Our Staff

Liz Schrayer, Executive Director
Liz Schrayer serves as the founding Executive Director of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, responsible for the overall direction and strategy for the influential and well-respected broad-based coalition. Ms. Schrayer also serves as President of Schrayer & Associates, Inc., a nationwide political consulting firm specializing in grassroots organizing. Prior to beginning her own firm, Ms. Schrayer served as the national Political Director of AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) for more than a decade. She worked on Capitol Hill, founding the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and in state Government. She has traveled across the country organizing citizen advocates in every state and on various issues. Ms. Schrayer currently serves as a member of ACVFA (Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid). She has a Bachelor’s degree from University of Michigan in Political Science and American Studies and serves on the Michigan in Washington Advisory Board.

Nicholas Rogacki, Special Assistant to the Executive Director
Nick Rogacki joins the USGLC after completing his master’s degree in International Relations from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School. During his studies, he interned at the National Defense University where he helped design curriculum for graduate courses on civil-military relations and contemporary Islam. Before coming to D.C., Nick lived and studied in Morocco, Israel, the West Bank and Nepal. He previously worked as an archaeologist and illustrator for the New York State Museum. Nick holds a B.A. in Political Science and Anthropology from the University of Albany, and is a proud native of Buffalo, New York.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TEAM

	Tod Preston, Government Relations Director Tod Preston has served as the USGLC’s Director of Government Relations since Sept. 2009. He has twenty years of government relations and public policy experience in Washington, spanning Capitol Hill, the Administration, and the international development community. Prior to joining the USGLC, he served as Vice President for U.S. Government Relations at Population Action International (PAI) and as a congressional liaison and speechwriter at the U.S. Department of Commerce. He worked on Capitol Hill for seven years as a legislative aide and legislative director in the House of Representatives, including four years for Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY). Mr. Preston graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in government from Connecticut College.
	Meghan Simonds, Deputy Government Relations Director Meghan joins the USGLC from Capitol Hill, where she most recently served as a Legislative Assistant for Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), advising the Senator on foreign affairs, transportation, and housing issues. Prior to her Legislative Assistant position, Meghan served as Senator Collins’ Legislative Correspondent for foreign affairs, defense, and veterans affairs. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Maine in Orono. Meghan is a member of the Maine State Society of Washington, D.C.
	Molly Lester, Government Relations Specialist Molly comes to the USGLC after earning her M.A. in International Politics from American University’s School of International Service. She focused her studies on international organizations and European politics, writing her capstone research project on the World Food Programme and international food aid. Molly previously worked for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission in the chief counsel’s office and the policy, rules, and curriculum department before coming to Washington. She also holds bachelor’s degrees in government and communication studies from the University of Texas at Austin.

NATIONAL OUTREACH TEAM

	Megan Nathan, Western Regional Outreach Director Megan Nathan joins the USGLC after recently completing her Master’s degree in government with a specialization in counter-terrorism and homeland security from the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, Israel. While there, she served as a researcher for the International Institute of Counter-Terrorism studying homegrown radicalization in the United States. Previously, Megan worked at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Washington, DC as a Senior National Field Organizer. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
	Brendan Flynn, Veterans Outreach Director Brendan Flynn comes to the USGLC from the Truman National Security Project, where he served as advocacy program manager, and previously, as a regional field director of the “Operation Free” campaign, which mobilized Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans in support of protecting national security by ending foreign oil dependence. Prior to his time at the Truman Project, he served in various capacities for Congressman Patrick Murphy, the first Iraq war veteran in Congress, including as Military and Veterans Affairs Director in his Bristol, PA district office. Brendan is a graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy and a native of Meadville, PA.
	Steven Leiser-Mitchell, Outreach Associate Steven Leiser-Mitchell comes to the USGLC field team as a graduate from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where he received his degree in Political Science, a minor in History, and a specialization in vocal performance. While at Kenyon, Steven focused on U.S. foreign policy and political theory, was member of the men’s soccer team, and was heavily involved in several extra-curricular music groups. Steven is a former communications intern with the USGLC, and is originally from Amherst, Massachusetts.

COMMUNICATIONS TEAM

	Richard Parker, Communications Director Richard Parker joins the USGLC after serving as Director of Communications for the Peace Corps. At the Peace Corps, Mr. Parker oversaw the creative, Internet, marketing, press, and video production offices within agency. Previously, Mr. Parker served at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where he was Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary focusing on international health issues and positive youth development. He also served as Deputy White House Liaison for the department. Prior to his time at HHS, Mr. Parker was the Director of Public Affairs for the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Before his service in government, Mr. Parker worked in communications and marketing for the American Red Cross and Levi Strauss & Company. Mr. Parker holds a Master’s degree in public policy from Regent University and a Bachelor’s degree in business management from North Carolina State University.
	Caroline Espinosa, Deputy Communications Director Caroline Espinosa comes to the USGLC from the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand where she served as communications director. Previously, she spent nearly 10 years on Capitol Hill where she worked for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the House Press Gallery, and as Senator Gordon Smith’s press secretary. She has also advised non-profit organizations on media relations and has lived in The Philippines, Japan, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Egypt, and Thailand. Caroline graduated from The George Washington University where she received a degree in international affairs with a focus on the Middle East.
	Jonathan Ewing, Digital Media Associate Jonathan Ewing joins the USGLC from Action on Smoking and Health where he built grassroots support for national tobacco control policies as communications coordinator. At The George Washington University, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political communication while researching the shift in national attitudes toward capitalism and socialism after the 2008 recession. Jonathan is a member of the United Nations Association and Young Professionals in Foreign Policy, and is originally from Los Angeles, California.

POLICY TEAM

	John K. Glenn, Policy Director John K. Glenn is Policy Director of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. He joins the USGLC after serving as Director of Foreign Policy at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, where he led Transatlantic Trends, an annual survey of foreign policy attitudes in the United States and Europe, and oversaw GMF’s foreign policy grantmaking and programming. His background also includes academic expertise as executive director of the Council for European Studies and project manager at the Institute of War and Peace Studies at Columbia University. He is adjunct faculty at the Elliott School for Public Affairs at George Washington University and has written numerous books, articles, and policy briefs, as well as appears in the media regularly as a commentator on international affairs. Dr. Glenn holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in sociology from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College.
	Ashley Chandler, Deputy Policy Director Ashley Chandler comes to USGLC from Vital Voices Global Partnership, where she helped to launch the Global Ambassadors Program, an innovative development initiative designed to build capacity through mentorship. Previously, she worked at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where she focused on the role of public-private partnerships in post-conflict and humanitarian disaster environments, publishing several reports and articles on both civilian and defense development programs. Ashley earned an M.S. in Global Politics from the London School of Economics, M.A. in U.S. History, with a concentration in foreign policy, from George Washington University, and a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University. In addition, Ashley was a world ranked swimmer and an official alternate for 1996 U.S. Olympic team.
	Zach Silberman, Policy Associate Zach Silberman comes to the USGLC after covering Capitol Hill, the 2012 Presidential election, and other foreign policy issues as a staff reporter on joint assignment for the Washington Jewish Week and the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Prior to his work for these publications, he served in government as a staff assistant in the Congressional Liaison Office of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Zach also worked as a legislative assistant for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) where he handled general foreign policy legislative issues and matters pertaining to nuclear proliferation. Zach earned his B.A. from Miami University with a double major in History and Journalism. He is currently working towards a master’s degree in Global Security Studies at Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Advanced Governmental Studies.

PROGRAM & MEMBERSHIP TEAM

	Beth Neary, Program & Membership Director Beth Neary serves as the Program Director for the USGLC and is responsible for overseeing USGLC programming, events and institutional advancement. Prior to joining the USGLC, she served as External Relations Manager and Senior Grant Writer at Citizens for Global Solutions. Ms. Neary received her Master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University, and received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Peace and Conflict Resolution from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
	Melissa Lieberman, Director of Development Melissa Lieberman joins the USGLC after nearly 10 years of political fundraising experience at the Presidential, Senatorial, and Congressional levels including with the campaigns of Senator Joe Lieberman, Senator Frank Lautenberg, and former Congressman Martin Frost. Melissa previously served as director of development for MedStar Washington Hospital Center where she was responsible for overall fundraising strategy and execution, and before that as director of development for the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC). Melissa graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
	Nicole Chandler, Director of Finance and Administration Nicole Chandler comes to the USGLC with over 15 years of experience providing accounting and other services to a wide variety of charitable organizations and professional associations in the Washington, DC area. Most recently, Nicole served as a senior consultant for Beyond the Bottom Line, LLC, where she worked to turn around the financial systems and processes of multiple non-profit organizations. Nicole received her MBA from Marymount University and her B.A. in Political Science from Tulane University.
	Emily Benovitz, Program Manager Emily Benovitz comes to the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition from AIPAC, The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, where she served as the Political Assistant. In this role, she managed lobbying activity for hundreds of AIPAC’s top activists, and helped educate members of Congress and their staff on the importance of a strong U.S. – Israel relationship. Emily received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan and is a native of Louisville, Kentucky.
	Emily Jennings, Program Assistant Emily Jennings comes to the USGLC from BIO, Biotechnology Industry Organization, where she served as an Assistant for the Business Development team, aiding in conference preparation and logistics. While in college, she was the Communications Intern for The British Embassy, and the Online Communications Intern for Vital Voices Global Partnership, an NGO that empowers up-and-coming women leaders around the world. Emily received her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from American University, where she specialized in U.S. foreign policy and national security, and spent time abroad in St. Petersburg, Russia. Emily is originally from Burlington, Vermont.