NCSL Staff Directory

Austin Igleheart serves as a policy specialist with NCSL’s Energy, Environment, and Transportation Program. He conducts policy research relating to electric and alternative fuel vehicles, energy security and resilience and energy storage, providing quality, unbiased information to state legislators and legislative staff across the United States. He also serves as NCSL’s staff liaison for the Legislative Energy Horizon Institute. With NCSL since 2021, Igleheart has spent most of his career in state and local policy, and prior to NCSL worked for a nonpartisan organization advocating for county governments. He holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and sociology and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in environmental policy and management at the University of Denver.

As senior legislative director for education policy, 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 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.

In her role as an editor in the Communications Division, Bakara Johnson supports the state-federal staff in the Washington, D.C., office by editing digital communications. Johnson has been a staff member with NCSL for over 15 years and has gained experience from the varying positions of responsibility she has held within the organization, including gaining expertise in her current role. She is committed to meeting the varying needs of NCSL’s members. 

As a policy associate, Beatrice O’Connor supports the Environment, Energy and Transportation Program by conducting environmental and water policy research. Prior to joining NCSL, O’Connor worked as a research assistant, legal assistant and legislative aide. She holds a bachelor’s degree in government and politics from the University of Maryland, and a Master of Studies in environmental, natural resources and energy law from Lewis and Clark Law School.

Ben Williams covers redistricting, alternative voting systems and partisan composition of legislatures as part of NCSL’s Elections and Redistricting Program. Previously, Williams worked as a public policy researcher at Princeton University. He has appeared on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal, has a law degree from William & Mary, a bachelor’s from Tulane University, and is a member of the Colorado bar. 

Betsy Smith’s research focuses on energy and environmental policy issues. She comes to NCSL with experience in research examining policy topics involving natural disasters, public lands and environmental justice. Prior to NCSL, Smith attended the University of Michigan and Montana State University and is currently a doctoral student at the University of Colorado Denver’s School of Public Affairs.

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.

Brooke Oleen Tieperman supports NCSL’s Environment, Energy and Transportation Program and NCSL’s Task Force on Military and Veterans Affairs. She has 15 years of experience at NCSL and works in partnership with the U.S. Defense and Energy departments, bringing expertise in state-tribal policy. She staffs the DOE’s Indian Country Energy and Infrastructure Working Group, whose delegates include tribal leaders and technical staff from across the country. 

Cameron Rifkin is a policy associate 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.

As associate program director of Marketing, Caren Henderson is responsible for the strategic direction and execution of marketing efforts for NCSL. Henderson comes to NCSL with more than 25 years of experience in marketing and communications with a special focus on health and public health. With a strong commitment to public service, she spent the majority of her career working for not-for-profit organizations and is especially proud of her work helping launch Colorado’s health insurance exchange as part of the Affordable Care Act.

Carole Wellmann supports marketing and member outreach in coordinating and executing integrated marketing plans to promote NCSL meetings, events, services and policy deliverables. Wellmann comes to NCSL with technical experience in executing strategic marketing and communication plans. She is dedicated to resolving complex problems in a creative manner.