Cassie Anderson – Communications Director, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Romita Biswas – Software Development Engineer, Amazon – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Orlena Nwokah Blanchard – Managing Partner, Seven Elements Group – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Ann Bradstreet – Sr. Manager of Operations, The Brand and Creative Agency | Archivist, Bread Financial – Capitol Careers Mentor

Michael Brinkofski – Sr. Area Security Officer – Office of the Director of National Intelligence – BGDC Summer Scholars Mentor

Tanner Brown – Legislative Assistant- US House of Representatives (IN-04) – 2x Mentor – BGDC Maymester, BGDC Summer Scholars

Hannah Calvert – Senior Specialist, Political & Grassroots Advocacy at the American Academy of Dermatology – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Erim Canligil – Chief Financial Officer, Republican Governors Association – 2x Mentor – BGDC Summer Scholars

Stephanie Chambless – Special Counsel to the Chairman of the FCC & Office of the General Counsel – 3x Mentor – BGDC Maymester, BGDC Summer Scholars

Celine Chang – Senior IT Security Consultant, Aon – BGDC Summer Scholars Mentor

Tyler Dent – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Aaron Dunham – Program Manager, Perception IR Special Services – 2x Mentor – BGDC Summer Scholars

Dawn Essenmacher – Management and Program Analyst, FEMA  – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Keilly Flowers – Senior Technical Project Manager – Booz Allen Hamilton – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Jennifer Forney – Assistant Dean Graduate Enrollment-American University – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Gabriela Guazzo – Senior Analytic Integrator, Department of Defense – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Lori Hannan – Office Operations and Project Manager & Owner, LABH Project Management – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Michelle Bailey-Hedgepeth – Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, Howard County Government – Capitol Careers Mentor

Charles Howard – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Hudson Huth – Program Analyst – Scientific Research Corporation – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Andy Kriha – Associate at Holland & Knight LLP – 3x Mentor – Capitol Careers, BGDC Maymester, BGDC Summer Scholars

Miquela Kriskovich – Outreach and Admissions Manager, Job Corps – Department of Labor – Capitol Careers Mentor

Alexander Lichtle-Mullenix – Affordable Housing Specialist, US Department of Housing and Urban Development Management – Capitol Careers Mentor

Sookyung Lee – Computer Scientist – Department of Defense – Capitol Careers Mentor

Alan Levy – Retired CEO of multiple medical device companies – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Ferdinand Macatangay – Digital Engagement Strategist, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Kate Manning – Communications Specialist – ASRC Federal – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Amber McClay – Office Manager and Events Coordinator, Waterways Council, Inc. – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Ryan McDonnell – 2x Mentor – BGDC Maymester

Amy Miller – Senior Associate, Civil and Election Litigation, Guest and Gray Law Firm – BGDC Summer Scholars Mentor

Erica Miller – Assistant Deputy Military Personnel Policy & Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Adrian Mixon – 3x Mentor – BGDC Maymester, BGDC Summer Scholars

Ryan Moore – Chief of Strategic Planning and Data Governance, Peace Corps – 2x Mentor – BGDC Maymester, BGDC Summer Scholars

Maureen Peterson – Former Creative Services Branch Manager at NASA Goddard – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Calais Prince – Senior Health Science Policy Analyst – National Institute on Aging (NIA) – 2x Mentor – BGDC Maymester, BGDC Summer Scholars

Kyle Richardson – Lead Public Affairs Specialist, C5ISR Center – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Chanel Rogers – Clinical Audiologist – Department of Veterans Affairs – BGDC Summer Scholars Mentor

Jennifer Rostami – Assistant Commissioner, GSA Technology Transformation Service – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Patricia L. Sawyer – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Austin Sheetz – Program Officer, The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Jayson Singer – Systems Analyst, Financial Systems, Department of Defense – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Jessica Sullivan – Judicial Law Clerk for Maryland Court of Appeals – 2x Mentor – BGDC Maymester

Michelle Torreano – EPA Docket Program Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – BGDC Maymester Mentor

Sheriff Almakki is a first-generation Syrian-American whose path led from biochemistry to public policy. While working as a biochemist, the Syrian Refugee Crisis inspired him to pivot toward engagement with transnational issues. Following a career break during the pandemic, he pursued a Master of Public Policy (MPP) and a graduate certificate in Science, Technology and Public Policy at the University of Michigan’s Ford School, focusing on human rights, migration, and artificial intelligence. He currently works at the nexus of digital innovation and national security, partnering with private sector firms, government agencies and NGOs to make the future of AI a safe one.

Dr. David Christopher Arnold (Purdue 1989 History and Political Science) is a Professor of National Security Strategy at the National War College. He received his PhD from Auburn University in 2002 and is the author of Spying From Space: Constructing America’s Satellite Command and Control Systems and the editor of Space Force Pioneers: Trailblazers of the Sixth Branch.

He is a career space and missile professional who retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2015 as a colonel. Dr. Arnold has taught history at 7,258 feet, 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle, and in cyberspace, and written extensively on space, including serving as the editor for a decade of the award-winning Quest: The History of Spaceflight Quarterly journal.

Since the first time he saw a Punnett square, Mark Aronson has been fascinated with understanding the mathematical patterns in biological and human health systems. This passion further developed during his time at Purdue, where he majored in Biological Engineering. Following graduation, he pursued a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at Boston University, where he combined computational and experimental methods to examine the dynamic properties of signaling pathways in soil bacteria.

To build on his computational skill set, he then moved to the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Janelia Research Campus, where he developed a novel theory of cell similarity. After this stretch in basic science, his desire to use data science methods to improve the U.S. healthcare system led him to his current role as a United States Digital Corps Fellow at the National Institutes of Health, where he supports health disparities research on a cloud-based, big data platform. When not coding up a new model, Mark is probably going for a run along the Potomac or trying out a new way to prepare tofu.

Adam Bain has been an attorney in the Department of Justice for 35 years. During that time, his primary responsibility has been defending the United States in toxic tort litigation. Bain’s cases typically involve many claimants who are seeking millions of dollars from the United States for personal injuries and property damages. The litigation usually involves complex legal, factual, and scientific issues. During his career, Bain has represented the United States in trials and hearings in federal district courts throughout the United States. His job has given him the opportunity to work with many interesting current and former public servants, including: soldiers and civilians, who provided for the national defense from World War II to the present; Forest Service fire fighters, who responded to some of the nation’s largest wildfires; and government officials, who provided relief for national disasters, including Hurricane Katrina. Bain has also worked with some of the nation’s top experts in toxicology, epidemiology, psychology, hydrogeology, and environmental engineering. Additionally, Bain has represented the United States and presented oral arguments in seven of the federal circuit courts of appeals. He has also written several articles in law reviews and journals, which have been cited by courts, litigants, and academics. He is a frequent faculty member at the Department of Justice’s National Advocacy Center where he typically lectures on the discovery of electronic information and the use of expert witnesses. 

Pablo Balcazar is the Policy Associate for the policy team at the American Immigration Council. In this role, he provides operational and logistical support, contributes to writing and research, and tracks policy work for the policy team. Prior to joining the Council, he worked on immigration, judiciary matters, and other related issues for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives as a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Public Policy Fellow. He also did a service year with AmeriCorps Public Allies program where he worked within the housing department of the Damien Center, Indiana’s oldest and largest AIDS service organization. Pablo holds a B.A. in Sociology and Political Science from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Jacqueline M. Becker is the senior adviser and senior associate inspector general for pandemic oversight coordination and strategy. She leads the coordination of the OIG’s pandemic-related oversight work; provides strategic direction to the OIG; oversees the OIG’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility program; and serves as the primary liaison with our internal and external pandemic-related stakeholders, including the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, and congressional committees and staff. In addition, she serves as the OIG’s liaison to the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) and the Council of Inspectors General on Financial Oversight. She also leads the OIG’s officewide strategic planning, outreach, and engagement efforts.

Ms. Becker has over 25 years of federal OIG legal experience. Prior to serving in her current position, she had served as the associate inspector general for legal services and counsel to the inspector general since 2010. In this capacity, she oversaw and led the Office of Legal Services, providing advice to the inspector general and to OIG staff on all legal matters, including strategic analysis and research. In addition, she oversaw the OIG’s legislative and regulatory review function, as well as the OIG’s congressional and media relations.

Ms. Becker is the former chair of the Council of Counsels to the Inspectors General (CCIG), where she led over 300 inspector general counsels from across the government on legal and strategic matters of mutual concern. She is the recipient of various CCIG awards and serves on several CIGIE workgroups that address OIG communitywide initiatives. Ms. Becker has lectured on issues of leadership, the roles and responsibilities of inspectors general, and inspector general independence, including delivering presentations to officials of foreign governments. She is an alumna of the System Leadership Trailblazer’s Conference and served as a leader in residence for the System’s Thrive Conference. Ms. Becker also serves on numerous Board workgroups and councils. Before joining the Board in 2005, she served for 10 years as senior attorney to the inspector general at the U.S. Department of Energy OIG.

Ms. Becker received her bachelor of arts in political science from Purdue University and her juris doctor from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is an alumna of the Harvard Business School’s High Potential Leader Executive Education Program; received a graduate degree in banking from the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania; and has an executive certificate in leadership coaching from the Georgetown University, Institute for Transformational Leadership. She is admitted to the Illinois Bar.

Kira Bilecky is currently Director of Supply Chain Strategy at St. Onge Company, a supply chain engineering consulting firm. She is responsible for leading the Supply Chain Strategy practice, focusing on delivering end-to-end supply chain assessments, supply chain strategy development and execution along with Sales & Operations Planning implementations.

She is a highly versatile supply chain executive with startup and Fortune 500 experience, passionate about helping organizations take a holistic approach to their supply chain challenges. She strives to optimize business outcomes through strategy development, planning, implementing, and operating global supply chain and logistics networks with a sustainability lens. Kira adapts to meet needs of small and large teams across operations, engineering, marketing, and business development by tapping into high emotional intelligence (EQ). She often assumes additional responsibilities and challenges as transparent/flexible collaborator with experience in big-picture strategic thinking and boots-on-the-ground execution. Recognize strengths and opportunities for growth, thrive on building others up, and deliver results by building deeper customer relationships, setting clear expectations, and holding accountable.

Jacob Breach is a dedicated national security professional with more than a decade of public service overwhelmingly dedicated to the defense and intelligence communities. Jacob is currently a senior partner engagement officer at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Over the past 13 years Jacob has served in several roles across the government, including content strategy, speechwriting, media relations, internal communications, and multimedia.

Previously he served as a legislative liaison, public affairs officer and the chief speechwriter to two Directors of the Defense Intelligence Agency, a senior advisor to the Deputy Commander of U.S. Cyber Command, a member of the National Security Council staff at the White House, and on the personal staff of a Member of Congress. He is a photographer in his spare time.

Chris Buckle, who joined ESPN in 2010, is the company’s Vice President of Investigative and Enterprise Journalism Unit, leading a team of roughly 50 journalists. An exceptional, nationally-respected journalist, Buckle has managed and edited a myriad of impactful, cross-platform investigative and enterprise projects that appear under various ESPN brands. He is a two-time Peabody Award honoree, a five-time Sports Emmy winner, and a recipient of the Alfred I. duPont Award among other recognition. His group’s 2022 short film, “Betsy & Irv,” has been accepted into 10 international film festivals, and a related digital piece that published on ESPN digital platforms was the most-engaged story worldwide in 2022 among more than 20 million pieces of content.

Before joining ESPN, Buckle had a career in newspapers of all sizes; he joined ESPN from being the personal finance editor at USA Today. Prior, he was an assistant managing editor at The Dallas Morning News and worked in newspapers in New York, New Jersey and Ohio. An avid cyclist and triathlete, Buckle graduated from Purdue University and resides in Connecticut with his wife.

Michael Burnett is an attorney-adviser at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Previously Michael was an associate at the firm of McDermott Will & Emery in the energy and project finance group. Michael graduated from UCLA Law in 2022 and from Purdue University in 2018 with a BS in Environmental and Ecological Engineering and a BA in Political Science.

Tobi Busari loves people and research in that order. He is not easy to spot among his students who call him by his first name and find the familiarity a little less threatening. He runs experiments building testing hardware for rockets with students at Morgan State University.

Kayla Bussert is an accomplished paralegal whose expertise encompasses a broad range of legal support responsibilities, from crafting and proofreading litigation documents to case management and performing intricate legal research. Her proficiency in using advanced legal technologies is pivotal in supporting evidence discovery and case strategy. Her ability to navigate complex legal frameworks and her meticulous attention to detail ensure that she provides invaluable support to the attorneys and clients she serves. Kayla continues to leverage her skills to enhance the firm’s capability to manage and win cases effectively.

Prior to joining the MWPP team, she honed her litigation skills in various legal environments, including patent litigation, international trade, plaintiff and defense litigation and criminal law. At Purdue University Kayla received a bachelor’s degree in Law and Society and minors in Arabic Language & Culture and Islamic Studies. During her time at Purdue, she was a member of the Purduettes in Purdue Musical Organizations, the Co-Director of the Purdue Office of Admissions Ambassador Program and a tour guide, served as a Deans Ambassador for the College of Liberal Arts, and interned at the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office and Courthouse.

Jessica Lakoff Cannon graduated from Richmond High School in 2001 and from Purdue University in 2005 with a double major in film studies and telecommunications. She relocated to Los Angeles in 2007 and began her career in movies, advancing from production assistant to film loader, second assistant camera, first assistant camera and now camera operator.

She has worked on productions such as “The Muppets,” “Django Unchained,” three “Hunger Games” movies, “Crazy Stupid Love,” “Bombshell,” “Book Club,” “Goliath,” “Snowfall” and most recently “Winning Time,” “Gaslit” and “High Desert”.

Lisa Catino is an instructional designer with a background in training and development of adult learners. Working with federal, state and local governments, she has served as a mentor and advisor of diversity and inclusion efforts, including Section 508 compliance. As a part of her training, she focuses on universal design and accessibility for adult learners. Lisa has a Master’s in Educational / Instructional Technology from Purdue University and a Master’s of Education and Human Development from The George Washington University. She serves as a NextGen Advisor Council member and advisor for university and post graduate students with disabilities. 

Kellye Chinichian is the Assistant Director of Principal Gifts at the Smithsonian where she works across the Institution on transformational gifts of $5 million and above, with a particular focus on gifts that support two or more units. Kellye helps identify, cultivate, steward, and ultimately solicit donors interested in education and digital initiatives, as well as strategic investment in individual prospecting.

Kellye has 10 years of experience within the Smithsonian in progressively responsible positions, with the majority of her tenure supporting the Under Secretary for Science and Research. Kellye provided critical leadership in strategic engagement, project management, and administrative coordination to the Under Secretary, including stewardship on some of the Smithsonian’s largest principal gifts donors to science efforts.

Kellye has Master of Arts in Museum Studies from The George Washington University with a focus in Nonprofit Management and Museum Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Purdue University.

Dave Chorzempa serves as Vice President and Associate General Counsel at AT&T, heading up the company’s legal group responsible for interacting with Congress, federal agencies (with an emphasis on the Federal Communications Commission), and governmental bodies across the globe. Dave has worked on varied matters in his 20 plus years in telecom, with a recent emphasis on spectrum policy, privacy and broadband regulation. He joined AT&T from the law firm of Jones Day. r. Chorzempa is a graduate of Purdue University and Notre Dame Law School. 

Having traveled to or studied in more than 50 countries, Destiny Clements’ interests in national security, diplomacy, and foreign policy stem from her studies and travels abroad.

Destiny recently received a master’s degree in Extension Studies, International Relations at Harvard University. She previously graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Purdue University in Law and Society and Global Studies and a graduate certificate from the London School of Economics and Political Science in Business, International Relations and the Political Economy.

Michelle Crabtree (HHS ’90) is a proud 5th generation female Boilermaker and was involved with The Purdue Student Union Board as Director of Personnel in her time on campus. Michelle is a former President of the Purdue Alumni of Washington DC as well as a PAA Director from 2003-2006. She is currently serving on the PAA Board of Directors for the East Region. Michelle works as the Director of Human Resources for the Town of Vienna, VA.

She has over 25 years of experience in Human Resources; also working in the private sector as the Director of Human Resources with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts and Walmart. Prior to starting with the Town of Vienna, she was the Area Director of Human Resources for the Hyatt hotels in the DC Metro area. She has volunteered as a Board Member with Disability: IN DC Metro (formerly DC Metro Business Leadership Network) since 2012, helping people with disabilities find employment. She holds both the SPHR (Senior Professional HR) and SHRM-SCP (Senior Certified Professional) certifications. Michelle and her husband John live in Alexandria, VA with 2 teenage children.

Dr. Rachel Cumberbatch began her career as a clinical veterinarian and transitioned to public policy when she was selected as a AAAS Science Policy Fellow at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. She later served as an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Congressional Fellow supporting Senator Al Franken’s healthcare portfolio.

Dr. Cumberbatch earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) in 2011 and a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences in 2007, both from Purdue University.

Cecilia Daizovi currently serves as the Chief Brand Strategist for Deloitte’s Higher Education practice. Cecilia possesses years of branding, strategic communications, and organizational change management (OCM) experience and a fresh perspective of the Higher Education industry, having led the Communications Team at one of the nation’s largest university systems through a successful multi-year technology implementation.

Formerly, Cecilia led the organizational change management and strategic communications efforts for programs at the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Her past work has been honored with the PRSA Silver Anvil Award – the highest award in the Public Relations industry.

Cecilia previously served clients at the state government level in addition to her past experience at the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Defense, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Cecilia is known to be an inclusive leader, having guided the creation of the brand and strategic communications strategies for a growing number of clients.

Cecilia is a proud alumna of Purdue University (BA) and Georgetown University (MA, GC). She is an active mentor for undergraduate students at Purdue’s Brian Lamb School of Communication and a board member for the Miss Arlington (Virginia) Scholarship Organization.

Carolyn D. Deal, Ph.D. is Branch Chief of the Enteric and Sexually Transmitted Infections Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, USA. Prior to joining NIAID, she was the Deputy Director for the Division of Bacterial Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, US FDA. She works to advance the development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics for public health.

Daniel Delgado joined the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in January 2021, where he currently serves as the Director for Border and Immigration Policy. In this role, Mr. Delgado leads the development and coordination of key immigration policies and border security measures across the Department. Prior to this role, Mr. Delgado served in a number of advisory roles at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) where he advised senior leadership on immigration policy and legislative matters. Mr. Delgado holds a B.A. in political science from Purdue University, an M.A. in Latin American Studies from the School of Foreign Service (SFS) at Georgetown University, and a graduate certificate in refugees and humanitarian emergencies from the Institute for the Study of International Migration at SFS.

Halee Fisher is a Legislative Assistant for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture under Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson where she assists on policy matters related to agricultural research, horticulture, crop protection, and biotechnology. Prior to joining the Committee in the spring of 2023, Fisher worked for Congressman Rudy Yakym III as his Legislative Correspondent. She grew up in northeast Indiana and graduated from Purdue University with undergraduate degrees in Agricultural Economics and Political Science.

Shannon Fitzpatrick is a Senior Executive serving as the NASA Director for Planetary Science Flight Programs at NASA Headquarters. In this role she manages the $5B annual budget; spacecraft and instrument projects in formulation, development, or operations; and a team responsible for managing the Discovery, New Frontiers, and Solar System Exploration Programs. She oversees planning, budgeting, and coordination for Planetary missions through every phase of the mission life cycle and collaborates with interagency and international partners for the successful execution of these missions. Ms. Fitzpatrick has held many other leadership positions within NASA, including the Chief of the Wallops Launch Range and has spent years of her career developing and leading state of the art missile defense systems for the Missile Defense Agency.

Shannon brings over 25 years of experience in Engineering, Leadership and Program Management and holds both Bachelors and Master of Science degrees in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University. She holds several patents in hypersonic propulsion technology from her time as a Navy aerospace engineer and has been the recipient of numerous NASA, DoD, and private industry awards

James Frederick was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health under the Biden Administration. He brings over 30 years of experience in worker safety and health, including 25 years with the United Steelworkers Union. His work at OSHA focuses on fostering worker involvement, enhancing hazard control, and protecting whistleblowers from retaliation. He also introduced OSHA’s first national family liaison to support families affected by workplace incidents and works to modernize the agency’s tools and communication strategies.

Marcus Glassman joined APLU in 2025 and serves as the Director of Government Affairs for Agriculture and International Development. He manages APLU’s efforts around the Farm Bill, Global Food Security Act, and annual appropriations focused on R&D investments relevant to colleges of agriculture nationwide. An epidemiologist by training, Glassman has an extensive background in agricultural policy, both domestic and international, across the research, philanthropy, and advocacy sectors.

Prior to APLU, he was the vice president of programs at the Supporters of Agricultural Research (SoAR) Foundation and is an alumnus of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and USDA Agricultural Research Service. He holds a Master of Science in Public Health from the George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Purdue University.

Dr. Caitlin Grady is an Associate Professor in the Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Department at The George Washington University in Washington DC. Prior to joining GWU, Dr. Grady served as an Assistant Professor at The Pennsylvania State University. Her academic background and research expertise spans a variety of engineering and policy domains across food, energy, and water systems. This includes both qualitative and quantitative approaches to studying systems such as agricultural trade, the electricity grid, natural hazards, and adaptation to climate change. Prior to her academic roles, she held several federal government roles including with the House of Representatives, the Department of Energy, and the Department of State. In these roles, she worked on a myriad of issues including agriculture, water & energy, air quality, budget & appropriations, international development, and diplomatic engagement.

Cory Harris is 2015 alum with degrees in Applied Agriculture Economics and Political Science. In his current role, Cory is a director of government affairs at the Vogel Group where he leads the top-20 lobbying firm’s agriculture practice. Cory’s career has focused on the intersection of agriculture and public policy, spanning issues across the sector and serving in roles at the state and federal level for leading trade associations, fortune 500 companies, and on Capitol Hill. Cory is the President of the Purdue Alumni Association of Washington and resides in Washington with his wife, Sarah and their young son. 

Calsy M. Hartman is an associate attorney at Goodwin Procter LLP and Professorial Lecturer of Law at the George Washington University Law School. Ms. Hartman’s practice involves a broad range of corporate and commercial transactions, with focuses on private equity mergers and acquisitions and growth equity transactions. Ms. Hartman assists clients in a variety of industries, including technology, healthcare, media and business services.

Ms. Hartman is a graduate of Purdue University and attended law school at the George Washington University Law School. While in law school, Ms. Hartman was the Executive Notes Editor of the George Washington International Law Review and a merit-based endowed scholarship recipient. Ms. Hartman additionally held extern positions with Commissioner Kristin N. Johnson of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement in the Complex Financial Instruments Unit, and the Honorable Margaret A. Chan of the New York State Supreme Court’s Commercial Law Division.

After growing up on a farm in Southern Indiana and attending Purdue University to study agriculture, Grace Hasler found the perfect intersection in her passion for ag and love for advocacy in politics. After graduation, she joined BASF’s Agriculture Professional Development Program. As part of this rotational program, she has lived in Raleigh, NC where she worked with an accelerator program for startups in digital agriculture, moved to Washington, DC to dabble in State Affairs, and now serves as an arm of the Federal Public & Government Affairs team. She’ll receive a full time role with the company in June.  

Michael Heintz is a non-profit leader, government relations professional, attorney, and strategic advisor. His career spans a diverse range of topics, including biomedical research and environmental science, providing him the ability to convey technical topics to lay audiences. This diversity has also allowed him to lead, develop, and mentor multi-disciplinary teams of policy experts, scientists, and other professionals. He successfully leverages internal and external collaboration while advancing the goals of his stakeholders. He is passionate about building diverse and equitable work environments and strives to ensure that colleagues throughout an organization are engaged with a sense of belonging and ownership in professional goals.

Victoria Houed is an engineer turned policy entrepreneur who has dedicated her career to improving the tech policy ecosystem and the modernization of government. She is currently a Senior Advisor at the POPVOX Foundation and Director of AI Policy and Strategy at the Department of Commerce. She was previously a Manager at Schmidt Futures where she funded key science and technology policy initiatives and educated relevant stakeholders on how to best advocate for their policy ideas in the legislative and executive branch.

Prior to joining Schmidt Futures, Victoria worked for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as a TechCongress Congressional Innovation Fellow supporting the Speaker on all things tech, including internet accessibility, data privacy, antitrust, disinformation, Section 230, and autonomous vehicles.

Before her time in Congress, Victoria worked as a Software Engineer and Product Manager at Cards Against Humanity, founded a non-profit for Black Women in Technology called BlackByte, helped lead the tech team of a mayoral campaign, and enjoyed working on different engineering projects for artists from her hometown of Chicago (including Chance the Rapper).

Victoria holds her B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University, where she focused on nanotechnology and systems engineering.

Drew Howser is a seasoned business development professional specializing in business-to-government (B2G) sales and strategic growth. With experience at leading organizations like Lockheed Martin Space and Deloitte Consulting, along with a key role at a startup focused on defense and national security, Drew brings expertise in policy analysis, developing win strategies, and fostering strategic partnerships to grow business.

Drew graduated from Purdue in 2019 with a BS in Chemical Engineering. He enjoys inspiring others to look beyond the “traditional” career track for their degree and leveraging their education and experience to carve out opportunities that interest them.

Brig. Gen. Jason Lennen is Director of Policy and Resources at the Office of the Surgeon General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Falls Church, Virginia. His directorate is responsible for the development and execution of Air Force Medical Service policy, plans, budgets, and programs for the delivery of comprehensive operational healthcare and health service support to Department of the Air Force missions by 43,000 active-duty officer, enlisted, and civilian medical personnel at 76 installations with a budget of more than $6.2 billion. Additionally, Brig. Gen. Lennen is responsible for personnel policy, force development and staffing requirements, as well as Air Force medical education and training worldwide.

Brig. Gen. Lennen is also the Chief of the Air Force Biomedical Sciences Corps, serving as a senior advisor to the Air Force Surgeon General and leading the development, management, and sustainment of 2,300 officers to provide Air Force capabilities in 13 professions: Audiologist, Bioenvironmental Engineer, Biomedical Laboratory Officer, Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Social Worker, Dietitian, Occupational Therapist, Optometrist, Pharmacist, Physical Therapist, Physician Assistant, Podiatric Surgeon, and Public Health Officer.

Brig. Gen. Lennen received a direct commission as a second lieutenant and entered the U.S. Air Force in August 1998. He has been assigned to clinic, ambulatory surgery center, hospital, and medical center locations in a variety of student, staff, instructor, and leadership positions. The general is a licensed pharmacist and Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist that has held clinical privileges in both inpatient and outpatient settings. He has deployed twice in support of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, served in five headquarters staff positions, and commanded a medical operations squadron and two medical groups. Prior to his current position, Brig. Gen. Lennen was the Command Surgeon for the Air Force District of Washington, headquartered at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

Michael Lindinger serves clients on complex litigation in federal district courts, the International Trade Commission (ITC), and inter partes review (IPR) proceedings before the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Scott Love is the CEO and founder of Lovelytics, a data, AI, and analytics consulting firm. Scott lives in Arlington, VA with his wife, Natalie, and son, Peyton. Outside of work, Scott enjoys traveling, attending sporting events, and supporting entrepreneurial events of Purdue and local young professionals.

Rob Kuhlman is a Director of Strategic Advocacy at Elevance Health. While at Purdue University Rob was involved with the Purdue rowing team, Boiler Gold Rush, and at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Center. He has a Master of Public Policy from the University of Edinburgh and Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from Purdue University. He enjoys giving DC history tours.

Bradley McKinney is the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue. He previously served as Managing Director at Imperative, LLC, a boutique government relations firm, and prior, as Executive Director of the International Wood Products Association. McKinney served in the government as Vice President of Economic Security and Operations for the Export-Import Bank of the United States, prior to which he served as Chief of Staff for the International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce. He also provided legislative and regulatory affairs services on a range of issues related to international trade, agriculture and manufacturing while a consultant at Torrey Advisory Group, and Faegre Drinker, and while on staff at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

McKinney began his career on Capitol Hill as staff to then-Senator Richard G. Lugar of Indiana. Originally from Fishers, Indiana, he lives in northern Virginia with his wife, Kristie, and two sons, Fisher and Christian.

Ali McNichols is the Director of Brand Content for Purdue Brand Studio, Purdue University’s Marketing and Communications division. In her role she serves as a chief storyteller for the university, focusing on content and distribution strategy, social media and the university’s podcast, “This Is Purdue”, alongside her role as the editor in chief for Purdue’s premiere story platform, The Persistent Pursuit.

Throughout her career she has worked in a variety of industries including government, creative and marketing agencies, and nonprofits. She is passionate about advancing opportunities for women, serving as a volunteer and board member of several nonprofits in Indianapolis. Ali holds a B.A. in Public Relations from Purdue and lives in Carmel, Indiana.

Mikaela Meyer graduated from Purdue in 2018 with degrees in Mathematical Statistics and Applied Statistics and a minor in Political Science. She is excited to give back to the Boilermaker community. While she was a student at Purdue, Mikaela discovered her interests in using statistics and data to inform policy-making. She was the first Purdue student to receive the Truman Scholarship, which recognizes a commitment to public service and leadership. She grew up in Chesterton, IN, and after graduating from Purdue, she received her MS in Statistics and PhD in Statistics and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University.

Mikaela is currently a Data Scientist at the MITRE Corporation where she works on federally funded research projects for a variety of sponsors. In her spare time, Mikaela enjoys powerlifting, crocheting, playing board games, and playing team sports.

Matt Miller is Senior Vice President of Government Relations for the Business Roundtable, where he leads the government relations team and is responsible for outreach to Capitol Hill and the Administration on behalf of the association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. corporations.

A native of Mitchell, Indiana, Miller earned his bachelors degree from Purdue University and his Juris Doctorate from the Seton Hall University School of Law. Miller also received his Master of Laws in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center. He resides in Washington, D.C. with his wife and two children.

Ken O’Brien, based in Arlington, VA, US, is currently a Associate Director, Data Engineering and Architecture at U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Ken O’Brien brings experience from previous roles at Dept of the Treasury/Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and USDA/Risk Management Agency. Ken O’Brien holds a Purdue University. With a robust skill set that includes Program Management, Risk Assessment, Business Analysis, Strategic Planning, Business Intelligence and more.

Ken graduated from Purdue with his BS and MS in Electrical Engineering. 

Dr. Mariya Y. Omelicheva a Professor of Strategy at National War College, National Defense University, with substantive interests and expertise in international and Eurasian security, counterterrorism and human rights, democracy promotion in the post-Soviet territory, Russia’s foreign and security policy, gender and security, and crime-terror nexus in Eurasia. She is the author of multiple books and peer-reviewed articles on these topics.

Dr. Omelicheva’s research has allowed her to engage with broad audience, spanning policy makers, journalists, and the general public. She has been privileged to work closely with a range of private and public organizations (e.g., U.S. Helsinki Commission, U.S. House of Representatives, US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, diplomatic personnel).

Nick Perry  is a Senior International Government Relations Specialist with over 15 years of experience interfacing with governments, embassies, agencies, and navigating all facets of the import/export market. 

Nick graduated from Purdue with his BA in Political Science, class of 1996, and his Masters in Political Management from George Washington University in 2001. 

John Pierce in an experienced trial attorney and former Federal prosecutor whose practice focuses on sophisticated criminal defense and civil litigation. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Pierce served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of California, the District of Columbia and in the Eastern District of Virginia. While working as a Federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia, he represented the office on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) for Health Care Fraud.

After leaving the government in 2000, Mr. Pierce worked at a large Washington, DC, on complex litigation matters. He founded his own firm in 2003, focusing on white collar criminal defense and civil securities fraud prosecutions. He joined Liles Parker in 2020 and focuses on representing targets and defendants of federal health care criminal investigations and prosecutions.

John and his wife Roxana live in Bethesda, MD, and they have two magnificent daughters Amanda and Natalie (except that they went to U of Michigan).

Scott Prince is the Deputy Communications for the National Institutes of Health. In this role he oversees the work of several key NIH communications initiatives and offices including the NIH Digital Communications Branch, NIH Health and Science Publications Branch and NIH Staff News and Public Inquiries Branch. 

Prior to his work at NIH, Scott was a television news reporter and anchor for several broadcast news stations including NBC-12 in Richmond, VA and WDBJ-7 in Roanoke, VA.

Before joining the private sector supporting Oracle Cloud for Government, Beth Sammons spent 14 years in the federal government, first as a Contacting Officer and then as a manager of software development teams. She graduated from Purdue in 2006 with her BS in Management, Marketing before attending the Naval Postgraduate School with her EMBA.  

Haley Sands is a Producer with CNN. Before CNN Haley started her career at C-SPAN. Haley credits the Washington Maymester program for being integral to her career development and connections in Washington DC. She excited to see the program evolve and honored to mentor the next generation of Boilermaker leaders! Haley live in Washington, DC with her husband and dog.  

Caroline Shanley graduated in 2019 with a BA in Political Science and Public Relations from Purdue University. She earned her MA in History from American University in 2024, where she focused on the intersection of gender and law in 19th-century Washington, DC. Caroline has worked full-time for over five years in digital strategy and public relations in the political and nonprofit sectors. Now as the Communications Manager at the National Archives Foundation, she blends her historical expertise with her communications experience. In her free time, she loves to explore DC on her bike and advocate for better transit.

Kate Smith currently serves as the Director of Public Affairs and Operations for Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Her responsibilities include budget planning and management, communications, compliance, executive engagement, political programs and day-to-day functional operations. She also serves as the Chief of Staff to the Vice President of U.S. Public Affairs.

Prior to her time at Takeda, Ms. Smith also ran political programs at AbbVie, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, the American Council of Life Insurers and AdvaMed. She served on the National Association of Business Political Action Committees Board of Directors and served briefly as President before taking a travel sabbatical.

Ms. Smith is a graduate of Purdue University with a BA in Organizational Communication and History, and has a Masters in International Relations from the University of Bristol in England.  

Jessica Timperman is a marketing and strategy professional in Washington, D.C. She has worked with internationally known Fortune 500 companies including Microsoft, Campbell’s, Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Born and raised in Lafayette, Indiana, Jessica attended Purdue University where she earned a Bachelor’s in Hospitality and Tourism Management and a Master of Business Administration. She enjoys riding her bike, cooking food with friends, and discovering the city. 

Zacharie Riddle is the Communications Director for Senator Mike Braun and has been a guest speaker for the Boilers Go to D.C. program. During his time at Purdue, he worked as a Congressional intern for U.S. Representative Larry Bucshon, was part of the Fast Track news team and worked in the Purdue Writing Lab. He holds a Bachelor’s in Mass Communication from Purdue University.

Mark Schoeff Jr. is a reporter at CQ Roll Call in Washington, where he covers congressional and regulatory news affecting financial services.

Prior to joining CQ Roll Call in June 2024, Schoeff was a senior reporter for InvestmentNews, writing about legislation and regulations affecting retail investment advisors and brokers. He won an award in 2022 from Editor & Publisher magazine for his column, D.C. Insider.

Prior to joining InvestmentNews in April 2010, Schoeff served for nearly five years as the Washington correspondent for Workforce Management, writing about employment and labor law. He contributed to Howey Politics Indiana, a weekly political newsletter based in Indianapolis, from 1997 to 2023. Schoeff’s other career experiences in Washington include serving as director of external relations at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and as press secretary for former Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana.

After growing up in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, he began his career in New York City, where one of his jobs was managing editor of a community paper in Manhattan. He wrote for the sports desk of the Ft. Wayne News-Sentinel during high school and college. Schoeff is Membership Secretary at the National Press Club. He also serves as co-editor-in-chief of The Wire, the Club’s electronic newsletter. Schoeff earned his undergraduate degree from Purdue University, where he was a reporter and editor on the daily campus newspaper, The Purdue Exponent. He has a master’s degree from George Mason University.

John A. Schwenk is Director of Government Relations at BAE Systems, Inc. In this role, he is responsible for developing and executing outreach that
supports the business’ global international pursuits. He has previously held
positions within BAE Systems supporting Europe and Western Hemisphere
Government Relations, as well as working with the U.S. Congress as part of the
Legislative Affairs team. He joined BAE Systems in 2013.

Prior to joining BAE Systems, John held multiple positions within the U.S.
Department of State, most recently in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs
Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers. In this capacity, he
coordinated security cooperation between the U.S. Government and its partners
and Allies, and developed and aligned U.S. foreign and defense policies. In
2011, John was selected to represent the State Department as a Brookings Institution Legis Congressional Fellow, where he served as a Defense and Foreign Policy advisor to Senator Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire).

Prior to joining the State Department, John was a Senior Research Associate for the Public International Law & Policy Group, a global non-profit organization offering pro-bono legal and policy advice to states in transition and non-state entities. John’s awards include a BAE Systems Chairman’s Gold Award and multiple State Department Superior Honor Awards. He holds an M.A. in U.S. Foreign Policy from American University’s School of International Service, and a B.A. in History and Political Science from Purdue University. He is active
in his community, serving as a Scout leader, Little League baseball coach, and as a board member of his church. He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and three children.

Rebecca Shambaugh is a Leadership Expert, Author, Speaker, Founder and CEO of Women in Leadership and Learning, one of the first coaching and leadership development programs for women in the country. Rebecca’s consulting firm, SHAMBAUGH Leadership, is known for creating inclusive and equitable work cultures that incorporate an end-to-end pipeline strategy for women early on in their career through the executive ranks.

Rebecca is also author of the best-selling book, “It’s Not a Glass Ceiling, It’s a Sticky Floor,” which is known for its practical and researched based strategies and coaching practices that are recognized for taking women to the next level of leadership and reaching their full potential.  Rebecca is a thought leader in gender balance and speaks in many conferences on her company’s research and best practices. Rebecca has been featured in such publications as Harvard Business Review, Leader to Leader, Huffington Post as well as showcased on CNBC, TED Talks, and ABC.

Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Relations from Purdue University and a Master of Arts Degree in Organizational Development from Marymount University.

Zack Siddique graduated from Purdue in 2015 (a first from Purdue in a family filled with IU Alumni). A degree in Environmental Engineering led to a job working at a Clean-Technology Venture Firm in the DC area. From there, Zack continued his career in finance and impact related investments management. Zack lives in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria with his wife and my dog.

Stephen (Steve) Sothmann is a partner with DTB AgriTrade LLP, joining the firm in 2024. A trade lawyer by training, Steve has held key leadership positions at a variety of agricultural trade industry associations, developing a deep understanding of the U.S. agricultural trade policy landscape along the way. A senior government relations professional, he has a wealth of success advancing the interests of global trade-dependent agribusinesses and associations, employing skills in advocacy, international trade, market expansion, and grant funding. 

Prior to joining DTB Agritrade, Steve served for over a decade in chief executive roles at the Meat Import Council of America (MICA) and the Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA). Both organizations are close affiliates of the Meat Institute, where Steve was also a senior staff member. Steve has served three terms as a member of the Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee (ATAC), a highly selective advisory committee that advises the Secretary of Agriculture and U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on agricultural trade issues. He was a two term Executive Committee Member with the U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council (USAEDC) and held a number of leadership positions with international industry and trade organizations. 

Early in his career, Sothmann served as a member of the legislative staff of United States Senator Evan Bayh from Indiana, covering a broad range of economic issues. A native of the state of Indiana, Sothmann received a Bachelor of Arts from Purdue University, a Master of Business Administration from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, and Juris Doctor from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. 

Emily Stock is a Project Manager for Volunteer Initiatives at AmeriCorps where she leads the Volunteer Generation Fund and Days of Service grant programs as well as strategy for 2 National Days of Service, all of which work towards engaging more Americans in volunteering to meet the needs of communities. Emily is a lifelong advocate of volunteering and service, having worked with Habitat for Humanity International for over 15 years before moving to the federal government with AmeriCorps. She is a graduate of Purdue University and lives and works in Washington, DC. Emily loves running, yoga, baking and college football.

For more than 25 years, Michelle Tucker has championed results-driven campaigns for world-class consumer and healthcare brands. In her current role as Executive Vice President, Executive Creative Director, US Creative Health Lead at Edelman, she inspires her teams to create purpose-driven campaigns that drive systemic change and positive impact within the health and wellness space, and society at large.

Prior to Edelman, Michelle served as VP, Managing Creative Director of Scout Marketing, as well as Group Creative Director at Havas Worldwide Chicago where she spearheaded the re-launch of iconic American brands such as Ragú Spaghetti Sauce and Cracker Barrel Restaurants. She also spent 12 years at FCB Chicago where her writing and creativity were the spark behind successful campaigns for Visa, Jim Beam, and Johnson & Johnson, just to name a few. Michelle lives in the city of Chicago and can often be found cheering on her beloved Boilermakers and Chicago sports teams.

A strong proponent of mentoring young talent in the industry, Michelle serves on the Board of Directors for the Brian Lamb School of Communication, she is also an Adjunct Professor in the School of Communications and the School of Continuing & Professional Studies at Loyola University Chicago.

Anya Welborn is a Policy Analyst at the Department of Homeland Security. After graduating from Purdue in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Political Science and Communication, she received her Master of Arts in Security Policy Studies from George Washington University in 2023. Anya currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia, and likes to spend her free time going to the movies or taking walks at nearby nature trails.

Chris White has over 27 years of operations management experience with expertise in lean manufacturing, process engineering, and team building. He has been a Vice President within supply chain operations for Sleep Number since 2013 and currently serves as Vice President of Manufacturing, Fulfillment and Quality. As an operations leader, Chris has a tremendous passion for developing talent and building high performing teams.

After earning his degree from Purdue University in 1993, Chris entered the Navy Nuclear Engineering Program and served as a Division Officer aboard the SSBN USS Nebraska from 1995 to 1998. Following his naval service, Chris joined CIBA Vision, a Novartis Company, where he held a variety of operations roles while participating in Novartis’ leadership development program. From 2004 to 2005, he was promoted to Head of Manufacturing Operations for CIBA’s extended wear contact lens department. He then went on to work as a project manager in the Office of the CEO from 2005 to 2008, where he led a global team in the implementation of an integrated Sales and Operations Planning process.
In 2008, Chris joined Sleep Number to lead their manufacturing team at their Utah manufacturing facility. In 2013, he was promoted to Vice President Manufacturing and has spent the last 12 years leveraging his global leadership expertise in leading his supply chain operations team in the execution of Sleep Number’s mission to improve lives. This journey has centered around building an organization with a foundation of respect for each other and a commitment to investing in all employees to develop problem solvers at all levels. In 2023, Sleep Number completed a multi-year journey to build a manufacturing footprint across the United States to insource mattress assembly and fulfillment operations.
Chris holds a B.A. in Political Science from Purdue University, and an M.B.A. from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University.

Allison Zito, a proud 4th generation Boilermaker, is the National Accounts Manager for Maple Leaf Farms, a leading duck producer. During her years in foodservice sales, she has employed the balance of relationship building, creative menu ideation, and market data to get duck on the dining table. A former communications director on Capitol Hill, she has honed both verbal and written communication to drive a point home, whether that’s political or gastronomic. When she’s not thinking or dreaming of food, she enjoys time with her husband and 3 cats in DC, playing tennis, and traveling as much as possible.

Sutton Tyson is an avid journalist, storyteller, and justice advocate. For almost a decade, Sutton has provided timely and accurate information to the media and public surrounding national security, politics, and justice. Sutton joined CBS News in 2022 as Booking Producer and is responsible for securing federal government, political, economic, and breaking news guests for CBS News Streaming Network. Prior to her current role at CBS News, in 2017, Sutton began working at the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a spokesperson in the National Press Office. She represented the FBI with national and international media outlets, covering national security, criminal, and counterintelligence matters. Sutton followed her passion for justice, serving as the Strategic Partnerships Associate at the Human Trafficking Institute. She also served in multiple roles at International Justice Mission (IJM), a global organization working to end violence against people living in poverty. During her time with IJM, Sutton led hundreds of college students as president of the National Student Leadership Team. She also helped launch the global Stand for Freedom awareness campaign in 2016. In her spare time, Sutton enjoys traveling with her wife, enjoying the D.C. food scene, and cuddling with her French bulldog puppy, Roco. Sutton graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Purdue University. 

Carrie Sessine is a Communications and marketing leader with a demonstrated history of working in tech, venture capital, government, B2B and B2C. Skilled in Crisis Communications, Integrated Marketing, Event Management, Media Relations, Corporate Communications, and Message Development. Proud alumna of the Raymond A. Mason School of Business and William & Mary and Purdue University. 

Janet Nice is a Director at Chartwell Strategy Group, providing firm clients with government relations counsel, public affairs, and legislative advocacy services, including policymaker outreach. She possesses significant Capitol Hill experience in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Prior to joining Chartwell Strategy Group, Janet was a Legislative Assistant for Congressman Darin LaHood (R-IL). In this capacity she devised legislative strategies and was responsible for a policy portfolio on education, veterans affairs, and worker and family support issues. Janet previously worked for Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) supporting the healthcare portfolio and constituent outreach communications. Janet holds a B.A. in Political Science and French and a minor in Organizational Leadership and Supervision from Purdue University.