NCSL Foundation for State Legislatures

NCSL Foundation

The NCSL Foundation for State Legislatures Board of Directors is made up of 57 members, including legislators, legislative staff, and Supporting Directors drawn from Foundation sponsors. Directors serve one-year terms with the option to renew annually for up to three years. The Board includes the seven NCSL officers, 15 currently serving state legislators, and seven state legislative staff members, with a portion of these positions reserved for current or former members of the NCSL Executive Committee. The NCSL President Emeritus serves as the President of the NCSL Foundation, and the NCSL Immediate Past Staff Chair serves as the Secretary/Treasurer. The Vice-President, elected by the Foundation Board from the Supporting Directors, serves a two-year term. The Vice-President Elect, also chosen from the Supporting Directors, automatically assumes the Vice-President role at the end of the current term. The Board meets at least twice a year—at the NCSL Legislative Summit and typically during the NCSL Executive Committee's winter meeting.

Brian Patrick Kennedy

President

House Speaker Pro Tempore
Rhode Island

Christine Csizmadia

Vice President

Director, State Outreach
Nuclear Energy Institute
Washington, D.C.

Sabrina N. Lewellen

Secretary/Treasurer

Deputy Director and Assistant Secretary of the Senate
Arkansas

Rep. Marvin Abney

At-Large Member

Rhode Island

Sen. Elaine Bowers

At-Large Member

Kansas

Sen. Bill Cowsert

At-Large Member

Georgia

Sen. Bob Duff

At-Large Member

Senate Majority Leader
Connecticut

Sen. Jeremy Miller

Senate President
Minnesota

Sen. Ann Millner

At-Large Member

Senate Majority Whip
Utah

Rep. Angelo Puppolo

At Large-Member

Massachusetts

Assemblymember Michaelle Solages

At-Large Member

New York

Speaker Robin Vos

At-Large Member

Speaker of the Assembly
Wisconsin

Natalie Castle

At-Large Member

Director
General Assembly
Colorado

Matt Gehring

At-Large Member

Staff Coordinator
Minnesota Legislature
Minnesota

Anne Sappenfield

At-Large Member

Director
Legislative Council
Wisconsin Legislature

Ron Barnes

At-Large Member

Head of State Legislative Affairs
Google
Washington, D.C.

Pablo Benavente

At-Large Member

Senior Political & Government Relations Manager
Turo
California

Rick Cimerman

At-Large Member

Vice President, External and State Affairs
NCTA - The Internet & Television Association
Washington, D.C.

Ashley Dwire

At-Large Member

Director of State & Local Programs
Service Employees International Union
Washington, D.C.

Mac Haddow

At-Large Member

Senior Fellow on Public Policy
American Kratom Association
Virginia

Anika Hagenson

At-Large Member

Senior Manager, Government Affairs
Intuit
Minnesota

Brian McAndrews

At-Large Member

Managing Director, State Government Relations
TIAA
California

LaTanya Pattillo

At-Large Member

Director, Policy and Advocacy
NWEA
Oregon

Sean Moore

At-Large Member

Senior Director, Head of Government Relations
U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association
Washington, D.C.

Christopher Vaughan

At-Large Member

Vice President, Strategy and State Affairs
Humana
Ohio

Kevin Pula

At-Large Member

Manager, Policy & Government Relations
Deloitte
Colorado

Richard Leadbeater

At-Large Member

Director, State Government Industry Solutions
Esri
Maryland

Larry Lewis Jr.

At-Large Member

Senior Director, State Government Affairs
Cigna
Illinois

Michelle Peacock

At-Large Member

Global Head of Public Policy
Waymo
California

Angela Storseth-Cooper

At-Large Member

Director, Government Relations
The US Oncology Network
Texas

Jenn Stowe

At-Large Member

Vice President, Government Relations
The Carpet and Rug Institute
Virginia

Jeff Thiebert

At-Large Member

Director, Project Development and Support
The Pew Charitable Trusts
Washington, D.C.

Kevin Thompson

At-Large Member

Senior Director of State and Local Government Relations
Walmart
Arkansas

Angela Williams

At-Large Member

Senior Director, External Relations
Stride
Virginia

Marvin Yates

At-Large Member

Vice President, Strategic Government Relations
Multistate
Virginia

Ethan Wilson

At-Large Member

Vice President of State Issues
Stateside Associates Inc.
Virginia

Katie Wright

At-Large Member

Senior Director of State Government Affairs
American Hotel & Lodging Association
Washington, D.C.

Fred Zeytoonjian

At-Large Member

Senior Counsel, State & Local Government Affairs
Apple Inc.
Washington, D.C.

Sen. W. Briggs Hopson III

At-Large Member

Mississippi

Sen. Ron Kouchi

At-Large Member

Senate President
Hawaii

Sen. Carol Murphy

At-Large Member

New Jersey

Sen. Robert Rodriguez

At-Large Member

Colorado

Michael Adams

At-Large Member

Director of Human Resources
Virgina

J.J. Gentry

At-Large Member

Counsel
South Carolina

Yolanda Dixon

At-Large Member

Secretary of the Senate
Louisiana

Betsy Theroux

At-Large Member

Director of Media Services
Georgia

Tiffany Barfield

At-Large Member

yes. every kid.
Government Affairs Director
Virginia

Matt Kiessling

At-Large Member

Senior Director, State Affairs
American Gas Association
Washington, D.C.

Kelli Strother

At-Large Member

Director, State Government Affairs
Otsuka
New Jersey

Eboni Morris

At-Large Member

Director of State Policy
Pfizer
New York

Lonnie Edgar

At-Large Member

Deputy Director
Mississippi

Rep. Marcus C. Evans Jr.

At-Large Member

Assistant Majority Leader
Illinois

Sen. Barry Usher

At-Large Member

Senate Majority Whip
Montana

Interested in Serving on the Foundation Board?

Are you interested in lending your time and talents to the Foundation's board of directors? Openings on the board occasionally occur and anyone interested in serving is encouraged to apply. Each year, a nominating committee composed of the president of NCSL, the NCSL staff chair and the president of the board of directors (or their designee) considers candidates and presents a slate of nominees to the NCSL executive committee for approval. If you are interested in serving on the board, please submit in writing why you are interested in serving, why you should be considered, and your current involvement with the Foundation and NCSL. Below is a list of criteria considered when selecting candidates for vacancies on the board:

A current Foundation sponsor in good standing.
Serving in a senior position with decision-making authority in your organization.
Ability to travel to and participate in two board meetings each year.
A willingness to dedicate time to the growth of the Foundation and Foundation programs.
Past leadership role in other NCSL/Foundation activities.
Bring diversity to region and/or industry.

Please email your letter of interest to Diana Noel.

Related Resources

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Foundation Bylaws

The NCSL Foundation for State Legislatures bylaws govern activities of the NCSL Foundation, including the makeup of its Board of Directors. The bylaws were last reviewed in 2024 by a Bylaws Committee and amended in August 2024 by the NCSL Executive Committee in Louisville.

NCSL Foundation

Updated August 26, 2024