NCSL Staff Directory

Diana Noel is a vice president of policy and research with NCSL. She has over 20 years of experience working with federal and state policymakers and cultivating public policy. Specializing in a variety of issues including financial services, estate planning, fraud, financial exploitation, health care and caregiving, Noel uses her policy expertise and experience with the legislative process to provide nonpartisan, objective resources to support the policymaking process. When not working, she is an avid reader and enjoys running races from 5Ks to half marathons.

As chief financial officer, Alex Alavi oversees the financial integrity, success and growth of NCSL. Alavi has extensive experience in financial planning and analysis, internal controls, investments and enterprise risk management. Alavi earned Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in accountancy from Northern Illinois University and is a certified public accountant and certified association executive.

As chief operating officer, Victor Vialpando-Nuñez leads the day-to-day operations for NCSL, including direct oversight of the Human Resources, Information Technology, and Building and Facilities teams. Vialpando-Nuñez comes to NCSL with more than 20 years of experience leading organizations, providing outstanding member services, organizational efficiency, and driving innovation and transformation. Previously, Vialpando-Nuñez was the dean of academic affairs for the School of Professional Studies and Sciences at the Community College of Aurora. In addition to serving nearly 10 years at the CCA, Vialpando-Nuñez served for over seven years in various leadership positions with Colorado Mathematics, Engineering, Science and Achievement (MESA), Habit for Humanity of Colorado, and the University of Colorado Denver. Vialpando-Nuñez has an MBA and a bachelor’s in civil engineering from CU Denver. 

Gene Rose oversees the Communications Division. Prior to joining NCSL, he was the communications director for the Missouri House of Representatives and owned his own communications firm. He is a former president of the National Association of Government Communicators.

Stacy Householder directs NCSL’s leadership, professional development and international programs. Householder has 13-plus years of experience working with and in state legislatures, starting with her service in the Wisconsin Senate. Householder is dedicated to strengthening legislative institutions and enjoys working every day with legislative leaders and staff from across the country. 

As vice president of policy and research, Kate Blackman oversees NCSL’s state policy work on criminal and civil justice, education, employment and retirement, health and human services. Prior to being hired as a vice president, Blackman spent nearly eight years in NCSL’s Health Program, most recently as director of the program. A proud Tar Heel, she holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she later earned her master of social work and master of public health.

Molly Ramsdell is director of NCSL’s Washington, D.C., office and oversees the State-Federal Affairs Division. She joined NCSL in 1996 and has served as staff liaison for a number of NCSL’s Standing Committees, including Transportation, Budgets and Revenue, Environment and the Executive Committee Task Force on Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. She has led NCSL’s advocacy activities before Congress and the administration on issues including unfunded mandate reform, REAL ID and the recent coronavirus response. Ramsdell holds a master’s degree in public health from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Storey serves as the Chief Executive Officer of NCSL, proudly leading an outstanding team dedicated to the legislative institution. He started at NCSL in the 1980s, holding nine different positions in the organization before being selected as CEO in 2019. He was born and raised in western North Carolina before moving to Colorado to work at NCSL where he now lives with his awesome family in Wheat Ridge, just outside of Denver.

Arturo Pérez is vice president of the NCSL State Services Division, which includes the Center for Ethics in Government, Center for Legislative Strengthening, Fiscal Affairs Program, Legislative Staff Services Program and the State Tribal Institute. In his role as a member of the NCSL Executive Management Team, he assists in developing and monitoring the organization’s budget, participating in the hiring process for new staff within the division, overseeing the work of managers within the division, advising/supporting managers on issues pertaining to their programs, participating in EMT activities and decision making, providing objective advice to the executive director on matters pertaining to the division and organization and conducting performance reviews of division program managers. An NCSL staff member since 1990, he has bachelor’s degrees in history and political science from Texas A&M University. He also received a master’s degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.

In her role as a policy specialist in the Health Program, Shannon Kolman serves as a subject matter expert on public health topics. She has more than 25 years of experience working in the fields of public health and community health. Kolman enjoys researching public health-related policies and supporting legislative excellence by informing NCSL members and partners on policy issues and strategies.

As a legislative specialist, James Privette supports a broad array of issues within the Budgets and Revenue and the Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce standing committees. Privette comes to NCSL with eight years of experience in policy and advocacy at all levels of government, covering a range of portfolios from housing to foreign investment. With a passion for community engagement, he is dedicated to helping NCSL advocate for policies that affect historically disadvantaged communities.

As a senior policy specialist with the Center for Legislative Strengthening, Selena Saucedo focuses on legislative sessions, legislative staffing and structure, human resource management, compensation and classification, and personnel policies and practices, including harassment and DEI. Saucedo comes to NCSL with more than 10 years of experience in both the public and private sectors focusing on public relations, public affairs, policy and communication, and legislative experience in the Texas House of Representatives. Saucedo earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.

As the HR director, Kazia Washington, SHRM-CP, PHR, oversees NCSL's Human Resources Office. Washington comes to NCSL with 10-plus years of experience utilizing innovation and strategy to translate business vision into healthy HR initiatives. Passionate about all things people, she is dedicated to meeting NCSL's staff where they are by cultivating an inclusive culture and nurturing the human experience of belonging.

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 policy associate, Kendall Speer supports the Health Program’s maternal and child health, children’s oral health and women’s reproductive health portfolio. Prior to joining NCSL, Speer was a student at Boston University School of Law. She is dedicated to supporting NCSL’s mission of providing research, education, technical assistance and opportunities for cross-state sharing.

As a policy analyst, Emily Sampson supports environmental health and resilience matters within the Environment, Energy and Transportation Program. She also served as a legislative assistant and then committee clerk with the Hawaii state Senate for two sessions. Sampson earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

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.

Kaylee Pickinpaugh contributes the Center for Results-Driven Governing team by writing publications, responding to research requests, helping facilitate meetings and providing digital coordination support. Prior to joining NCSL, Pickinpaugh worked for the Wyoming Legislative Service Office as an associate research analyst. She received a bachelor’s degree in fine art and a Master of Public Administration degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.