NCSL Staff Directory

As a senior policy specialist, Andrew Smalley works on postsecondary education topics and legislative tracking at NCSL. Prior to joining NCSL, he was a legislative intern for three years at the Colorado General Assembly, working with legislators and a lobbying firm. He received his MPP and a BA in political science and public policy from the University of Denver. 

As an associate director in the Education Program, Ashley Wallace leads NCSL’s work on afterschool, summer learning, student mental health, social and emotional learning, and other whole child education policy topics. Before joining NCSL in 2008, Wallace was a legislative director for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and later worked in federal relations for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Save the Children. She has degrees in international studies and diplomacy and foreign affairs from Miami University.

As a policy specialist in NCSL’s Education Program, Autumn Rivera focuses on policy issues related to afterschool, summer learning, LGBTQ+ students, whole child learning and school climate. Rivera comes to NCSL with experience working in after-school and summer learning programs. She earned a bachelor’s degree in justice systems at Truman State University and a master’s degree in applied human rights from the University of York.

As a senior fellow in NCSL’s Education Program, Daniel Thatcher researches K-12 education finance systems. Thatcher is a trusted, bipartisan resource on education finance and has worked with legislators in all 50 states. He has been cited by researchers and numerous national and regional news organizations, including the Associated Press, BBC, Education Week, Fox News, NPR, The New York Times, Politico, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.

As a policy analyst, Lauren Gendill researches K-12 education policy topics such as school meals, special education, technology and digital learning. Prior to joining NCSL, Gendill was a legislative intern at the Colorado General Assembly. She earned her bachelor's degree in political science and Spanish from the University of Colorado Boulder.

As a program coordinator, Leila Reynolds supports the Education team. Prior to joining NCSL, Reynolds spent four years working for the state of Utah, first at the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel and then at the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. Reynolds graduated from the University of Utah with degrees in history, foreign relations and security, and a certificate in international relations. A firm believer in informed policy decisions, she is proud to be part of an organization that assists in providing legislatures with the latest in bipartisan policy research.

As director of NCSL’s Education Program, Michelle Exstrom oversees the organization’s work on state education policy. Exstrom has over 25 years of experience working with state legislators at NCSL and in Colorado’s Office of Legislative Legal Services. She has national expertise in policies to build effective K-12 education systems that improve outcomes for all students.

As a program principal in the Education Program, Molly Gold focuses on teacher, school leader, and school governance policy. Prior to joining NCSL, Gold worked as a high school English teacher and department chair and as an analyst with the Colorado Department of Education. She has a master's in public policy with a specialization in K-12 education policy from Vanderbilt University. 

Patrick Lyons is a policy specialist focused on prekindergarten to third grade education policy. Patrick facilitates the State Policy and Research in Early Education workgroup and focuses on issues such as school readiness, the early childhood workforce, prekindergarten access and quality, and early literacy and math. Prior to joining NCSL, Patrick was a consultant with Public Sector Consultants in Lansing, Mich., where he worked on a broad range of policy topics but specialized in work for the Michigan Department of Education and Office of Great Start. He earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Michigan State University and his master’s degree in public policy from the University of Virginia Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Patrick grew up in metro Detroit and Traverse City.

Sunny Deye is an associate director in NCSL’s Education Program and serves as the liaison to her home state of Oregon. Deye leads the postsecondary education team in tracking and analyzing legislation in all 50 states, publishing state policy issue briefs and reports, creating professional development opportunities for state legislators and staff, and conducting NCSL’s annual Legislative Institute on Higher Education. Before joining NCSL in 2005, Deye served as legislative staff in the bill drafting office of the Colorado General Assembly. She holds a bachelor’s in political science from the University of Oregon and a master’s degree in politics and public policy from the University of Colorado Denver.