights. After receiving her Master of Public Policy from the George Washington University, she designed research studies in Cambodia before taking roles in New Orleans focused on improving racial and economic equality. In 2023, she founded the Trans Income Project to empower and defend transgender people through cash assistance, support groups, and community organizing. In May 2025, the New Orleans City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Natalie drafted protecting sex workers from prosecution after being victim or witness to a crime.
Rebecca Skipper, MA
Executive Director
As a professional researcher with a passion for social entrepreneurship, Rebecca Skipper has devoted her career to empowering individuals, organizations, and communities through the dissemination of information. Before starting her own business in 2015, she worked as the lead researcher on a nonprofit educational platform for blind professionals, an assistive technology specialist for the University of Dayton, and an information specialist for a multinational corporation. In her spare time, she volunteers as a researcher for the Saving Hearts Foundation, a charity that protects youths from cardiac arrest through free CPR and AED education and access to defibrillators. Rebecca holds a master’s degree in library and information science, a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary social science, and a professional diploma in sourcing and recruiting.