NCSL Staff Directory

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 a policy analyst in NCSL’s Fiscal Affairs Program, Leo Garcia researches fiscal policy and economic development. Previously, Garcia worked as a legislative aide in the Texas House of Representatives. He earned his bachelor’s in international relations and his master’s degree in international political economy.

Mandy Rafool is the director of the Fiscal Affairs Program, where she oversees the products and services NCSL delivers on state budgets, state taxes, economic development and financial services. Rafool has more than 25 years of experience at NCSL, where she has produced numerous state policy research reports and regularly provides information on state fiscal matters to legislatures, trade associations and members of the press. She holds a bachelor’s in business administration from Colorado State University and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado Denver.

As a project manager with the Employment, Labor and Retirement Program, Marilyn Villalobos focuses on disability employment policy. She also serves as the New Mexico state liaison. Previously, Villalobos worked for the Colorado Department of Higher Education. She has a bachelor’s degree in international affairs and psychology, and a master's degree in education policy and practice from the University of Colorado-Boulder. 

In her role as senior program coordinator, Melanie Horton supports NCSL's Environment Program as well as several state and tribal working groups, which NCSL supports through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy. Horton has nearly 15 years of experience providing administrative and program support to mission-driven organizations in both the public and private sectors. She earned her bachelor’s degree in media studies from the University of Southern Maine in 2006 and her master’s degree in environmental leadership from Naropa University in 2011. 

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.

Molly Widoff supports the Health Program as a policy analyst focused on overdose, suicide, injury prevention and infectious diseases. She comes to NCSL with experience in policy research and programming around mental health and substance use. Widoff recently earned a degree in public health from Tulane 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.

Philene Taormina leads a team of energy analysts who specialize in state and federal energy policy and legislative, statutory and regulatory research. The team delivers energy policy expertise and nonpartisan research and analysis for state legislators, legislative staff and stakeholders. Taormina holds a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and has more than 25 years of experience working with federal and state policymakers and cultivating public policy.

As associate director for grants and contracts, Rory Regan is responsible for collaborating on and supporting fundraising through grants and contracts across NCSL. Prior to joining NCSL, Regan worked at the City and County of Denver as a federal grants manager, where he oversaw the city’s portfolio of federal, state and private grant programs, including the citywide coordination of FEMA public assistance funds and ARPA funding from the U.S. Treasury Department. He earned a master’s degree in international studies from the University of Denver and a bachelor's degree in communication studies from Northwestern University.

In her role, Samantha Scotti focuses on state policy issues relating to health care access, costs and coverage. She has over six years of experience working with state legislators, legislative staff and other partners on a variety of health topics, developing tools, publications and collaborative meetings. Prior to joining NCSL, she worked as legislative staff at the Colorado General Assembly and has a dual degree in political science and international studies from Colorado State University.