RALEIGH, N.C. –— The John Locke Foundation announced two significant leadership appointments today, bringing extensive policy and legal expertise to advance the organization’s mission of promoting limited government and constitutional principles in North Carolina.
Mullis Brings Development Expertise from Cato Institute
Brian Mullis has been appointed as the Foundation’s new Vice President of Development, where he will focus on building strategic philanthropic partnerships to support the organization’s continued growth and policy impact.
Mullis joins the Foundation from the Cato Institute, where he served as Senior Director of Partnerships. In that role, he directed the Legacy Society and specialized in planned giving, helping donors align their philanthropic goals with the Institute’s mission of promoting liberty and prosperity.
The North Carolina native brings a unique combination of policy and business experience to his new role. His background includes service in both the North Carolina General Assembly and U.S. Congress, as well as experience in political campaigns and his family’s small businesses. Mullis holds a bachelor’s degree in public policy and political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“Brian’s unique mix of policy insight, development expertise, and deep connections to North Carolina make him a tremendous asset to our team,” said Locke CEO Donald Bryson. “We’re excited to welcome him to the Foundation and know he’ll help us further strengthen our relationships with supporters and expand our reach.”
Legal Scholar Doran Takes Constitutional Studies Chair
The Foundation also announced that Jeanette Doran will join as the I. Beverly Lake, Jr. Chair in Constitutional Studies and Senior Counsel. In this full-time position, she will advance scholarship and policy grounded in both North Carolina and U.S. constitutional principles.
Doran currently serves as president of the North Carolina Institute for Constitutional Law (NCICL), a role she will continue alongside her new position at the Foundation. Her legal career began as a federal law clerk in the Middle District of North Carolina after graduating with honors from Campbell Law School.
She subsequently served as Research and Writing Attorney in the appeals section of the Federal Public Defender’s Office, where she appeared before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. In 2004, she joined the UNC–Chapel Hill School of Government before becoming staff attorney at NCICL in 2005, eventually rising to executive director in 2011.
Extensive Legal and Public Service Background
Doran’s public service includes a six-year appointment by the Governor to chair the Division of Employment Security’s Board of Review, which she completed in 2019. She currently serves on the state’s Rules Review Commission.
Her legal credentials include admission to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Fourth Circuit, multiple federal district courts, and all North Carolina courts. She holds a Juris Doctor from Campbell University.
Foundation Strengthens Constitutional Focus
“Locke has a deep commitment to limited government, constitutional integrity, and the rule of law,” said Bryson. “We are excited to have Jeanette on board, and her expertise accelerates our capacity to inform and empower North Carolinians on the virtues of limited, constitutional government.”
The appointments of Mullis and Doran represent a significant expansion of the Foundation’s capabilities as it continues its mission to provide principled policy solutions, defend individual liberty, and promote free markets throughout North Carolina.
