NCSL Staff Directory

As a policy specialist, Alex McWard supports the Environment, Energy and Transportation Program by conducting legislative research. His research is primarily focused on renewable energy, emissions, energy efficiency, building electrification and tribal energy. McWard studied public policy at both the undergraduate and graduate levels at the University of Denver's Josef Korbel School of International Studies. 

As the program coordinator for the Employment, Labor and Retirement Program, Alicia Natwick supports planning, communication, budget, tracking and operations initiatives. Natwick comes to NCSL with 12 years of experience as a U.S. Army logistics officer and training subject matter expert. She earned a graduate degree from CU Boulder and was featured as a presenter at the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Conference in 2018 for her work in outdoor recreation ethics. 

Alise Garcia supports NCSL’s Health Program as a program coordinator. Garcia has over 25 years of experience with NCSL in numerous areas. She is dedicated to providing superior customer service and meeting coordination to the organization’s staff and constituents.

In her role as an associate director in the Criminal and Civil Justice Program, Alison Lawrence oversees projects on policing, pretrial release, community supervision, jails, corrections budgets and criminal justice data. Lawrence also staffs the Law, Criminal Justice and Public Safety Standing Committee and has 14 years of experience with NCSL. She earned her masters of public administration from the University of Colorado. 

Alyssa Vigil is a program coordinator at NCSL, where she supports the Criminal and Civil Justice Program. Previously, Vigil worked in administrative support and research roles for the University of Colorado Boulder. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in business, also from the University of Colorado.

As a program principal in NCSL’s Criminal and Civil Justice Program, Amanda Essex focuses on corrections and sentencing, community supervision, corrections budgets, criminal justice data and immigration. Essex also staffs the Task Force on Immigration and the States and has nearly nine years of experience with NCSL. She earned a bachelor’s in political science from Colorado State University, holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, and is a member of the Colorado bar.

As program principal in NCSL’s Criminal and Civil Justice Program, Amber Widgery has national expertise in front-end criminal justice policy, including law enforcement and pretrial release. Widgery has nearly 10 years of experience at NCSL, tracking and analyzing legislation, testifying for legislative bodies and writing on important criminal justice legislative trends and hot topics. Widgery received her bachelor’s in political science and history from Colorado State University, holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado Law School and is a member of the Colorado bar.

Amy Fidelis oversees NCSL's marketing team in the Communications Division. She comes to the organization with 20-plus years of leadership experience in a variety of industries in both the public and private sectors, including education, energy, financial services, government, martial arts and nonprofits. A graduate of the University of Colorado at Denver, she has traveled the world through work, study, sport and service opportunities. 

Andrea Jimenez works on tax policy as a member of the fiscal affairs program. Previously, Jimenez spent time at the Connecticut Legislature as an intern during the 2020 legislative session. She is dedicated to advancing NCSL’s mission to strengthen state legislatures.

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. 

Angela Andrews is the professional development senior partner of NCSL’s Legislative Training Institute, where she designs and delivers soft skill trainings to legislators and legislative staff.  She has worked in or for legislatures for more than 20 years. Before joining NCSL in 2008, she was an aide in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and in the U.S. Senate. She received her master’s in public administration from Suffolk University in Boston and earned a training and facilitation certificate from the Association for Talent Development.  

As a policy specialist, Angela Rowe focuses on pensions, retirement and public sector employment issues. Previously, Rowe worked at the Colorado House of Representatives and state Senate. She earned a B.A. in international studies from Portland State University and received master’s degrees in social work and international human rights from the University of Denver.