Ralph Fertig, a clinical professor at the USC School of Social Work, has been appointed to the city of Los Angeles’ Ethics Commission by City Controller Wendy Greuel.

In his role as one of five commissioners, Fertig, who is known for his social justice advocacy, will help administer and enforce city ethics, campaign finance and lobbying laws to ensure elections and government decision making are fair, transparent and accountable.

“Democracy only works if we can level the playing field – if we can guarantee equal access and equal rights…to open up those opportunities and keep them open,” Fertig said during his confirmation hearing.

Fertig’s passion for social justice goes back decades. In the 1960s, he was part of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, a freedom rider and an activist for a variety of human rights groups, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Though he now dedicates much of his time to teaching, Fertig previously has been the executive director of the Greater Los Angeles Community Action Agency, the Metropolitan Washington Planning & Housing Association, and the Washington Welfare Association. He currently serves as president of the Humanitarian Law Project/International Educational Development, a non-governmental organization with consultative status to the United Nations Human Rights Sub-Commission. He is also the vice president of the Southern California Chapter of Americans for Democratic Action and sits on the executive boards of Progressive Jewish Alliance and Americans for Peace Now.