Staff

Leadership

Kevin Turpin II

President

Kevin Turpin II is president of National Journal Group, a research and information services portfolio company. Since Turpin took over the role of president in 2016, he has led the organization through a complete transformation from a traditional media company to its current enterprise, which includes founding a new portfolio company, Gravity Research. The company has experienced double digit revenue growth every year since he took the helm.

Turpin has a deep passion for mentorship of young people and serves as chair of the board of City Year DC; a non-profit dedicated to mentoring young people during their primary and secondary years of education. He is also the board chair of Gracism Global, a non-profit focused on equipping leaders that have decided to bridge the deep divides of color, class, and culture in their industries. 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

Chief Revenue Officer

Emily Akhtarzandi is Chief Revenue Officer of National Journal. In this role, she leads growth of the National Journal membership portfolio, new client development and product launches.

 
Across her 17+ year career with Atlantic Media, Emily held numerous leadership and strategy roles. Most recently, Emily was Vice President of AtlanticLIVE, where she led revenue and brand awareness for the events division of The Atlantic. Earlier in her Atlantic career, she was National Advertising Director, where she led the integrated media partnerships team. During this time, she was instrumental in the launch of The Atlantic's events business and the successful launch of the Aspen Ideas Festival franchise.
 
Emily has also held leadership roles as GM of Washington Post LIVE, where she managed the sales and events team for the live journalism division of The Washington Post. She has been recognized as one of FOLIO's Top Women Corporate Visionaries in Media and has been honored as MIN's Sales Team leader of the Year.
 
Emily is a graduate of University of Maryland. She resides in Bethesda, Maryland with her husband Haitham, and their two children, Adam and Dalia.

Afzal Bari

CFO and Chief Strategy Officer, National Journal Group

Afzal Bari serves as CFO and CSO for National Journal Group. 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.

Chris Dornfeld

Senior Vice President, Technology

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

Editor in Chief

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.

Rebecca Katona

Chief Administrative Officer

Rebecca Katona is the Chief Administrative Officer at National Journal. Since joining NJ in 2013 to run Membership Events, Rebecca has served in a half dozen people operations-focused roles, including as NJ's Chief of Staff, NJ's Vice President of Talent & Culture, Atlantic Media's Director of Talent & Culture, and AtlanticLIVE's Executive Director. Previously, Rebecca led a nonprofit higher education forum for promising domestic and international undergraduates. A native of Columbus, OH, and proud graduate of The Ohio State University, Rebecca lives on Capitol Hill with her husband Joey and their three sons: Calvin, Winston, and Truman.
 

Gina Kim

Chief Research Officer

Gina Kim is Chief Research Officer 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

Vice President, Marketing

Lesley Martinez is vice president of marketing and product at National Journal where she is responsible for developing NJ’s marketing and product 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.

Pope Ward

Senior Vice President of Product

Pope Ward is Senior Vice President of Product at National Journal, focusing on product content, operations, and strategy. Prior to this role, he held a variety of research positions in membership-based information services firms, including as Chief Research officer (CRO) for the Advisory Board for the Arts and, before that, for the Corporate Executive Board (now Gartner), where he spent 20 years. Pope has run product for diverse businesses, including digital-learning company, CorpU (now Udemy), and healthcare-analytics startup Allium Health, which he co-founded. He served for two years at the Office of Management and Budget, where he advised the Deputy Director for Management and led performance and efficiency efforts spanning federal agencies. Pope graduated from Amherst College and lives with his wife and three boys in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He’s a birdwatcher.

Government Affairs

Christie Ankrum

Executive Director, Member Services

Christie is an Executive Director of Member Services 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.

Kyle Atlas

Dedicated Advisor

Kyle Atlas serves as a Dedicated Advisor for Government Affairs. Originally from Charlotte, NC, he graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Political Science and a minor in English. Prior to his current role, Kyle served as a Senior Membership Development Associate at National Journal and held other client development positions for a nonprofit. He currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Kees Bruggen

Dedicated Advisor

Kees Bruggen serves as a Dedicated Advisor for Government Relations. Graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL , as well as from George Washington University with a Masters’ Degree in Political Management. His previous work experience is on political campaigns, interning on Capitol Hill, at a political strategies firm and most recently at POLITICO Pro. Has lived in DC for most of his life but is originally from Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Has lived in South Carolina and Santander, Spain. Currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Aleksia Ilic Forster

Director, Member Services

Aleksia Ilic Forster is a Director with National Journal. She has over a decade of experience working with a diverse range of clients from Fortune 500 corporations, associations, non-profit organizations, embassies, and the federal government.

Jamie Lance

Strategic Engagement Associate

Jamie Lance is a Strategic Engagement Associate with National Journal. She graduated from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in 2022 with a major in Culture and Politics and a minor in Arabic. Prior to National Journal, she worked in politics at the state and federal level and in non-profit fundraising. Jamie is originally from Massachusetts and currently resides in Washington, DC.

Molly Palmer

Dedicated Advisor

Molly Palmer is a Dedicated Advisor with National Journal. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Human and Organizational Development from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. Prior to joining National Journal, Molly's work experience focused on customer success and marketing for nonprofits. Molly is originally from Orlando, FL, and now resides in Washington, D.C.

Editorial

George E. Condon Jr.

White House Correspondent

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.

Read George E. Condon Jr.'s Stories

Charlie Cook

Columnist

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.

Read Charlie Cook's Stories

Tom DeFrank

Contributing Editor

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.

He has reported from 50 states and 48 countries and is a former president of the White House Correspondents' Association. In 1973 he covered the return of U.S. prisoners of war from Vietnam at Clark Air Base in the Philippines. DeFrank was on active duty at the Pentagon from 1968 to 1970 as a public affairs officer. Before joining Newsweek, he was a reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Bryan (Texas) Daily Eagle and Minneapolis Star. A native of Arlington, Texas, DeFrank is a 1967 high honors graduate of Texas A&M University, where he edited the campus newspaper, and has a master's degree from the University of Minnesota.

Read Tom DeFrank's Stories

Jeff Dufour

Editor in Chief

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.

Read Jeff Dufour's Stories

Erin Durkin

Health Care Correspondent

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.

Read Erin Durkin's Stories

Jerry Hagstrom

Columnist

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.

Read Jerry Hagstrom's Stories

Melos Ambaye

Editorial Intern

Melos Ambaye is an intern with National Journal. Melos is a senior at Washington and Lee University, where she is pursuing a B.A. in journalism and American government and a minor in poverty and human capability studies. Prior to National Journal, Melos worked at Voice of America's News Center, covering international and domestic stories. She is originally from San Diego but currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Read Melos Ambaye's Stories

Nicholas Anastácio

Hotline Senate Correspondent

Nicholas Anastácio is the Senate campaign correspondent for Hotline at National Journal. Prior to joining National Journal, he interned at CNN in their political unit, data and graphics unit, and polling and election analytics unit; NBC News's political unit; and C-SPAN's programming unit. He graduated from The George Washington University in 2024 with a B.A. in political communication and a B.S. in data science. While at GW, he worked at The GW Hatchet, the university's independent student-run newspaper, as their graphics editor and community relations director and at GW-TV, working on their political television talk show "Capital Crossfire." Originally from Lyndhurst, New Jersey, he currently lives in Washington, D.C.

Read Nicholas Anastácio's Stories

Philip Athey

Technology Policy Editor

Philip Athey is the technology policy editor, covering tech for National Journal Daily and overseeing the PolicyView: AI publication. 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.

Read Philip Athey's Stories

Kirk A. Bado

Managing Editor, Hotline

Kirk A. Bado is editor of The Hotline. He directs campaign coverage, edits National Journal's twice daily political newsletters, and leads a team of correspondents covering the day-to-day political news from races all over the country. Kirk has been a guest on C-SPAN's Washington Journal, WTOP radio, and hosts the National Journal Radio podcast. Prior to National Journal, Kirk worked at USA Today, Reuters, the Arizona Republic, the Tennessean, and EdNC. He started at The Hotline as a House campaigns correspondent. Originally from Pittsburgh, Kirk graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Master's in mass communication after completing his B.S. in politics and public law at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.

Read Kirk A. Bado's Stories

Savannah Behrmann

Senate Correspondent

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.

Read Savannah Behrmann's Stories

James A. Downs

Staff Correspondent, Hotline

James A. Downs is Hotline's House race correspondent. He's also been a copy editor for National Journal Daily and an editorial intern on the Hotline team. He is a graduate of Saint Michael's College in Colchester, VT, where he concentrated in English, History, and Religious Studies with a minor in Medieval Studies. He is an unapologetic Bostonian.

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Erika Filter

Copy Editor

Erika Filter is a copyeditor for National Journal Daily, Presentation Center, and other NJ products. A former Hotline intern, she graduated from George Washington University, where she was metro editor for The GW Hatchet. She's originally from Carson City, Nevada.

Read Erika Filter's Stories

Lauren Green

Congressional Correspondent

Lauren Green covers Congress and policy for National Journal. She previously served as the D.C. Correspondent for the University of Oklahoma's Gaylord News and has contributed to Texas Monthly. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a B.A. in journalism with a political focus. She is currently pursuing a master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Lauren is a Houston, Texas native and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Read Lauren Green's Stories

Natalie Jackson

Columnist

Natalie Jackson writes the "Leading Indicators" column for National Journal. She is currently a vice president at GQR Research Institute. She previously developed surveys at the Public Religion Research Institute, and held senior and management positions at JUST Capital, HuffPost, and the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. She received a BA in political science and history from West Texas A&M University and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Oklahoma. She also writes the newsletter "Herding Cats & Polls" at Substack.

Read Natalie Jackson's Stories

Ledyard King

Managing Editor, National Journal Daily

Ledyard "Ledge" King is managing editor of National Journal Daily, overseeing content and production. He was previously at USA Today and the Gannett network of papers for more than 20 years, covering the White House, Congress, and presidential races. He’s also worked at the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, and the Annapolis Capital-Gazette.

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Deron Lee

Copy Chief

Deron Lee is the copy chief for National Journal, having worked as a copy editor for the company since 2006. He has also served as a correspondent for the Columbia Journalism Review and as an associate writer for National Journal Hotline. Deron received a master's degree from the University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism, and a bachelor's degree from Trinity University in San Antonio.

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Cristina Maza

National Security Correspondent

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.

Read Cristina Maza's Stories

Mary Frances McGowan

Staff Correspondent, Hotline

Mary Frances McGowan is a staff correspondent covering states and governors for Hotline at National Journal. She graduated from John Carroll University in 2017, with degrees in journalism and political science. Prior to joining National Journal, she was a Tim Russert Fellow with Meet the Press, and a researcher at NBC’s Washington Bureau. She is a Cleveland, Ohio native and currently lives in Washington, D.C.

Read Mary Frances McGowan's Stories

Taameen Mohammad

Senior Production Editor

Taameen Mohammad is the Senior Production Editor 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.

Read Taameen Mohammad's Stories

Anya Sesay

Editorial Intern

Anya Sesay is an intern with National Journal. A senior at Harvard College, she is completing her B.A. in History and Literature. At school, she covers race and culture for The Harvard Crimson. Before then, she wrote and edited a collection of profiles, after freelancing for Gaithersburg’s Town Courier. Though born and raised in Gaithersburg, MD, she currently resides in Gainesville, Florida.

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Hannah Thacker

Hotline Associate Editor

Hannah Thacker is associate editor of Hotline. Before joining National Journal, Hannah was a copy aide at The Washington Post, where they worked on records requests and aided in reporting on the Investigative team. Hannah graduated from the George Washington University with a B.A. in political communication and a concentration in journalism. While at GW, Hannah served as a writer, editor, and eventually the managing director of the university’s independent student-run newspaper, The GW Hatchet. Originally from Los Angeles, Hannah currently lives in D.C.

Read Hannah Thacker's Stories

Abby Turner

Editorial Intern

Abby Turner is a student at American University, where she is the editor-in-chief of The Eagle. She is originally from Powell, Ohio.

Read Abby Turner's Stories

Zac Weisz

Senior National Correspondent, Hotline

Zac is senior national correspondent at National Journal's Hotline, specializing in national politics and the presidential race. He also covered all the Jan. 6 committee’s public hearings, and has reported several stories on efforts to amend federal election laws. Prior to joining Hotline, he was a project manager with National Journal’s Presentation Center. 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 had worked as 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 from the University of Edinburgh. Born in London, he currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Read Zac Weisz's Stories

Casey Wooten

Senior Congressional Correspondent

Casey Wooten is senior congressional correspondent for National Journal, covering House leadership and tax policy. 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.

Read Casey Wooten's Stories

Presentation Center

Alexander Abraham

Senior Policy and Data Visualization Associate

Alexander Abraham is a Senior Policy and Data Visualization on PC's syndicated team where he helps package and distribute important people, politics and policy news to stakeholders. Born and raised in the DC area, he has always been fascinated with how government actions affect everyday Americans, and how the press plays a role in our democracy. Prior to joining National Journal, Alexander reviewed and processed survey data for a Democratic political polling firm for the 2022 election cycle. He co-authored the academic journal article, "'How the Media Uses the Phrase :' Identity Politics,'" and in 2020, supported a national voter turnout effort. Alexander is a graduate of the College of Charleston and lives in Washington, DC.

Takuya Amagai

Senior Policy & Data Visualization Associate

Takuya Amagai is a Senior Policy & Data Visualization Associate with the National Journal's Presentation Center. Originally from Tokyo, Japan, Takuya previously worked as a research associate at Vote Smart, informing Americans about their candidates. Most recently, Takuya was working as a Counties Future Labs Intern at the National Association of Counties, where he worked on projects such as the American Rescue Plan. Takuya holds a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Political Science and International Relations from Carleton College, and a Masters in Public Policy Degree from McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University. He currently resides in Arlington, Virginia.

Jehan Bugli

Research, Data, & Automation Manager

Jehan Bugli is a Research, Data, & Automation Manager 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

Senior Project Manager

Kat Caleca is a Senior Project Manager 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.

Emma Chun

Policy & Data Visualization Associate

Emma Chun is a Policy & Data Visualization Associate with the National Journal’s Presentation Center, specializing in technology and cybersecurity. She graduated from Duke University with B.A.s in Public Policy and Computer Science and a minor in Music. Prior to joining National Journal, she interned at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and contributed to research projects focused on education and social policy. She is originally from Richmond, VA and now resides in DC.

Jessica Coghlan

Senior Project Manager

Jessica Coghlan is a Senior Project Manager 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.

Olivia Corley

Senior Policy and Data Visualization Associate

Olivia Corley is a Senior Policy and Data Visualization Associate with National Journal’s Presentation Center. She holds a B.A. in both Political Science and Public Policy from the University of Kentucky. During her time at the University of Kentucky, Olivia was a Policy Research Intern within the Presentation Center. Before returning back to National Journal, Olivia went on to complete her M.S. in Criminology from the University of Pennsylvania and recently graduated in 2024. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, she currently resides in the Washington D.C. area!

Bri Curran

Digital and Multimedia Content Associate

Bri Curran is the Digital and Multimedia Content Associate at National Journal. She graduated from Davidson College in 2023 with a degree in English and a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies. Bri previously worked as a Graphic Design Assistant at Davidson College Communications. She is originally from Miami, FL.

Thea Dunlevie

Project Manager

Thea Dunlevie is a Project Manager in National Journal’s Presentation Center. Before coming to National Journal, she researched foreign policy and national security issues at multiple think tanks in the Washington D.C. area. Previously, she worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Education. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a bachelor’s degree in political science, and she is currently earning a master’s degree through Georgetown University’s Security Studies Program. Thea grew up in southern California and now lives in Arlington, Virginia.

Tristano Fasulo

Project Manager

Tristano Fasulo is a project manager with the National Journal Presentation Center team. Tristano graduated with a degree in psychology and a minor in neuroscience from Princeton University. Tristano previously worked for the Wisdom Board as a research and product development lead. Tristano is originally from Montreal, Quebec, but currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Jaylen Joseph

Product Research Manager

Jaylen Joseph is a Product Research Manager at National Journal. He graduated from Georgetown University in 2022 with a degree in International Political Economy & Business. While studying at Georgetown, he also worked with National Journal’s Presentation Center as a Policy & Data Visualization Intern. Originally from Los Angeles, CA, Jaylen currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Helena Lykke

Senior Policy & Data Visualization Associate

Helena Lykke is a Senior Policy & Data Visualization Associate with the National Journal’s Presentation Center, focusing on Elections, Courts, and Congress. She graduated from Rhodes College with a B.S. in Political Science with a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies. Prior to joining National Journal, Helena worked at a criminal justice non-profit to create a comprehensive voter education website before a crucial D.A. election. She has previous experience in campaigns, non-profits, policy analysis, and research. Helena is from Dallas, TX, and currently resides in the D.C. area.

Amelia Navins

Policy Research Associate

Amelia Navins is a Senior Policy Research Associate at the National Journal. She graduated from the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Public Policy with a concentration in race, law, and social justice, and a minor in History of Law and Policy. Previous to her role at National Journal, Amelia worked on various research projects related to race-based discrimination and the criminal justice system, along with internships in public affairs. Originally from Ardsley, NY, Amelia now lives in DC.

Emily Orem

Policy and Data Visualization Associate

Emily Orem is a Policy and Data Visualization Associate with National Journal. She holds a BA in Environmental Studies from Boston College with a concentration in Climate Change and Societal Adaptation and a minor in English Literature. Prior to National Journal, she held internships in the sustainable agriculture and wildlife conservation fields. A Washington local, she currently resides in the DC area.

Caroline Palmer

Policy & Data Visualization Associate

Caroline Palmer is a Policy & Data Visualization Associate with the National Journal's Presentation Center. She graduated from a dual-degree program in the spring of 2023, receiving a B.A. from Duke University and a B.S. from Duke Kunshan University in Global Health and Public Policy with a minor in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. While at Duke, she was involved in a number of research projects related to health policy, covering topics including COVID-19 environmental health, and health equity. She has lived in Connecticut and North Carolina and currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Peyton Semjen

Policy and Data Visualization Associate

Peyton Semjen is a Policy and Data Visualization Associate for the Presentation Center’s Concierge team at National Journal. She studied Government and Legal Studies as well as Art History at Bowdoin College where she was previously a researcher in the Government Department researching voter turnout gaps across racial demographics and a Sustainability Analyst for the college. She also previously interned for AmeriCorps working on researching and drafting climate initiatives. Peyton is from Hingham, MA but currently resides in Washington D.C.

Digital

Andrew Littler

Senior Web Developer

Andrew Littler is a Senior Web Developer with National Journal. He graduated from University of St. Thomas in Minnesota with a B.A. in Computer Science. Prior to joining National Journal, Andrew worked in various IT related roles at different companies. He currently lives in Minnesota.

Marketing and Events

Katherine Bennett

Events and Marketing Specialist

Katherine Bennett is an Events and Marketing Specialist at the National Journal. She graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a degree in Political Science and Public Policy. Prior to this role, she worked as a staff assistant for a Maryland-based lobbying firm and has experience in the Maryland General Assembly. Originally from Annapolis, MD, she now lives in Washington, DC, where she enjoys trying new restaurants with her friends and going to Washington Spirit games.

Jesse Chimes

Senior Director of Marketing

Jesse Chimes is the Senior Director of Marketing at National Journal. He helps develop and implement strategies to expand National Journal’s membership base and strengthen its brand positioning. Jesse graduated from American University and lives in Washington, DC.

Audrey Gilboard

Marketing Manager

Audrey Gilboard is a marketing manager at National Journal. Prior to joining NJ, Audrey spent a decade working in policy and politics.

Audrey graduated from Taylor University with a degree in political science and international studies. Originally from Canton, Ohio, she now lives in Virginia with her family.

 

Chris Holden

Marketing Operations Manager

Chris Holden is the Marketing Operations Manager at National Journal. He manages National Journal's marketing automation software and executes a variety of campaigns that serve the team’s overall goal of attracting and retaining members. Prior to this role, Chris worked at strategy firms, PACs and established his own start-up consulting firm in marketing and research roles. He graduated from George Mason with a degree in Government and International Politics, and currently lives in Arlington, VA.

Sara Stanton

Senior Creative Director

Sara Stanton is the senior creative director for National Journal Group. 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 Maine with their wife and two dogs.

Brian Torruellas

Graphic Design Associate

Brian Torruellas is a Graphic Design Associate for National Journal. He graduated from Maryland Institute College of Art, where he earned a degree in Graphic Design. After spending 15 years as a Pastry Chef, he pivoted careers to pursue his passion for art and design. Originally from Yonkers, New York, Brian moved to Washington DC in 2010 where he currently resides with his wife and son.

Almanac+

Eamonn Howerter

Research Associate

Eamonn Howerter is excited to be joining the National Journal's Vignette team as a Research Associate. Eamonn attended Marquette University, where they received a B.A. in Political Science in 2021. Prior to joining National Journal, Eamonn interned for Senator Tammy Baldwin. Originally from the small town Hinckley, Illinois, they currently reside in Washington DC.

Talent and Culture

Michael Breton

Assistant Controller

Michael Breton serves as Assistant Controller for both
National Journal Group and Bradley Media Holdings. Prior to joining the company
in 2018, he worked at Plex Systems in Reston, VA and Wedding Wire in Chevy
Chase, MD.
Originally from Maryland, Michael attended The Fashion
Institute of Technology (FIT) in NY, New York, majoring in Advertising and
Marketing Communications. He earned his Bachelors of Science degree in
Accounting and Business Management from the University of Maryland, University
College.

Michael lives in Bethesda, MD.

Alice Crump

Executive Assistant

Alice Crump is the Executive Assistant to the President of National Journal Group, the President of Gravity Research and the CFO and CSO for National Journal Group. Originally from Warner Robins, GA, Alice recently graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and double minors in Political Science and Women's Studies. During her time in Georgia Alice held a long-term internship with ORSI Public Relations Agency and was an active member in UGA's Public Relations Student Society of America. She currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Shaly Joseph

Associate Director of Recruiting

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.

Elli Kennedy Miller

Employee Experience and Wellness Manager

Elli Kennedy Miller is the Employee Experience and Wellness Manager on the Talent and Culture team. Previous to this role, she worked for 2 years in people operations for a Utah based tech start up called Chatbooks. Elli is a Colorado native and a proud graduate of Brigham Young University. She is currently attending graduate school at Georgetown University alongside her husband. They reside in downtown DC.

Edgard Lacayo

Accounts Receivable Specialist

Edgard Lacayo serves as the Accounts Receivable Specialist on the Finance team. Originally from Managua, Nicaragua, he graduated from Roanoke College with a BBA and a concentration in Finance and another concentration in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. In his previous position, he worked as an accounting assistant in Nicaragua. During his time at Roanoke College, he served as a research assistant to multiple professors in the Modern Languages and History departments as well as a staff reporter for the college’s student run newspaper, The Brackety Ack. He currently resides in Annandale, Virginia.

Isabel Levatino

Executive Assistant

Isabel Levatino is the Executive Assistant to the President of National Journal Membership and the President of Gravity Research. She recently graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice and a minor in Spanish. During her time in Delaware, Isabel interned for the Federal U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and was also involved in many activities on campus. Isabel graduated as a McNair Scholar and was awarded the UD Benjamin McLuckie award for her commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Originally from Princeton, New Jersey, she currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Katie McCallion

National Journal Member Services

Katie McCallion is the Campus Engagement and Talent Operations Associate at National Journal. She graduated from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Prior to her role at National Journal, Katie interned at Sixth Street on their Human Capital Management team, where she supported their Early Career Recruitment initiatives. She is originally from Naperville, Illinois and currently resides in Silver Spring, Maryland.

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