NCSL Staff Directory

Cameron Rifkin is a policy specialist covering topics related to housing and homelessness, economic mobility, child support and family law. Prior to joining NCSL in July 2021, he earned a master’s degree in social work and worked in diverse roles for various nonprofit organizations focused on housing, environmental justice, food security and juvenile justice. Rifkin is dedicated to systemic changes through policy and community empowerment.

Eric Mayo focuses on child care and other early care and education issues. Prior to joining NCSL, Mayo worked as a policy manager for a social services agency in Illinois and spent time as staff for a New York State Senator. He earned his bachelors degree from Northwestern University and a Master in Public Policy from the University of Chicago.

Heather Hanna serves as an associate director in the Children and Families Program. She leads work focused on child and family well-being including economic security and mobility, housing and homelessness, food security and child support and family law. Before joining NCSL, she served as deputy director for the Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance, the membership association for Colorado's Early Childhood Councils. Hanna earned her master’s degree in public administration from the University of Central Florida. 

As a project manager, Heather Wilson focuses on policies that support child and family well-being. Wilson comes to NCSL with nearly 15 years of experience leading social and economic policy initiatives, program design and multi-stakeholder movements at the national, state and local levels. She is excited to contribute to NCSL's growing body of interdisciplinary work impacting children and families.

Jenna Bannon serves as associate director in the Children and Families Program. She manages multiple grants in early childhood and child welfare and co-leads the interdisciplinary work on child and family policy. Bannon comes to NCSL with more than 25 years of experience in state legislative policy, working for a governor, state legislators, state agencies and nonprofits. She worked for NCSL from 1998-2000 and is excited to be back working at the national level to support the success of legislators and legislative staff. 

As a senior policy specialist for NCSL’s Children and Families Program, Jill Yordy researches public policy related to child and family well-being. Yordy comes to NCSL with more than eight years of experience in public policy research, practice and advocacy. She is currently working toward a Ph.D. in public affairs from the University of Colorado Denver.

As a program coordinator, Stephanie McCormick supports the Children and Families team in the pursuit of NCSL’s mission. Prior to joining NCSL, McCormick spent time in education and as a coordinator in public engagement, communications and management consulting. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Sewanee: The University of the South and her master’s degree in philosophy from Colorado State University.

Wade Fickler directs NCSL’s Children and Families Program, which covers child welfare, child support, early care and education, economic security, family law, housing, homelessness and hunger. His previous experience includes policy and communications positions with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the Children’s Institute and the City Club of Portland. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Ukraine, Fickler helped foster civic engagement and voter participation in the fledgling post-Soviet democracy.