NCSL Staff Directory

As director of the State-Tribal Institute, Irene Kawanabe supports the Quad Caucus, Women’s Legislative Network and the National Asian Pacific American Caucus of State Legislators. Prior to joining NCSL in 2007, Kawanabe served as the director of public interest at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and the associate director of the Colorado Lawyers Committee. She earned her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary, her master’s degree from the University of Colorado at Denver and her law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law where she was a Chancellor’s Scholar. 

John Mahoney manages NCSL’s Institute for International Cooperation. Prior to this role, he served NCSL’s Center for Legislative Strengthening as a senior policy specialist. With significant international experience, Mahoney relishes the opportunity to build enduring relationships between NCSL members and their counterparts abroad. 

As associate director of the Women's Legislative Network and the Quad Caucus, Martha Saenz leads strategic programs and events designed to serve targeted members. She has been with NCSL for more than a decade, specializing in research, engagement and development. Saenz is passionate about public policy and enjoys serving groups that bring unique strengths to legislatures and fulfill NCSL's mission. 

Sarah Altshuler is a policy associate supporting the Legislative Staff Services. Previously, Altshuler was lead intern with U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet’s Denver office, where she oversaw and trained new interns, supported Colorado constituents and supported full-time staff with constituent advocacy work. She studied political science, philosophy, and communication at the University of Colorado-Boulder and graduated summa cum laude. 

Taylor Huhn works in the NCSL Leaders’ Center. Huhn comes to NCSL with several years of experience as a congressional staffer and federal lobbyist. He attended the University of Kansas, where he earned a bachelor’s in political science.