NCSL Staff Directory

As a support specialist in NCSL’s Information Technology Department, Jarrett Austin provides triage services and support and technical assistance to staff. Austin comes to NCSL with experience in troubleshooting technology issues at a hardware and software level, training users of technology and customer service. He is dedicated to expanding the adoption of technology in the workplace and promoting an environment that allows users to realize their full potential while better utilizing their technological tools.

Emily Peterson joins the NCSL Foundation as a development specialist, supporting efforts to promote NCSL’s work from the Denver office. She comes to NCSL with experience in higher education development and holds a master’s degree in public affairs with a concentration in nonprofit management. She recently had an article published on human research management in the nonprofit sector. 

As a grants accountant, Heather Lopez supports the post-award activities for grants and contracts at NCSL. Lopez has more than nine years of experience in finance and accounting. Prior to joining NCSL, Lopez held roles with PlayerLync LLC, Resource Capital Funds and Los Alamos National Laboratory. She attended the University of New Mexico and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. She is dedicated to supporting NCSL’s mission and focused on maintaining financial integrity.

As an associate director, Meghan Keelean plans several NCSL meetings annually, including logistics for the NCSL Legislative Summit. Keelean has more than 15 years of experience in meetings management. She found her passion for meeting planning in her first job after college and earned her certified meeting professional designation in 2010.

Curt Stedron is the director of the NCSL Legislative Training Institute. Previously, he was an award-winning educator for more than 20 years. He is a graduate of West Point.

As the AMS administrator, Meg Andrews works with NCSL staff concerning all aspects of the member database. Prior to joining NCSL, Andrews worked in the nonprofit world and has more than 15 years of experience in database systems, nonprofit and government relations work, staff training and procedural implementation. Andrews is dedicated to the NCSL mission and believes in the positive impact of the organization.

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.

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. 

As an accounting technician, Layothe Thammasene focuses on ensuring cash receipts are recorded quickly and accurately, while also strengthening the relationships between NCSL and its staff and members. Thammasene has proudly dedicated 15 years of service to the accounting department, where a background in financial research and analysis has helped her succeed. She is dedicated to following through on tasks and addressing the many challenges she encounters in her role.

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.

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.

Lesley Kennedy oversees NCSL's Publishing and Digital Content team in the Communications Division. An award-winning journalist, Kennedy comes to the organization with 20-plus years of experience, working as a writer and editor for national and regional newspapers, magazines and websites. She is dedicated to NCSL's bipartisan mission of supporting and strengthening state legislatures. 

As human resources coordinator, Michelle Kelton assists with day-to-day operations in the HR department. Kelton has contributed to the NCSL HR team since 2015, developing her ever-expanding role as a human resources professional. Dedicated to the HR team, she enjoys working with others to make NCSL a great place to work.

John Mahoney manages NCSL’s Institute for International Cooperation. Prior to this role, he served NCSL’s Center for Legislative Strengthening as a senior policy specialist. With significant international experience, Mahoney relishes the opportunity to build enduring relationships between NCSL members and their counterparts abroad. 

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. 

As the state outreach manager, Sydne Enlund works as a liaison to a handful of states and partners with NCSL’s communications team on outreach and engagement with all state legislatures. Previously, Enlund worked for the Colorado General Assembly as a policy analyst and for the Energy and Commerce Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. She truly enjoys working with legislators and legislative staff across the country to achieve NCSL’s mission.

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.  

Edward Green focuses on the registration of NCSL meetings and webinars. He comes to NCSL with more than 10 years of experience working in accounting and registration at other nonprofit associations. He enjoys working for an organization committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.