Staff

Kevin Turpin II is the president of National Journal. As president, Turpin has transitioned National Journal from a traditional media company to an information services organization. As the former senior vice president of National Journal, Turpin led the product development, strategy research, digital, and marketing teams. In this role, he oversaw product research, evaluated potential partnerships and established operational infrastructure for the new product pipeline. With over 10 years at National Journal, Turpin has produced successful proposals to increase profit margins, identified efficiencies in vendor relationships and created new revenue lines for the organization. Turpin also built a strategic advisory group of 60 government affairs executives from Fortune 100 corporations and influential trade associations; resulting in the launch of National Journal’s Leadership Council. He is also responsible for the launch of Policy Brands Roundtable and the Network Science Initiative. Turpin has a deep passion for mentorship of young people and serves on the board of City Year DC; a non-profit dedicated to mentoring young people during their primary and secondary years of education. He is a board member of the Carlton Club. In addition, Turpin serves as a member of the Economic Club of Washington and the Council on Foreign Relations. A proud Hoya, Turpin is a graduate of Georgetown University.

Emily Akhtarzandi is Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives of National Journal. In this role, she leads growth of the National Journal portfolio, new client development and product launches.

Afzal Bari serves as the COO for National Journal Group, as well as President of the Membership division. Afzal previously held roles at Bloomberg Government, Corporate Executive Board, Capco Consulting, and several startups. Afzal holds an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, undergraduate degrees from the University of Maryland College Park, and is a CFA Charterholder. He lives in Chevy Chase, Md. with his wife and two children.

Katie Collins is the chief business development officer, senior vice president of National Journal. In this role, she manages the company’s relationships with heads of government affairs at Fortune 500 companies and leaders of industry trade associations and oversees business development strategy.

In her previous role as vice president of development, Katie successfully launched the Network Science Initiative and managed National Journal’s strategic advertising relationships. She also helped lead the transition of National Journal’s client base from individual subscriptions to organizational memberships as National Journal shifted from a media company to a consulting model providing research and advisory services.

Katie’s prior experience spans nearly 15 years in business development and advocacy at National Journal, Corporate Executive Board, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Katie is a graduate of Georgetown University. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband.

Chris Dornfeld is senior vice president of technology at National Journal, where he’s responsible for crafting and executing the vision for NJ’s interactive offerings and overseeing information technology. Prior to National Journal, Chris held senior leadership roles in engineering and analytics at Manifest and co-founded a DC-based web development firm. Chris holds a B.S. in computer science from Carnegie Mellon and is widely recognized for typing very fast and very loud. He lives in Washington.

Jeff Dufour is editor in chief for National Journal Daily. Prior to National Journal, he was a columnist and editor for The Hill newspaper and the Washington Examiner. He also spent six years as the D.C. editor for UrbanDaddy, a lifestyle media company. He began his journalism career in 1998 at American Healthline, then a National Journal product. He has been a panelist and guest on NBC's "Today Show," Fox News, MSNBC, "The Dennis Miller Show," Sirius XM, and WTOP radio. A Connecticut native, Jeff is a graduate of Georgetown University.

Sarah Feinberg is the Vice President, Finance and Sales Operations. Prior to joining National Journal, Sarah served as Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis at The Washington Post and more recently, the Director of Finance for the News and Consumer Sales Division at Gannett. Sarah began her career as a Marine Officer, serving for 5 years in active and reserve roles both in the U.S. and the Middle East. She holds an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Sarah lives in Virginia with her husband and three sons.”

Luke Hartig is President of National Journal Research. He leads National Journal’s research and consulting businesses, including the Network Science Initiative, Vignette, and the PAC Vetting Service.

Prior to joining National Journal, Luke served as a senior director at the National Security Council (NSC) in the Obama White House. He previously served in a range of government roles at the Pentagon, State Department, Office of Management and Budget, and Government Accountability Office. Luke began his career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala.

Luke holds a master’s in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a B.A. in international relations from Boston University. He is an adjunct fellow at New America, an executive editor of Just Security, and a member of the advisory councils for Hostage US and the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation.

Luke lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife and two sons.

Gina Kim is general manager of Presentation Center and Research at National Journal. In this role, she provides the vision and drives the strategy for the product suite, leading a team of content producers and managers. Gina previously spent five years at Grant Thornton, including four years as director of public policy and external affairs. Gina also served as research director at CEB, managing quantitative and best-practice research studies for senior-most finance executives. During a six-year tenure at The NASDAQ Stock Market, she held a variety of research and strategy positions, including roles in the corporate client group and office of the vice chairman. Gina holds a master's degree in labor economics from Cornell University, where she was a Sage Graduate Fellow. She holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Bryn Mawr College, and currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees. She resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband and two daughters.

Lesley Martinez is managing director of marketing at National Journal where she is responsible for developing NJ’s marketing strategy and vision and overseeing marketing operations and events. Prior to National Journal, Lesley spent six years at CEB where she managed demand generation, acquisition marketing, and retention strategies for their finance clients both in the large enterprise and smb space. Prior to CEB she was at The Chronicle of Higher Education/The Chronicle of Philanthropy managing marketing efforts for corporate advertisers and new product launches. Lesley is a D.C. native and attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. She lives in Virginia with her husband and two daughters.

Christie is a senior dedicated advisor with National Journal. Originally from Baltimore, Christie graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland where she earned a B.A. in political science and a minor in philosophy. Prior to National Journal, she spent four years at the Advisory Board Company across a variety of account management roles. She currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Imani Bentham serves as Director of Engagement & Membership Strategy at National Journal. She brings over seven years of experience supporting business expansion by building relationships and strategic partnerships with clients in the nonprofit, tech, and government relations industries. Imani is a New York native and graduated with a B.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University.

Mandela Brown serves as a Dedicated Advisor - Government Affairs. He's a recent graduate from the University of Cincinnati where he studied Political Science. Previously he interned for his local county's Auditor office as a Community Liaison, Penske Truck Leasing and most recently the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation where he conducted International Business Development research. He hails from Dayton, Ohio and currently resides in Laurel, Maryland.

Anna DeGregorio is so excited to be joining the Revenue Team at National Journal as a Dedicated Advisor. Originally from Boston MA, She received her BA in English Literature from Wheaton College, and her MS from Babson College. In the past, Anna has held Account Executive and Operational roles, and currently resides in Brooklyn.

Molly Donnelly is thrilled to be joining National Journal as Client Engagement & Operations Associate on the NJR Revenue team. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a BA in Communications and currently lives in Bethesda, MD. Prior to joining National Journal, she worked in corporate event management organizing and hosting conferences for C-suite executives across the US.

Olivia Gallman serves as the Director, Engagement and Membership Strategy of National Journal. In this role, she is responsible for fostering relationships with high-level executives and heads of office at D.C.’s premier public policy organizations to optimize the value of Membership services, while also serving as a strategic advisor to prospective clients to help facilitate program growth and continued learning. Olivia came to National Journal with nearly a decade of experience in corporate government relations, with a focus on political action committee (PAC) management. In her previous role, Olivia led one of the largest employee-funded political action committee (PAC) management in the country for The Home Depot where she designed and executed national campaigns, developed an ongoing education curriculum for the company’s peer-to-peer network and implemented modern, technology-based engagement strategies for associates and key stakeholders. She has also led government relations efforts at both Xcel Energy and Southern Company, where she leveraged her background in corporate political compliance to modernize company-wide reporting and engagement practices.

Olivia is a graduate of The University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!) where she obtained her B.A. in Political Science from the School of Public and International Affairs. She now lives in southeast Washington, D.C. with her husband, Walker.

Abby Gost serves as the Dedicated Advisor-Capitol Hill. She is currently completing her undergraduate degree at DePauw University in Political Science. She previously had an internship in DC for the US House of Representatives. She is from Chicago, IL and is currently living in Greencastle, IN.

Allyson Grennille is Executive Director of Government Contracting with National Journal. Allyson has worked in the research and advisory services space for more than a decade and is passionate about building strategic, insights-driven partnerships with clients to help them realize their goals. Prior to National Journal, Allyson worked at Hanover research as a Senior Managing Director overseeing the company’s Corporate practice. She has an M.A. in Sociology from the University of Chicago and currently resides in New Jersey with her husband and daughter.

Jon Hartnett is a Membership Development Associate at National Journal. He graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges with BA in International Relations and History. Originally from Syracuse, New York, Jon now lives in Washington, D.C.

Aleksia Ilic Forster is an associate director for National Journal, working with the federal government including all agencies and Capitol Hill.

Mustafa Koten serves as National Journal’s director of data analytics and Salesforce. In this role, he is responsible for optimizing the workflow of the company’s sales, marketing and customer support divisions through the implementation and management of e-business solutions such as Salesforce, Workday, Wrike and Marketo.

In his previous role as a business data analyst, he was responsible for designing and delivering enterprise-level Salesforce implementations for National Journal and its parent company Atlantic Media. Mustafa also previously served as the manager of business data and operations in Quartz’s Hong Kong office.

Prior to joining Atlantic Media, Mustafa executed a wide range of projects as a business and systems analyst for Blackboard Inc. He has extensive expertise in working with organizations across the media, technology, education, agribusiness, automotive and nonprofit industries, including multinationals based in Europe and Asia.

Mustafa holds a MBA from The George Washington University and a B.S. in industrial engineering from Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey. He currently speaks four languages and is in the process of becoming fluent in Chinese (Mandarin).

Daniel Napsha is the National Security Client Associate at National Journal. He brings policy and communications experience gained in government and civil society, including the Pennsylvania state senate, the U.S. Senate, the lobbying firm VH Strategies, and most recently, Internet Association, which represented global technology companies. He cares about the internet, worker’s rights, and the needs of rural communities. In college, he managed communications for the first full-workforce undergraduate union campaign in the United States. He graduated cum laude from Kenyon College in 2021 and lives in Washington, D.C.

Kavya Ramagiri is the manager of revenue operations at National Journal. She graduated from Baylor University, where she earned a degree in International Studies. Previously, Kavya served as the deputy executive director of strategic coalitions on President Trump’s re-election campaign. Originally from Dallas, TX, she now resides in Arlington, VA.

Jackie Breuer is the director of Member Services at National Journal. She was born and raised in the Silicon Valley before moving to Washington, D.C. to attend American University. Since joining National Journal shortly after the 2016 election, Jackie has worked with clients in the public and private sectors, collaborating with our members to develop stronger communications, whether internal or external. Jackie has also partnered with our Presentation Center and research teams to develop new tools to support our PAC clients' priorities. 

George E. Condon Jr. is White House correspondent for National Journal. He joined National Journal at the beginning of the Obama administration, covering the White House for CongressDaily. Prior to that, he covered the White House and national politics as Washington bureau chief for Copley News Service and the San Diego Union-Tribune. Condon has interviewed nine presidents and reported from 88 countries. He led the team that won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for coverage of the corruption of Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Condon is a past president of the White House Correspondents Association and the Gridiron Club and past chairman of the National Press Foundation. He is a native of Cleveland and a graduate of Georgetown University.

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Charlie Cook is a political analyst for National Journal where he publishes a weekly column and hosts a biweekly virtual series. In 1984, he founded The Cook Political Report, an independent, non-partisan newsletter. He is a regular contributor to the newly named The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, co-author of The Almanac of American Politics, and political analyst for NBC News. In 2010, Charlie was a co-recipient of the American Political Science Association's prestigious Carey McWilliams award to honor "a major journalistic contribution to our understanding of politics." Charlie served as a Resident Fellow in 2013 at the Institute of Politics at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

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Tom DeFrank is a contributing editor at National Journal and was Washington bureau chief of the New York Daily News from 1996 to 2012. DeFrank was Newsweek's senior White House correspondent for a quarter century, covering eight Presidents and 12 Presidential campaigns. He has reported on the resignation of one President, the impeachment of a second, and was an eyewitness to assassination attempts against a third. His reporting has been praised as "riveting." ABC News calls him "excellent, well-connected and influential," and "legendary." The American Journalism Review rated him "one of the unsung stars of Washington journalism." And President Gerald R. Ford called him "one of the finest journalists I have ever known. Everyone I know feels the same way: you are fair, trustworthy and professional."

His 2007 book on 30 years of private conversations with President Ford, "Write it When I'm Gone," was a New York Times and Washington Post bestseller. In 2006 DeFrank won the Gerald R. Ford Prize for distinguished Presidential reporting. He co-authored Secretary of State James A. Baker III's memoirs and "Quest for the Presidency 1992," Newsweek's critically-acclaimed look at the 1992 Clinton-Bush election. He has been a student of the Presidency since 1968, when he took his first Presidential trip with Lyndon Johnson as a Newsweek intern. He traveled extensively with Richard Nixon and was assigned to Vice President Gerald Ford in October 1973. A few weeks before Nixon's resignation, he was reassigned to the White House and remained when Ford became President in August 1974.

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Jeff Dufour is National Journal's editor in chief. He was previously a columnist and editor for The Hill newspaper and the Washington Examiner, and an editor for Condé Nast Publications. He began his journalism career at American Healthline, which was then a part of the National Journal Group. He has been a guest on NBC's "Today Show," Fox News, MSNBC, "The Dennis Miller Show," Sirius XM, and WTOP radio. A Connecticut native, Jeff is a graduate of Georgetown University.

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Erin Durkin is a health care correspondent at National Journal covering Congress. She previously was the managing editor and reporter for FDA Week covering food, drug, and device regulation. Durkin also contributed to a project at The Center for Public Integrity by analyzing Medicare Advantage data. Originally from Baltimore, she graduated from the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland in 2013.

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Jerry Hagstrom is a columnist for National Journal. He writes and publishes The Hagstrom Report, a daily email newsletter on agriculture and for DTN, an Omaha-based agricultural news service.

Prior to his role as a columnist, Hagstrom covered agriculture and politics for National Journal. In the 1980s he pioneered the magazine's coverage of the political consulting industry. He is the author of Beyond Reagan: The New Landscape of American Politics; To Be, Not To Be Seen: The Mystery of Swedish Business; and, with Neal R. Peirce, of The Book of America: Inside 50 States Today.

Hagstrom grew up on a North Dakota farm homesteaded by his grandparents. He is a graduate of the University of Denver and has been a Loeb Fellow at Harvard University and a research fellow at the Freedom Forum Media Studies Center at Columbia University. He lectures frequently in the United States and abroad. The American Journalism Review has named Hagstrom one of its "unsung heroes" for "sterling work in the shadows" covering agriculture.

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Josh Kraushaar is National Journal Daily's Senior National Political Columnist, and pens the weekly "Against the Grain" column. Kraushaar has held several positions since joining Atlantic Media in 2010, including managing editor for politics at National Journal and executive editor and editor-in-chief of The Hotline.

Prior to working at National Journal, he was a political correspondent for Politico, where he reported on congressional campaigns and managed the "Scorecard" blog devoted to up-to-the-minute coverage of elections. Kraushaar has also served as the editor of House Race Hotline, for which he covered the 2006 election cycle.

Kraushaar has appeared as a political analyst on television and radio, including FOX News, MSNBC, CNN, National Public Radio, and C-SPAN.

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Amy Walter is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, where she provides analysis of the issues, trends and events that shape the political environment. Her weekly column appears at CookPolitical.com.

A contributor to the PBS NewsHour, she provides weekly political analysis for the popular “Politics Monday” segment and is a featured contributor for their Election and Convention special coverage events. She is also a regular Sunday panelist on NBC’s Meet the Press and CNN’s Inside Politics and appears frequently on Special Report with Bret Baier on Fox News Channel. From 2017 until early 2021, Walter was the host of the weekly nationally syndicated program Politics with Amy Walter on The Takeaway from WNYC and PRX. She’s also the former political director of ABC News.

Amy was an inaugural fellow at the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago, where she now serves on the Board of Advisors. She graduated summa cum laude from Colby College, earned an honorary degree as a Doctor of Letters, and serves as a Trustee to the Board.

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David Wasserman is House editor for The Cook Political Report, where he is responsible for handicapping and analyzing U.S. House Races. Founded in 1984, The Cook Political Report provides analyses of Presidential, U.S. Senate, House and gubernatorial races. The New York Times has called The Cook Political Report "a newsletter that both parties regard as authoritative."

Nate Silver of the New York Times' FiveThirtyEight Blog has written: "Wasserman's knowledge of the nooks and crannies of political geography can make him seem like a local," and the Los Angeles Times recently called David a "whip smart" and "scrupulously nonpartisan" analyst whose "numbers nerddom was foretold at a young age."

David has served as an analyst for the NBC News Election Night Decision Desk in 2012, 2010, and 2008, and has appeared on NBC Nightly News, ABC World News, C-SPAN Washington Journal, CNN, and NPR. His commentary on House races has been cited in numerous print and online publications including Politico, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and RealClearPolitics.com.

In April 2011, David authored "Better Know a District," the The Cook Political Report's comprehensive 2012 redistricting outlook. He also serves as an associate editor of National Journal magazine and a contributor to the Almanac of American Politics 2014. A frequent speaker and guest lecturer, David has shared his insights into the latest political trends with audiences at Georgetown's Government Affairs Institute, the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics, and American University, among others.

Prior to joining The Cook Political Report in June 2007, David served for three years as House editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball, a widely respected political analysis newsletter and website founded by renowned Prof. Larry J. Sabato, Director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. In that role, David led the publication to correctly predict Democrats would score a gain of 29 House seats in November 2006. He also served as an off-air analyst for BBC America's Election Night coverage of the 2006 midterm races.

David has also worked on numerous political campaigns, including competitive races in Iowa, South Dakota, and Virginia. A native of New Jersey, he holds a B.A. in government with distinction from the University of Virginia and was awarded the 2006 Emmerich-Wright Outstanding Thesis prize for his study of congressional redistricting standards.

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Philip Athey is the technology policy correspondent at National Journal. Previously he covered the Marine Corps for Military Times and environmental policy for E&E News. Philip has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Arizona State University. Prior to entering journalism, he was a cannoneer in the United States Marine Corps. Philip is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana.

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Savannah Behrmann is a staff correspondent covering the U.S. Senate. Before joining National Journal, Savannah was a reporter at USA TODAY where she covered Congress and all things politics, including the 2020 election. Prior, she worked at CNN. Hailing originally from Utah, Savannah graduated from George Mason University with a bachelor’s degree in political communication. She resides in the D.C. area.

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Erin Covey is a Hotline staff correspondent covering House races. She's also served as Hotline's digital editor and national political correspondent. Previously, she was an intern at C-SPAN and an intern and news assistant at NPR. She graduated with a B.A. in journalism from Liberty University, where she was a news editor at the school paper. Erin is originally from San Antonio, Texas and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

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Brian Dabbs is the energy and environment policy reporter at National Journal. Previously he covered the same topics at Bloomberg BNA. Prior to that, Brian reported on U.S. trade policy and corresponded from East and North Africa. He has a bachelor's degree from Western State Colorado University and a master's in journalism from Georgetown. Brian grew up near Annapolis, MD.

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Matt Holt is a staff correspondent with National Journal's Hotline, specializing in Senate races. Before joining the Hotline team, Matt interned for NBC's Meet the Press and worked at CNN. A Rhode Island native, he graduated from American University with a bachelor's degree in journalism and political science.

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Cristina Maza is foreign policy and defense correspondent for National Journal. She previously covered foreign policy and international affairs for Newsweek, was the Washington D.C. correspondent for the German news wire DPA, worked as a reporter for the Phnom Penh Post in Cambodia, and was a reporting fellow for the Christian Science Monitor in Washington. She has a B.A. from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, and a master's degree from University College London's School of Slavonic and East European Studies.

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Taameen Mohammad is the Digital News Producer at National Journal. Previously, she worked at Voice of America as part of the Media Resource Team and interned at NBC Washington. She graduated from American University in 2019 with a BA in broadcast journalism and a minor in international relations. During her time at American University, she worked at the student-run newspaper The Eagle as a Multimedia Editor. Taameen was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area and still resides there.

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Jessica Taylor is the Senate and Governors Editor for The Cook Political Report. Before joining the team, she was a political reporter for National Public Radio for five years, where she covered elections and breaking news, ranging from the White House to both chambers of Congress and statewide elections. Jessica was also a contributing author to the 2020 edition of The Almanac of American Politics, and was promoted to a senior author for the 2022 edition -- the first woman ever to hold that position. Taylor has previously served as a senior analyst/reporter for The Rothenberg Political Report (now Inside Elections), and reported on politics for several prestigious outlets over the past decade — including the NBC News Political Unit, National Journal, Politico and The Hill, where she served as campaign editor. She has appeared on MSNBC, Fox News, C-SPAN and CNN; offered analysis to The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal; and contributed her expertise to real-time election night coverage and analysis at CBS in 2012. A Tennessee native, Jessica graduated magna cum laude in 2007 with a B.A. in political science from Furman University in South Carolina.

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Mackenzie Weinger is National Journal Daily's managing editor. She previously covered national security at The Cipher Brief and reported on politics and media at Politico. Her work has also appeared in the Financial Times, World Politics Review, and The Washington Diplomat, among others. Mackenzie is a Los Angeles native and has a master’s degree in war studies from King’s College London and a B.A. in history from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

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Zac is a staff correspondent at National Journal's Hotline, specializing in national politics and the presidential race. Prior to joining Hotline, he was a data visualization associate with National Journal’s Presentation Center, focusing on policy areas such as finance, health, labor, energy, and the environment. Zac has also worked as a political analyst for Ballast Research, examining the performance of various government affairs offices, and analyzing the extent of racial discrimination in specific sectors. He has also been an analyst for Oxford Economics, calculating the impact of various tax policies, and of Britain’s exit from the European Union. He holds a master’s degree in Economics, and a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, both of which he obtained at the University of Edinburgh. Born in London, England, he currently resides in Washington, D.C.

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Casey Wooten covers House leadership and tax policy for National Journal. He previously covered agriculture and tax issues for Bloomberg BNA, and served as an energy and banking reporter at Houston Business Journal. A Houston native, he has a B.A. from the University of Houston and a master's in journalism and public affairs from American University.

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Taylor Amey is a Public Policy Research Analyst with the Network Science Initiative. Prior to joining National Journal, Taylor worked for Blue Compass Strategies, a political consulting firm where he performed opposition and political research. He was raised in Davenport, Iowa, before attending George Washington University, where he double majored in Political Science and Communication. His senior thesis was a rhetorical analysis on the public debate surrounding the 2013 immigration reform bill. Taylor lives in Arlington, Virginia.

Lizzy Andrew serves as Associate Director, Strategic Partnerships for the Network Science Initiative. Her previous roles at National Journal have included working as the Capitol Hill liaison, as well as managing a portfolio of client revenue for the Member Services team. Prior to National Journal, she worked as the Student Engagement Specialist for the Rome School of Music, Drama, and Art at her alma mater and performed at a number of theaters across the DC area. Originally from Holland, MI, she graduated from the Catholic University of America with a Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre.

Mary Banks is a Public Policy Research Intern with National Journal's Network Science Initiative. She is from Salt Lake City and completed her undergraduate degree in History at The University of Utah. She currently resides in Los Angeles and is working towards her Master of Public Policy degree at The University of Southern California.

Anu Bhatt is a Senior Health Policy Research Analyst with the Network Science Initiative. Prior to joining NSI, Anu worked at the Association of Immunization Managers as a Program/Policy Analyst for 7 years. She completed her undergraduate degree in Political, Legal, Economic Analysis at Mills College in Oakland, CA. Anu also holds an MPH in Health Policy from the George Washington University School of Public Health. She grew up in the Washington DC area, and currently resides in Chevy Chase.

Courtney Chan is a Public Policy Research Intern for the Network Science Initiative. She is a recent graduate of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), where she received a B.A. in Political Science: Public Policy and Philosophy. Prior to joining National Journal, she served as an intern at the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies and the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Originally from Los Angeles, Courtney currently resides in San Diego, California.

Michael Decker is a Research Director for the Network Science Initiative. Prior to joining National Journal, Michael served as a Director within the Stand Together philanthropic community leading research for policy campaigns. He worked directly with nonprofits and foundations on advocacy efforts focused on healthcare, fiscal policy, and criminal justice reform.

He received his Master’s of Science degree in Applied Economics from the University of Maryland and holds a Bachelor’s degree from The George Washington University. Originally from Savannah, GA, Michael currently resides in Washington, DC.

Hassan Fayz is a Health Policy Analyst for the Network Science Initiative (NSI). Since completing his undergraduate degree in Human Biology at Michigan State University in 2018, Hassan has held various positions in government, government relations, communications, and campaigns, most notably working for Gov. Jared Polis’s 2019 gubernatorial campaign in Colorado. Prior to graduating, Hassan served as a Legislative Intern in the U.S. House of Representatives. Today, in addition to his work with NSI, Hassan is attending the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health where he expects to complete his Master of Public Health this spring in Global Health Policy. Originally from Dearborn Heights Michigan, Hassan currently resides in Washington, DC.

Luke Forbes is a research intern for the Network Science Initiative. Luke is originally from Orange County, California, where he has spent the majority of his life. He served as a Congressional Intern in his home House of Representatives District (CA-39), as well as a Community Ambassador in his home California General Assembly District (CA-55). He currently resides in Arlington, Virginia, and attends The American University in Washington, D.C. where he is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Political Science.

Natalie Hedden is a research director with the Network Science Initiative. She graduated from American University with a degree in political science. After graduation, she worked at National Parent Teacher Association. During that same time, she also received her Master’s degree in public policy. She is originally from New Jersey and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Ripley Hunter is a National Security Consultant with the Network Science Initiative (NSI). Before joining National Journal, Ripley worked as a Researcher at the Center for a New American Security and previously interned at the U.S. Department of Defense’s Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies. Ripley holds an M.A. in Security Policy Studies from the George Washington University and a B.A. in International Security from San Diego State. Originally from Northern California, he currently resides in Washington, DC.

Joseph Krassner is a Client Engagement and Operations Intern at National Journal. He is currently a senior at American University majoring in International Studies and minoring in Art History. Prior to National Journal, he served as a Research Intern for Telegeography and Diplomacy Lab Researcher for the US Department of State. Originally from Irvine, CA, Joseph currently resides in Washington, DC.

Troy Looper serves as a Social Impact and Reputational Risk Analyst for the Network Science Initiative. Before joining the National Journal, Troy was a public school teacher with Teach for America in Hawaii where he completed his Master's in Education through Chaminade University. He earned his B.S. from Brigham Young University where he majored in Sociology with minors in Business Management and International Development. He has previously interned for several corporations helping to improve their corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, including Microsoft and as a program evaluator in Malawi for Nu Skin Enterprises. Troy is a native of Jacksonville, Florida and will relocate to the Washington D.C. area in the spring.

Michaela Mazure is an associate research director with the Network Science Initiative. She completed her undergraduate degree in Nutritional Sciences at Boston University in 2019, and then went on to earn her Master of Public Health from Tufts University in 2021. While completing her degrees, Michaela worked as a research assistant, focusing her projects on food insecurity and health disparities in the United States. Originally from Burlington, Massachusetts, Michaela currently resides in Portland, Oregon.

Christabelle Ong is a Health Policy Research Analyst with the Network Science Initiative. She graduated from Yale-NUS College with a degree in psychology in 2020 and subsequently, obtained a Master of Public Health degree from the Yale School of Public Health in 2021. Prior to joining NSI, Christabelle has contributed to research and program evaluation work in the domestic food security field and health equity sector. She was born in Singapore and currently resides in New York.

Kevin Pollack is a Public Policy Research Analyst with the Network Science Initiative. He graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in International Politics and a minor in Music. Before joining National Journal, Kevin worked at an environmental advocacy group, where he monitored federal legislation and contributed to lobbying efforts. Originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Kevin now resides in Washington, D.C.

Tyson Rhodes is a Public Policy Research Analyst with the Network Science Initiative. Prior to joining the National Journal, Tyson worked at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. During that same time he received his Master's in Public Policy from Pepperdine University. He is originally from California and still resides there.

Kamaan Richards is a National Security Analyst at the Network Science Initiative. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 2012-2017, then went on to the University of Minnesota, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Security Studies Policy at Georgetown University. Originally from Houston, Texas, Kamaan recently relocated to the DC area. Prior to joining National Journal, Kamaan served as the Multimedia Editor for the Minnesota Daily, provided commercial media services for a regional fitness chain, and supported the Minnesota State Legislature during its 2021 regular season.

Katherine Terminella is the Manager of PAC Partnerships and Vice Chair of the Communications Committee with National Journal. She is an alumna of Baylor University where she earned a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Corporate Communications, and is a current graduate student at Georgetown University. Prior to National Journal, Katherine gained experience at two non-profit organizations and a government office. Originally from Waxahachie, TX, Katherine currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Kendall serves as the Network Science Initiative's senior director for new products and consulting. Prior to joining National Journal, she served as a consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, supporting clients across the federal health market. Kendall graduated from the College of William & Mary in May 2016 with a B.A. in government and philosophy.

James Ween is a Public Policy Research Analyst with National Journal’s Network Science Initiative. He completed his undergraduate degree in Economics and Political Science at the University of Washington in Seattle. While an undergraduate, James wrote his senior thesis on the professional networks and career backgrounds of monetary policy makers at the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Canada. Prior to joining National Journal, James worked in market research for a private equity firm focused in the energy sector. James currently resides in Spokane, Washington.

Anmei Zeng is a Public Policy Research Analyst with the Network Science Initiative (NSI). She received her BA in Global Affairs and Chinese Studies from Yale-NUS College. Anmei previously interned at the US Department of State for the Embassy in Canberra. Most recently, she worked as a Research Assistant at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, where she focused on Australia-China relations and co-wrote a paper on Indo-Pacific security alliances. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Anmei will relocate to Washington, DC this spring.

Benjamin Ansley is a project manager with the National Journal Presentation Center team. Benjamin studied political science with minors in Spanish and History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Benjamin previously worked at TransPerfect as an account executive in the legal division. Benjamin is from Hickory, North Carolina and has lived in Washington, D.C. since July of 2018.

Jehan Bugli is a Policy and Data Visualization Associate with National Journal's Presentation Center. He recently completed his B.S. from the University of Michigan, studying Economics and Biology. Jehan is from Novi, MI and will be moving to Washington, D.C. this summer.

Kat Caleca is a Policy & Data Visualization Associate with the Presentation Center covering tech and cyber. She previously supported the president of National Journal, the president of National Journal Membership, and the president of National Journal Research as the Executive Assistant. Prior to joining National Journal, Kat organized for elections in Georgia and North Carolina and interned at the EastWest Institute and US Department of State. She graduated from the College of Charleston with a BA in International Studies, a BA in Political Science, and a minor in Spanish. Originally from Charlotte, NC, Kat currently resides in Washington, DC.

Jessica Coghlan is a Policy and Data Visualization Associate with National Journal’s Presentation Center, focusing on tax, labor, economics, and finance policy. She recently graduated from the University of Maryland College Park with a Masters in Public Policy and a B.A. in Government and Politics. Jessica is originally from Sykesville, MD and currently resides in the D.C. area.

Robert Fourqurean is a Policy & Data Visualization Associate with National Journal’s Presentation Center, focusing primarily on energy and environmental policy. Before joining National Journal, Robert was involved in Florida state politics. He has interned for a state representative, worked within a Florida Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, and helped to analyze and draft climate policy actions for the Florida Climate Institute. Robert graduated from Florida State University with a B.S in Biological Sciences and M.S in Applied American Politics and Policy. Originally from Miami, Florida, Robert is excited to take his career to Washington D.C.

Jessica Francis joins National Journal as a project manager with the Presentation Center team. Prior to joining National Journal, Jessica served as the grassroots coordinator for the National Breast Cancer Coalition. She has experience working on policy issues including women’s political participation, health care equity, and international economic development. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in women’s and gender studies. She earned her Master of Public Policy degree from the School of Public Affairs at American University. She is a North Carolina native and has lived in Washington, DC for four years. In her free time, she enjoys attending live music events.

Matthew Henderson serves as a Policy & Data Visualization Associate with National Journal’s Presentation Center, focusing on policy related to energy and the environment. Prior to joining National Journal, Matthew has had the opportunity to serve in various roles across government and policy work from serving as a Trade Policy associate with the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth Office in Chicago to interning for Congresswoman Robin Kelly’s Washington Office. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History from Loyola University Chicago, and is currently working on completing his master’s degree in Legal Studies from Washington University in St. Louis. Born and raised in South Bend, Indiana, Matthew is looking forward to returning to Washington, D.C.

Jena Kanji is a Strategy Research Associate at National Journal. She splits her time between the Tax, Labor, Economics, and Finance verticals in the Presentation Center, and working on new product development initiatives across the company. Prior to joining National Journal, Jena worked as a Management Consultant Associate for L.E.K. Consulting. Jena graduated from Georgetown University in 2019 where she majored in International Political Economy & Business with a minor in Arabic and a certificate in Entrepreneurship. She is originally from Long Island, New York, but currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Daniel Rinner is a Data and Policy Visualization Associate with National Journal’s Presentation Center. He earned a BA in Economics and International Studies from the University of Denver before completing an MA in Global Finance, Trade, and Economic Integration as a Sie Fellow with the Korbel School of International Studies. Daniel’s research experience includes fieldwork in Kenya, quantitative analysis, and years of contributions as a research assistant for projects in international development finance. He currently resides in his hometown of Kansas City.

Kia Sosa is the Associate Director, Operations for the National Journal’s Presentation Center. She is a recent Georgetown University master of public policy graduate. During her time at Georgetown, she interned for Senator Richard Durbin, focusing on foreign policy and defense, and for the House Foreign Affairs Committee, focusing primarily on the Europe and Eurasia portfolio. Between Hill internships, she interned for a small non-profit focused on improving democratic ballot access in a nonpartisan manner. Prior to her time in DC, she taught high school history and English in the suburbs of Chicago, and spent a year as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Osijek, Croatia. In addition to a master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown, she holds a B.S. in Secondary Education from Northwestern University. Originally from Chicago, she now lives in Washington, DC.

April Tan is a Policy & Data Visualization associate with National Journal’s Presentation Center. Prior to joining National Journal, she was an Intern for the Coalition of Homeless Services in her hometown researching supportive housing and assisting in grant applications. April completed her B.S. in Development Sociology at Cornell University and her M.S. in Comparative Social Policy at the University of Oxford. She is originally from Monterey, CA and is looking forward to moving to Washington D.C.

Paige Wulff is a project manager with the Presentation Center focusing on health policy and data visualization. A St. Louis native, she graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans with degrees in political economy and international relations. Prior to joining National Journal, she worked for the Massachusetts Health Connector and served as field staff for a Missouri senatorial campaign. She currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Kalea Young-Gibson (she/hers) is a Policy and Data Visualization Associate with National Journal’s Presentation Center. She will receive her Master of Public Administration from The Ohio State University this Spring. Originally from Rock Hill, South Carolina, Kalea received two Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Psychology from Winthrop University, where she focused on political psychology and research methods. In addition to her research and policy experience, Kalea is also a former Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion instructor. She currently resides in Columbus, OH and will be moving to D.C. this Summer.

Abigail Yohannes is a policy and data visualization associate at National Journal (Presentation Center). She attended the University of California, Los Angeles, and graduated with a degree in Political Science. She is a Bay Area native.

Sushmitha Tamilselvan is thrilled to join National Journal as an Associate Product Manager. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a B.S. in Information Science and is currently pursuing her M.S. in Data Analytics Engineering from George Mason University. Prior to joining National Journal, she worked at NASA and FDM Group (with their client, SiriusXM). She is from Rockville, MD and is currently living in Washington, DC.

Hasan Tuncay is a Senior Software Engineer at National Journal, working on implementing user-friendly and cutting-edge applications as part of National Journal’s Digital product offerings. Prior to joining National Journal, Hasan worked at EastBanc Technologies as a Lead Software Engineer, solving problems and building modern software solutions for a variety of clients such as financial institutions, technology companies, nonprofits and local governments. Hasan has a M.S. in Cybersecurity in Computer Science degree from The George Washington University, and B.S. Computer Engineering degree from Bilkent University in his hometown of Ankara, Turkey. He currently resides in Arlington, VA.

Jesse Chimes is the associate director of digital marketing at National Journal. He helps develop and implement strategies to expand National Journal’s membership base and strengthen its brand positioning. In previous roles, he led marketing strategy for a national healthcare association, managed digital content for a nonprofit founded by Microsoft, and produced a major market talk show for CBS Radio.

Jesse grew up just outside of Washington, D.C., graduated from American University in the District, and has no immediate plans to see what other cities actually look like.

Soye Lim is currently a Graphic Designer in the Marketing department. Recently in 2020, she graduated with a MFA in Graphic Design from Otis College of Art and Design. Right before she pursued her master degree, she worked as an intern at Black Math, a creative agency in Boston.

Chloe is the associate director of marketing and events at National Journal. Prior to joining National Journal, she was a copywriter at Experian’s internal creative agency in New York City and worked in marketing in Nantucket, MA.

After growing up in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, Chloe attended the University of Virginia where she received a Bachelor of Arts in American studies and government.

Padget Satterwhite is a manager with National Journal's events team. Padget graduated from Wofford College in May 2018 where she was an English major and business minor with a concentration in digital media studies. Prior to working for National Journal, Padget worked as a congressional intern, as well as an intern for the Charleston Wine + Food Festival. Originally from Columbia, South Carolina she currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Sara Stanton is the creative lead at National Journal. Prior to joining National Journal, Sara led their own graphic design studio specializing in data visualization and social impact. Sara holds a masters degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art and an undergraduate degree from the University of Vermont. Originally from New Hampshire, Sara lives in Virginia with their wife and dog.

Xavier Adomatis is a research associate on the Vignette team. He will graduate in May 2020 with a joint degree in International Affairs and Economics from GWU. Previously, Xavier has worked as a research intern at the American Enterprise Institute, a volunteer manager for multiple non-profits, and president of Delta Lambda Phi Social Fraternity. He currently lives in DC, but was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina.

Skylar Burris is a research associate with National Journal’s People Research Team. She graduated magna cum laude from New York University with a degree in Politics and English. Skylar previously interned at two Bay Area-based political consulting firms and worked as a research associate intern for Business Forward Foundation in D.C. She currently resides in her hometown of Palo Alto, California.

Hannah Cohen is a research associate on the People Research Team. She graduated from Davidson College in 2020 with a B.A. in History and Political Science. After graduating, she completed a legislative and public affairs fellowship at Monument Advocacy, a strategic communications and government relations firm. Prior to joining National Journal, Hannah worked at a government affairs firm specializing in transportation and infrastructure policy. She grew up in New Jersey and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Jessica Copenhaver is a research associate with National Journal’s People Research Team. She graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Public Policy. Jessica has worked as a policy researcher with non-profits, academic institutions, and private entities. She is from Houston, Texas, and currently resides in Virginia.

Jack Gibson is a research associate with the People Research Team. He joined National Journal in 2021 after graduating from Creighton University with degrees in economics and political science. He previously interned for Legal Aid of Nebraska and conducted research on developmental economics while an undergraduate. He grew up in Wayzata, MN and is currently working remotely from Omaha, NE.

Emily is a senior research associate with the People Research Team. She joined National Journal in 2019 following her graduation from Williams College with degrees in English and psychology. She previously interned at Thomson Reuters Special Services and conducted research on implicit cognition and evaluation. Originally from Easton, CT, Emily currently resides in Virginia.

John “JL” Michaud is a Product Manager with the Vignette team. As of January 2022, he is also pursuing a Masters of International Affairs at American University. Prior to joining National Journal, JL interned at the US World War I Centennial Commission and Capitol Hill Consulting Group, a bipartisan government affairs firm. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 2019 with a BA in Foreign Affairs. He grew up in Alexandria, Virginia, and currently resides in Washington, DC.

Alexander Oh is a research associate with the People Research Team. Alexander attended Carnegie Mellon University, where he received a B.A. in Professional Writing in 2020 and a M.S. in International Relations and Politics in 2021. Prior to joining National Journal, Alexander worked with various media publications as a freelance journalist and contributed to university sponsored research projects. He was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA where he currently resides.

Stefanie Pousoulides (she/her/hers) is a Research Associate with the Vignette team. Stefanie graduated from Duke University with a B.A. in Political Science and International Comparative Studies and a Human Rights Certificate. Prior to joining the National Journal, she worked as a research assistant to the American Political Science Association and various Duke political science professors specializing in American political institutions and behavior. In addition to her research in American politics, she is a former staff writer for PolitiFact in Washington, D.C., and served as news editor and investigations editor of The Duke Chronicle, the independent news organization at Duke University. Stefanie is originally from Canton, OH, where she also currently resides.

Marissa Soltoff is a research associate for the Vignette team. She is a recent graduate from George Washington University, having double majored in International Affairs and Political Science. Originally from Princeton, New Jersey, she currently lives in Washington, DC.

Blake Vieira is a research associate with the People Research Team. He joined National Journal in 2021 after graduating from American University with a B.A. in International Studies, where he focused on the Middle East, North Africa, and national security policy. He previously interned with Senator Michael Bennet and Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton and most recently served as a research assistant for Wall Street Journal reporter Michael Gordon on his upcoming book. Born in Riverside, CA and raised between there, Bellevue, WA and Castle Rock, CO, he currently lives in Washington, DC.

Shaly Joseph is the Associate Director of Recruiting at National Journal. Prior to joining the team, Shaly served as the Assistant Director of Membership and Intern Operations at NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. During her tenure at NASPA, Shaly managed membership initiatives, implemented strategic renewals campaigns, and developed short and long term data reporting solutions. In addition, she launched a robust internship program providing students with professional development opportunities that support their particular career interests/goals. Earlier, she worked in the Professional & Liberal Studies admissions office at Saint’s Joseph’s University, planning orientation and other recruitment events. Originally from Pennsylvania, Shaly earned a B.A from Saint Joseph’s University in Political Science with concentrations in History, Asian Studies and European Politics.

Kevin Ponder is the Facility and Office Operations Manager at National Journal. He manages the onsite operations and responsibilities that are required to run the National Journal offices. Prior to National Journal, he worked in both Human Resources and Facilities Management roles at Spire Energy in St. Louis, MO. He received his B.S. in Psychology from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, and his M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Kevin now lives in Washington, DC.