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, and a bachelor's degree in economics from Bryn Mawr College. 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.

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. 

Lizzy Andrew is a dedicated advisor with National Journal. In her previous position at NJ, she worked for over a year as the liaison with the federal government including Capitol Hill, all agency clients, and the Executive Office of the President. Originally from Holland, MI, she graduated from the Catholic University of America with a Bachelor's of Music in musical theatre. Prior to National Journal, she worked as the student engagement specialist for the Rome School of Music, Drama, and Art at her alma mater.

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.

Kat Caleca is the Executive Assistant to Kevin Turpin, Luke Hartig, and Afzal Bari at National Journal. She graduated from the College of Charleston with a BA in International Studies, a BA in Political Science, and a minor in Spanish. Prior to joining National Journal, she organized for elections in Georgia and North Carolina and interned at the EastWest Institute and US Department of State. Originally from Charlotte, NC, Kat currently resides in Washington, DC.

Emma Consoli is the Associate Dedicated Advisor to the Hill. Originally from New Jersey, Emma graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges with a B.A. in International Relations and minors in Women’s Studies, Public Policy with a concentration in Foreign Policy, and Writing Colleagues (a minor unique to her alma mater in which she was trained as a writing support specialist and served as a writing TA). Prior to joining the National Journal team, Emma served as an intern for Rep. Chrissy Houlahan. She currently resides in Washington, D.C.

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 manager of business data and operations. 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).

Helen Marsh is a dedicated advisor with the member services team. Prior to joining National Journal, Helen interned in the House of Representatives. Originally from New Orleans, Helen graduated from Tulane University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication.

Elizabeth Matthews is a Business Development Manager at National Journal. She graduated from the George Washington University in 2019 with a degree in International Affairs and Journalism/Mass Communications. Prior to National Journal, she worked as an Associate Client Partner at Gartner. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska she now resides in Arlington, Virginia.

Kavya Ramagiri is a membership development associate 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.

Caleb Schafer is a dedicated advisor at National Journal. Caleb graduated from the University of Kansas with a Master’s in global and international studies after completing his B.S. in policy analysis at Indiana University. Prior to joining the National Journal, Caleb served as the director of Graduate Affairs for the University of Kansas and interned with the House of Representatives. Originally from Indianapolis, Caleb currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Maia Walker is an associate dedicated advisor on National Journal’s member services team. Originally from Miami, FL, Maia is a recent graduate of Duke University where she studied psychology and art history. Prior to joining National Journal, she served as the editor in chief for Duke’s digital publication The Standard and interned with the customer experience team at Soludos. Maia currently lives in Washington, D.C.

Jack Woltman is an associate director of business development at National Journal. He recently graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in international relations and french. Originally from Upstate New York, he now resides in Washington, D.C.

Leah Askarinam is the editor in chief of The Hotline, National Journal's indispensable daily tipsheet on campaigns and elections. She has appeared as a political analyst on C-SPAN, Fox News, PRI, and SiriusXM, and her commentary has appeared in Time, ABC News, CityLab, and various local news outlets. She previously covered congressional, gubernatorial, and presidential races at Inside Elections with Nathan Gonzales as a reporter and analyst. She also served as a political consultant for CBS News during the 2018 midterms and as a contributor to FiveThirtyEight, providing analysis on the 2018 primary and special elections. Leah was an assistant editor at The Atlantic during the 2016 election and, before that, a Chairman’s Lab Fellow for Atlantic Media. A graduate of Tulane University, she started her career in education as a middle school English teacher with Teach for America in Louisiana.

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Brendan Bordelon is the tech and cybersecurity policy reporter at National Journal. Previously he worked as a tech and cybersecurity reporter at Morning Consult and as a political reporter for National Review. He hails from the San Francisco Bay Area and now resides in Washington, D.C.

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Alex Clearfield is Associate Editor for National Journal and National Journal Hotline, where he edits the front-of-the book section of NJ Daily as well as election coverage." Before joining National Journal in 2017 as a staff correspondent he was a writer and researcher for CQ Roll Call covering the 2016 congressional elections and writing profiles of members of Congress. He is a native of Voorhees, NJ, and a graduate of Johns Hopkins University.

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Zach Cohen is National Journal’s Senate correspondent and previously covered statewide campaigns for National Journal Hotline. Zach’s work has been published by The Washington Post, The Atlantic, TIME Magazine, and USA Today, and he has offered on-air analysis on C-SPAN, Fox News, CBSN, and SiriusXM. His work has garnered multiple awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, including a Dateline Award for beat reporting for his coverage of Congress in 2020. Zach graduated with honors from American University, where he served as editor-in-chief of the student-run newspaper The Eagle. He was born and raised in New Jersey.

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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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Erin Covey is a Hotline staff correspondent covering national politics and the presidential race. 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Mackenzie Weinger is National Journal's senior 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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Dylan Wells is a Hotline staff correspondent covering national politics and the presidential race. Previously she worked at CNN as the Iowa Caucus Fellow and as a News Associate. Prior to graduating from the University of Chicago, she interned with the Political Units at CBS and ABC News and the Investigative Unit at CBS Chicago. On campus she was the editor-in-chief of the UChicago political journal, The Gate. Dylan is from Portland, Oregon and currently lives in Washington, DC.

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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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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.

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.

Michaela Mazure is a senior health policy analyst 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 Arlington, Virginia.

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.

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.

Judd is a public policy research analyst with the Network Science Initiative. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in political science and a minor in Mandarin Chinese. Upon graduation, Judd joined the Democratic SuperPAC NextGen America doing opposition research. In 2019 Judd joined the Senate Majority PAC conducting donor research and facilitating meetings between Senate leadership and high dollar donors to assist with the SuperPACs fundraising efforts. Originally from Los Angeles, CA, Judd now resides in Washington DC.

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.

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.

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.

Zhuri is a Policy and Data Visualization Associate from Valparaiso, Indiana. She recently graduated from Duke University with a B.A. in Public Policy. In the past, she has worked on research projects and advocated for educational equity. She will remain in Indiana until she moves to DC in 2022.

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.

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.

Anne Elise is a Policy and Data Visualization Associate working in the Healthcare vertical. She recently graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans with a B.A. in Political Economy. In the past, she has worked on projects related to economic development and volunteered on campaigns. Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she currently resides in Washington, D.C.

Kia Sosa is a Project Manager 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.

Zac is a Policy & Data Visualization Associate with the National Journal’s Presentation Center, focusing on policy areas such as finance, health, labor, energy and the environment. Prior to joining National Journal, Zac 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 worked as an Economic 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.

Evan Williams is an Intern with the Presentation Center at National Journal. He holds a B.S. in Economics and a B.A. in Middle East Studies from the University of Utah. He has worked across various topics with numerous organizations, from the Immigration Team at the International Rescue Committee focusing on assisting refugees and people seeking asylum in the United States, to theArab and International Affairs Team at the Issam Fares Institute in Beirut producing research on the contours of militancy in West Asia. Originally from North Carolina, he currently resides in the UK where he is pursuing an MPhil in Development Studies from the University of Oxford.

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.

Tyler Yarbrough is an Energy and Environment Policy and Data Visualization Associate with the National Journal's Presentation Center. Tyler is a graduate of the University of Mississippi, where he studied Public Policy Leadership. While in college, he was a fellow in many prestigious programs, including the Mississippi Water Security Institute, the Delta Regional Authorities' Delta Scholar Program, and the Aspen Institute's Young Leader Fellowship. He was also a research fellow with Partnership for A Healthier America, a nonprofit grown from Former First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let’s Move” campaign.

Tyler’s interest in Energy and Sustainability grew while interning in corporate America with ComEd, an Exelon utility company in their Smart Grid and Community of the Future Program team. Tyler's undergraduate thesis is entitled "Build Back Better: Economic Development and Community Investment through Mississippi Energy Utilities." His thesis examines how energy utilities across ownership models are assisting in strengthening communities to be more resilient and connected amid a national push toward green development. His research further cements his expertise towards upcoming challenges and areas of promise for utility industries and other stakeholders within America's rural, chronically poor regions. Tyler is honored to join the Presentation Center to drive National Journal's mission forward.

Lachlan Bell is a web developer at the National Journal. Prior to joining National Journal, he worked as a full stack developer at Conlan Scientific, on a wide range of web and data science projects involving virtual gift cards and dog face detection. He studied Systems Engineering (Honours) with a major in Electrical Systems and Telecommunications at ANU in his hometown of Canberra, Australia. He moved to the US in late 2018 and currently resides in NW Washington, DC.

Peter Kwitny is an Associate Product Manager at National Journal. He graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, majoring in Business Administration and minoring in music. Prior to joining National Journal, he worked as a Product Manager at an early stage tech startup. Peter is originally from New York City and currently resides there.

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.

Chiamaka Atuegbu is Research Intern for National Journal’s People Research Team. In 2021, she graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Political Science. Prior to joining National Journal, Chiamaka worked as a Research Assistant for her University, where she used Tableau to create data visualizations. She is a Nigerian who moved to the U.S. for her undergraduate studies and currently resides in New Jersey.

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.

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 Louis “JL” Michaud is a Senior Research Associate with the Vignette team and a lifelong Alexandria, VA resident. He graduated from the University of Virginia in May 2019 with a B.A. in Foreign Affairs and a minor in German. During his time at UVA, he played intercollegiate ultimate frisbee and studied the European Union and German language in Freiburg, Germany. Prior to joining National Journal, JL interned at the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission and Capitol Hill Consulting Group, a bipartisan lobbying firm.

Stefanie Pousoulides is a Research Intern 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.

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.