Leadership Team
Unruled Masses is a rapidly growing team of volunteers and an evolving organization. After getting our start in January of 2026 we've welcomed more than 40 people across all walks of life to this mission.
Our team includes human rights strategists, tech executives, artists, attorneys, former military and intelligence officers, professors, award-winning filmmakers and directors, social workers, data scientists, researchers, community builders, and many more.
Nick Van Zandt
Board President and Executive Director
Founder of UM and a former U.S. Army intelligence officer and political science scholar with several years experience analyzing authoritarian systems and corruption networks. He later worked for over a decade leading go-to-market strategy in data solutions firms, helping integrate and take to market intelligence technologies. He holds multiple degrees, including an MBA, an MPhil focused on intelligence tradecraft, and an MS in strategic studies.
Deanna Wilken
Board Treasurer and Chief Operating Officer
Deanna is a human rights strategist and operational leader with 15+ year’s experience, bringing expertise in strategic systems organization as Co-Founder of UM. President of Human Rights Research Center and a former USAID officer, she has led complex missions worldwide. She has served on Amnesty International’s Nominating Committee and specializes in governance, accountability, and justice. She holds degrees in international relations and sociology.
Jennifer Kirby-McLemore
Board Secretary and General Counsel
Jennifer is a public-interest attorney with extensive experience in government accountability, procurement oversight, and institutional compliance. She has served as in-house counsel to mission-driven nonprofits and advised multiple U.S. federal agencies. With a background spanning human rights law, sustainability work, and public education, she brings disciplined legal analysis and a strong commitment to ethical governance and the rule of law.
Tim Arnold
Chief Technical Officer
Tim is a senior technology leader with over 25 years of experience building accessible, scalable digital platforms for organizations advancing democracy, social justice, and environmental protection. In Director and VP positions at Washington, D.C.-based agencies serving nonprofits, he has led mission-critical web initiatives that help movements grow, engage communities, and operate with integrity, inclusion, and impact at scale.
“Architect”
Chief Data Officer
“Architect” is a PhD research scientist and applied data scientist who specializes in the use of cognitive science and data-driven methods to address complex real-world problems. Her work spans behavioral economics, decision-making, memory, and human factors across domains including law enforcement, cybersecurity, intelligence, and defense systems.
Matt Farleo
Creative Director
Matt Farleo serves as Creative Director at Unruled Masses, where he leads the organization’s visual storytelling and branding. Matt led creative initiatives at cybersecurity, technology, and marketing organizations, leading small (but mighty) brand design teams. He holds degrees in anthropology and graphic design from the University of Minnesota, where he began his activism, championing workers’ rights and student causes.
Ashley Finden
Campaigns Director
Ashley is a results-driven Campaign Manager with deep experience executing data-informed marketing and demand generation initiatives for both industry and the nonprofit world. With a background in journalism, she brings rigor, objectivity, and accuracy to strategy and decision-making. A collaborative storyteller and fast learner, she specializes in translating complex ideas into compelling campaigns.
The stewards of this work
Unruled Masses is powered by a multidisciplinary team from across the United States, bringing together human rights experts, former intelligence and military officers, political science scholars, attorneys, technologists, creative designers, and communications specialists. United by a shared position that equality-based democracy is non-negotiable, we are building the tools, community, and momentum needed to restore democratic accountability, inspire hope, and mobilize people to reclaim power peacefully.
Unruled Masses is supported by an Advisory Council of senior leaders from government, academia, and industry united by a clear conviction that corruption and abuse of power must be confronted. Drawing on deep institutional experience, these advisors provide strategic guidance, risk analysis, and counsel to strengthen the rigor and effectiveness of our work. The Council serves in an advisory capacity only, with all decisions remaining with Unruled Masses' leadership.
We strive to model the democracy we seek to defend. We operate as an accountable community of equals rather than a top-down corporate hierarchy, creating a fairer, more humane workplace where people are trusted to do their best work. This approach reduces bureaucracy, increases clarity and ownership, and allows us to move faster and adapt more effectively—proving that democratic organizations can be both just and highly capable.
No party. No ideology. No country. Only people.
Unruled Masses is nonpartisan and evidence-driven. We do not endorse or align with candidates, parties, policies, or any country. Our work is grounded in verified facts, scientific methodology, and codified standards for identifying abuse of power. We report on violations wherever they occur—without regard to beliefs, affiliations, or influence.