NCSL Staff Directory

As federal affairs advisor, Austin Reid oversees NCSL’s federal education policy work, which includes staffing the NCSL Standing Committee on Education and representing NCSL’s education interests before Congress and the administration. Prior to joining NCSL, Reid worked in the U.S. Senate and at the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching. He began his career as a high school teacher and has an Ed.M. in education policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

As a legislative director, Ben Nasta leads legislative advocacy and engagement strategies for NCSL’s Transportation and Natural Resources, Energy and Environment committees. Nasta comes to NCSL with nearly 10 years of experience in Washington, D.C., working on natural resources, public lands and waters, infrastructure and much more. Passionate about working to improve the lives of people across the country, he is dedicated to strengthening the ties between state legislatures, agencies and their federal counterparts. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ithaca College.

Brian Wanko focuses on the federal budget process, public finance, income taxes, pensions, post-employment benefits and federal and state revenues and taxes. He comes to NCSL with experience in federal administration and congressional oversight, budget and appropriations processes, and as a liaison between stakeholders and government agencies. Prior to joining NCSL, he worked for the U.S. House of Representatives House Foreign Affairs Committee and for two membership coalitions: the Council of the Americas and InterAction. He earned a master’s degree from George Mason University and a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University. He believes in NCSL’s mission to ensure state legislatures have a strong, cohesive voice in the federal system.

Bio coming soon. 

As a legislative specialist, Emily Katz works on federal education, health and human services policies that are of interest to states. Katz comes to NCSL with experience in policy research on school climate, school health, social-emotional learning and the educator workforce. She earned a master’s degree in education policy and management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a bachelor's degree in sociology and policy management from Dickinson College.

Jon Jukuri serves as a federal affairs advisor in NCSL’s State-Federal Government Relations Division and is a development manager in NCSL’s Foundation for State Legislatures, working out of the Washington, D.C., office. He also serves as NCSL’s liaison to Virginia and previously worked on Capitol Hill in the U.S. Senate and House. He has been appointed to serve on the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee at the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office since 2015. He received his master’s degree from the United States Naval War College and an undergrad degree at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

As the senior legislative director for Health and Human Services Policy, Lauren Kallins is the lead staff person in NCSL’s D.C. office working on state-federal HHS policy. Kallins has more than 20 years of experience lobbying on HHS issues, primarily through a disability lens. She is an attorney and recently earned a master’s degree in homeland security and crisis management.

Louise McGinty supports NCSL’s Washington, D.C.,-based staff, specifically the standing committees and task forces. McGinty comes to NSCL with experience in nonprofit events and fundraising, project management, relationship building, administrative operations and communications. She studied politics at Catholic University of America, earned an MPA in nonprofit administration from West Chester University, and a master’s degree in political science from Villanova University. 

Megan Bland supports the efforts of the Natural Resources and Infrastructure Committee. Prior to joining NCSL, Bland worked as a policy analyst for the Council Oak, a small women-owned public policy consulting firm. Bland earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and history from the College of William and Mary.

Nicole Ezeh supports the Law, Criminal Justice and Public Safety Standing Committee as an associate legislative director. Previously, Ezeh supported human trafficking victim services providers in the state of Maryland at its federally recognized state coalition against sexual assault. She earned her law degree at George Mason University and her B.A. in government and politics at the University of Maryland.