Libby Skarin

Libby Skarin is the executive director for the ACLU of South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wyoming.

As executive director, Libby oversees chapter operations and leads efforts to ensure the work of the ACLU is well-supported, coordinated, and aligned with its strategic plan to further advance civil liberties throughout the tri-state region.

Libby joined the ACLU in 2014 as the policy director for the ACLU of South Dakota. In this role, Libby served as the primary lobbyist for the ACLU and oversaw some of the ACLU’s greatest legislative victories for civil rights, including the passage of a bill ending life sentencing for juveniles and stopping the repeal of presumptive probation. In 2020, Skarin was promoted to the chapter’s campaigns director where she was responsible for developing and implementing effective, non-partisan issue campaign strategies and initiatives throughout South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wyoming.

Prior to joining the ACLU, Libby served as an assistant attorney general for the state of Iowa in her hometown of Sioux City.  Throughout her career, Libby has placed an emphasis on serving in the public interest and advancing both civil and human rights and has worked with the Sioux City Human Rights Commission as well as Iowa Legal Aid to provide assistance to underserved communities.

Libby is a graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law where she was a writer and then senior editor for the University’s Journal of Gender, Race & Justice. She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from the University of Iowa.