Montana |2009

John Fauerbach is a Montana native and professional political campaign staffer who has extensive experience working in political field operations. John has worked on various campaigns since graduating college in 2015. John has been employed by the Montana Democratic Party, the Montana Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, and multiple federal campaigns. While working on campaigns, John has campaigned for LGBTQ equal rights, affordable healthcare, Montana families, and the fair taxation of small businesses.

John had a genuine Montana upbringing. He grew up in rural Montana near the U.S.-Canada Border. His father worked for the government agency U.S. Customs and Border Protection while his mother stayed at home to raise John and his brother. John's mother and father raised lambs, grew corn, and taught John the importance of respecting others, teamwork, and self-sufficiency. Being raised in rural Montana, John gained insight into a world so few in the political world understand or experience.

John’s hobbies include reading historical non-fiction and philosophical political writings, trail running, yoga, cycling, consuming current affairs, watching The Don Lemon Show, refurbishing electronic devices, weight training, exploring Montana's public lands, and listening to rock, electronic, and metal music.

John didn't start with much in life, but through an optimistic worldview and a relentless work ethic, John continues to achieve success in his professional career and personal life. John is dedicated to self-growth through education, self-introspection, and critical thinking in order to constructively continue his contribution to American society.

Dr. Kayte Kaminski is the Assistant Dean and Director of Student Success in the College of Education, Health and Human Development at Montana State University. She also currently serves as the Executive Director of The Compassion Project in Bozeman, MT, a project designed to teach kids and adults about compassion through education and art. Kayte earned her Master’s from Ball State University in Counseling Psychology and holds an bachelor’s degree in French from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Kayte served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the People’s Republic of China from 2007-2009 where she taught medical and spoken English to freshmen nursing students at a medical college in Northwestern China. Kayte has also worked as the Assistant Dean for the Semester at Sea program, sailing around the world with 550 undergraduates in the spring of 2016. She has worked in academic affairs and student affairs at several universities and finds enjoyment in working with students of all kinds, but especially working with student discipline and having intentional conversations to help get students back on track to success while in college. Her recent dissertation research focused on investigating possible bias within discipline systems and the rates in which certain groups of students were suspended for conduct reasons. In her time outside work, Kayte loves hiking the mountains of Montana, reading, listening to live music, and singing with the Bozeman Symphony.

Originally from Denver, Sarah left the suburbs for the rugged mountains of Missoula, Montana in 2011. After receiving a BA in English-Creative Writing with a minor in Nonprofit Administration from the University of Montana, she worked on a million dollar capital campaign at Missoula Children’s Theatre/Missoula Community Theatre before launching into an AmeriCorps year at the Women’s Foundation of Montana. There, her work advocating for equitable workplaces and equal pay at the state level inspired her to leave the art education world behind for more advocacy-related pursuits. Currently, she is the Development Coordinator at Forward Montana, where she has the best job, helping people send resources to the issues that they care about.

She has also consistently volunteered at one place or another for as long as she can remember because of a commitment to community resiliency and volunteerism. She has coached Special Olympics, decorated cardboard sea creatures for the Zootown Arts Community Center, and served on the Missoula Gives steering committee. These days, she looks forward to her weekly volunteer shift at the Missoula Food Bank. When she’s not raising funds or donating time, she enjoys being outdoors and exploring her endless creative hobbies, such as cake decorating, writing poetry, and watercolor painting.

Alex Clark was born and raised in Montana. Alex earned a B.A. from the University in Montana with honors and majors in History and Philosophy and a minor in Latin American Studies. Upon graduation, Alex served two terms as a Justice for Montanans AmeriCorps Member with Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA). During this time, Alex coordinated the firm’s statewide DIY bankruptcy program and, later, the Western Montana Bar Association Pro Bono Program. Alex was instrumental in the development of a free legal advice clinic hosted and staffed by faculty and staff at the Alexander Blewett III School of Law.

Alex continues his work at MLSA as the Community Outreach Assistant, coordinating the firm’s statewide outreach and various projects to develop legally-empowering technologies. Alex has experience in project management, technology development, website content management, document automation, and collaborative community partnerships.

Outside of his work at MLSA, Alex has been involved in political campaigns and community organizing. In 2012, Alex interned with the Montana Democratic Party, helping to elect Governor Steve Bullock. Hearing the call once again to campaign for people-oriented politicians, Alex volunteered with the Jon Tester campaign in his successful re-election to the U.S. Senate. In between, Alex has worked as a Corps Member of Reinvest Montana, a student-led fossil fuel divestment campaign at the University of Montana. Apart from working with inspiring youth movers and shakers, one of Alex’s greatest joys at Reinvest was coordinating “Snowpeople Action,” in which a dozen students delivered handwritten notes to the UM Foundation demanding fossil fuel divestment in support of the dozens of “snowpeople” picketing for divestment outside of the foundation’s office.

Alex is thrilled to join the New Leaders Council and learn and collaborate with his peers, and sharpen his skills to help him continue to advance the American promise of justice for all and the American dream of a more perfect union.

Andrew was born and raised in Rhode Island, and graduated from the University of Rhode Island’s International Engineering Program with degrees in Ocean Engineering and Spanish. As part of his degree, Andrew spent a year living in Spain attending university for a semester and then completing a five-month internship with a renewable energy firm. His internship focused on conducting research and development on wind turbine blade design. Andrew’s Senior Design Project at URI was the siting and design of a utility scale offshore wind farm in Rhode Island coastal waters. He graduated in 2010, and in the spring of 2011 he moved to Montana as part of the EnergyCorps AmeriCorps program. He completed two service terms, the first in Butte with the National Center for Appropriate Technology conducting energy efficiency and renewable energy outreach programs, and the second in Missoula helping the City produce its Conservation and Climate Action Plan. Prior to joining MREA, Andrew worked as Operations Manager for Climate Ride, a Montana based nonprofit that organizes charitable cycling and hiking events. In 2016, Andrew became executive director of the Montana Renewable Energy Association. MREA is a non-profit, statewide advocacy group whose mission is to expand the use of renewable energy throughout Montana, affect public policy in favor of renewable energy, and educate and inform the residents of Montana of the benefits and uses of renewable energy. Andrew lives in Missoula, where he enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, rock climbing, and snowboarding.

Anna Howard has come full circle in her training, traveling the Pacific-Northwest and returning to her hometown of Billings, Montana to serve as a lead oncology pharmacist. After completing her Bachelor’s in Chemistry and Doctorate of Pharmacy in Missoula, MT, she left Montana to pursue residency training in clinical pharmacy in Portland, Oregon and oncology pharmacy in Boise, Idaho. She dreamed of using her education and caring nature to make a difference in her hometown, one patient—one person—at a time. In residency, she found fulfillment in caring for cancer patients, which challenges her intellectually as a complex series of diseases but also allows her to connect with and support patients in their greatest time of need. Now, as an active member of a growing cancer services team, she sees the impact seemingly small changes in health care policy can have on the most vulnerable patients. She is passionate about awareness of and access to affordable healthcare for her patients. Anna hopes to create positive change in her organization and community and to impart her enthusiasm for patient care on the next generation of pharmacists. She currently serves on several committees in her organization as well as in national pharmacy organizations. She also precepts students and residents in her specialty area locally. In her free time, Anna loves to spend time enjoying the beautiful outdoors Montana has to offer hiking, snowshoeing, and rock climbing.

Chiachi Hwang was born in Taiwan, but spent most of her childhood in Saudi Arabia. Because of her upbringing, she has always been fascinated with various cultures around the world. After graduating high school from Switzerland, she went to Ohio Wesleyan University and completed a BA in biology as well as a minor in sociology-anthropology. Following her interest in learning how microbes can be used to clean up environmental pollutions, Chiachi decided to pursue a Ph.D. in microbiology at Miami University of Ohio. Her dissertation investigated the relationship between environmental conditions and microbial activities that facilitate the clean-up of contaminated groundwater from a legacy waste site. She then went to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to work on projects that analyzed how different water treatment processes affected microbial regrowth in drinking water distribution networks.

Chiachi now works at Montana State University's Center for Biofilm Engineering as a research scientist with a particular focus in working with industry partners. Her projects aim to understand microbial activities that either enhance, inhibit, or exist as a bottleneck to industrial processes. The industry sectors Chiachi has worked with include water utility, mining, oil, paint, hygiene and skin care, and oral care. Her goal is to better characterize the ecology of microorganisms in these settings in order to help industries improve process control, product quality, and cost or risk assessment strategies. In addition to conducting research in the lab, Chiachi has also taught university courses “Microbes and Human Diseases” and “Applied Environmental Microbiology,” as well as microbiology laboratory courses and workshops. She is currently involved with the organization, 500 Women Scientists Bozeman Pod, in the hope to generate scientific interest in the local community. Chiachi has also recently discovered a love for photography. This new hobby has stretched her perspectives beyond her academic training and she hopes to further explore photography as a medium for storytelling alongside her research.

Dan Cohn believes ordinary people can build extraordinary power to win the change we need in this country and across the world. Dan was born and raised in New York state and earned a degree in Anthropology from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. He has been involved in community organizing, electoral politics, and nonviolent direct action strategies for social justice for nine years.

Dan's current position is with the Western Organization of Resource Councils, a network of rural-based organizations building grassroots power across seven western states as a Regional Organizer. Organizers in the WORC network bring people together to make a change to local, state, and federal policy that affects their communities across an array of issues, including agriculture and food production, mineral development, public finance, housing affordability, and voting rights. Dan’s work primarily supports advocacy and organizing work in the Powder River Basin around coal mining, leasing, transportation, and export. Dan is responsible for corporate, financial, legal, and technical research and writing that inform and support strategy.

When he’s not in the office or on the road, you can find him appreciating life on the flanks of mountains or from the comfort of a friend’s living room. Dan lives with his partner, Emma, in Billings, Montana.

Danielle was born in Idaho, but grew up on the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation in north-central Montana. Danielle Vazquez is Mexican American, as well as an enrolled member of the Chippewa-Cree Tribe. Danielle has degree in Social Work from the University of Montana. Before attending the University of Montana, Danielle attended Stone Child College, where she obtained her Associate’s Degree in Rural Behavioral Health. While at Stone Child, Danielle worked on HIV/AIDs awareness and education and suicide prevention. While progressing through her social work degree at the University of Montana, Danielle’s interests turned to policy, specifically criminal justice reform. As a part of her social work practicum, Danielle worked on research projects regarding the disproportionate rates of American Indians being incarcerated and cultural programming that can be used to address this problem. Danielle also worked on projects aimed at bringing awareness to the missing and murdered indigenous women crisis. After graduating from UM, Danielle began her professional career working with the ACLU of Montana, starting in the legal department as an interim paralegal and intake coordinator, and later as office manager. Danielle is currently a community organizer with Montana Women Vote, working to mobilize and educate low-income women to participate in the democratic process. In the future, Danielle is planning on attending law school, focusing on federal Indian law and immigration law. In her free time, Danielle enjoys traveling, watching Wes Anderson films, and laughing at memes.

Erin Tate was born in Detroit, MI. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in English from Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas. She went on to earn a Master's Degree, also in English, from Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS before relocating to Boston, MA. While in Boston, Erin completed a second Master's Degree in Social Work from Simmons College.

Erin has had the opportunity to work in residential services with teenagers, home based treatment with adults with disabilities, LGBT organizing for older adults, day programming for adults with mental health conditions, and crisis intervention services. In 2014, Erin began providing in-school services for students with social and emotional disabilities. This is also when she discovered her love and passion for Special Education.

Currently, Erin is a school-based Social Worker for the Billings Public School District. She serves middle school students and families in several schools, loves what she does, and hopes for a long and productive career with the school district.

In her spare time, Erin enjoys being outdoors, camping and hiking. She is an avid board gamer and is getting connected with volunteer organizations in Billings. Although she hasn't chosen a specific issue to work on, Erin is passionate about student suicide rates and LGBT issues in the community.

Haley Smith was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in Billings, Montana. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor's degree in political science with a concentration in international relations and a minor in Hispanic studies at Montana State University in Bozeman. She is set to graduate in May of 2019. Haley first became active in politics during the 2016 election when she worked collecting signatures for an initiative for trap-free public lands in Montana. Shortly after, Haley began an internship with the Bozeman chapter of the Montana Conservation Voters. As head intern, Haley spent her year-long internship phone banking, signature collecting, event planning and hosting, letter writing, and educating. The Montana Conservation Voters sent her to Washington, DC in May of 2018 for a leadership training and to lobby the Capitol. While there, she had the opportunity to work with Montana's top political leaders. Haley enjoys volunteering with local nonprofit organizations and political organizations and campaigns.

Her main political passion is environmental, and she has specific interests in food, water, and climate policy. Haley is currently a full time student, a member of the Spirit of the West Marching Band, and a group fitness instructor. When she is not studying or rehearsing, you can find her choreographing and memorizing routines for her Zumba and STRONG classes, practicing the clarinet, or hiking the beautiful mountains of Montana. As well, Haley completed her first 10k race in 2017 and Spartan Sprint in 2018, and is currently training for another Spartan race in 2019. She hopes to continue pursuing education in health and fitness and eventually pursue a Master's of public or business administration. She will continue her political activism and is interested in working in the nonprofit sector.

Jordan Sweeney was born and raised in Anaconda, Montana. Jordan has spent the last few years exploring southwestern Montana living in Bozeman, Philipsburg, Helena and Butte.

She resided in Butte for three years where she worked as a legal assistant at a private law firm and as customer service representative for Clinique.

After working for many years in customer service, Jordan knew she wanted to work with people, whether it was helping them navigate the consumer industry or the justice system.

Wanting to expand her skill set and learn more about the Montana indigent legal system, Jordan began working for The State of Montana Public Defender’s Office in Missoula as a legal assistant.

Today, Jordan lives in Missoula and works in her area of passion, at the Public Defender’s office. She is always looking for new ways to connect with her community and the help inspire other young Montanans to do the same. In Missoula, Jordan volunteered for the Jon Tester campaign, and supports social causes with similar social missions.

Currently, Jordan is finishing her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and looks forward using her achievements and experience to impact change in Montana.

She enjoys meeting new people, traveling, exploring new foods and recipes, and taking long walks with her favorite furry companion, Missy the 'Misdemeanor'.

Kya Sorli was raised in the ranching community of Red Lodge, Montana near the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park. She realized early her love of space, along with her passions for policy, technology, and media. Kya’s commitment to excellence in the pursuit of these passions resulted in several prestigious awards, including being named Montana’s 2014 Presidential Scholar by the Obama Administration and a Robertson Leadership Scholarship at Duke University. As an accomplished astrophysicist, planetary defense researcher, and campaign fellow, she is acutely aware of the divide between science, policy and media—a divide she hopes to bridge.

As a recipient of one of the most prestigious undergraduate scholarships in the United States, Kya’s selection as a Robertson Scholar was based on her ability to become a transformational future leader. While at Duke, Kya studied physics, computer science, astronomy, Chinese, and creative writing; performed research; and graduated Magna Cum Laude with honors and high distinction. In addition to academics, Kya was active in a cappella and served as photography editor for RIVAL magazine.

Currently, Kya is actively involved with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Planetary Defense Group, researching mission data and computational modeling to develop methods for identification and mitigation of potential mass extinction events. This research, along with her previous work in astrobiology and comet science in Hawaii, has been published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at national conferences and fostered hands-on experience in policy and academia.

Recently, Kya was selected as a Campaign Fellow for the Montana Democratic Party. As one of the Tester Campaign’s most effective state volunteers, Kya was placed in charge of Stillwater County’s crucial get-out-the-vote effort. Additionally, Kya has extensive nonprofit sector experience, including work for the Appalachian nonprofit Appalshop and WMMT Radio, functioning as radio host, social media director, producer and external engagement officer.

Outside work, Kya enjoys learning languages, exploring the Montana outdoors, and working on her first novel. She plans to pursue her Ph.D. in Astrophysical Sciences at the University of Colorado–Boulder and work to enhance humanity’s understanding of our place in the universe. Most of all she seeks to combine her varied skill set to bridge the gaps between science, media and policy. In an age of division and miscommunication, leaders who can speak the disparate “languages” of all three areas and synthesize creative solutions are sorely needed. Kya hopes to fill that leadership void.
 

Lauren was born and raised hiking and halibut fishing in south-central Alaska. She graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2014 with her BA in Languages. Since then, she has worked abroad primarily in Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Ecuador. She currently works as an instructor of Spanish in the Modern Languages Department at Montana State University. Aside from her love of language, she is also an active member of the Gallatin Valley Friends of Cuba which works to normalize Cuba-U.S. relations, educate about the realities of Cuba, and promote open travel between the two countries by minimizing legal restrictions, namely the U.S.-established trade embargo. She has both attended and led delegations to Cuba focused on Women’s Health and Human Rights, Sustainability, and Community Development.

Additionally, Lauren strives to champion global feminism through grass roots movements. She is a fierce advocate for human rights and serves as a co-leader of Bozeman for CEDAW, a local campaign working to promote comprehensive gender equity in the community. Most recently, she worked as an organizer for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana during the 2018 midterm election on an initiative to protect Medicaid coverage for nearly 100,000 Montanans. In the hopes of combining her passions for advocacy and language, Lauren aspires to continue to develop as a leader and advocate for sexual health education and reproductive justice in the Americas.

Mj Desrosier was born on the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Montana. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After a change of heart, he dedicated his life to peaceful endeavors, and received an honorable discharge in 2013. Utilizing his GI Bill, he entered the University of Montana studying Philosophy and Environmental studies. Realizing he needed to serve a larger purpose, Mj began working for Montana Public Interest Research Group (MontPIRG), learning grassroots organizing and environmental activism. He quickly rose through the ranks and became the treasurer. His most memorable campaigns were to help save the Smith River from extractive industries, as well as saving the Upper-Missouri River Breaks from being sold to private interests. After Graduating from U of M he became a certified hypnotherapist and certified street medic to serve and alleviate the stresses of non-violent direct action camps. Mj currently works for Riparian/Native Teaching Aids doing ecological research to make board games that are distributed to National Parks, as well as creating indigenous-centered games that help decolonize our understanding of history, stereotypes, culture, etc. Mj eventually wants to do small-scale organic agriculture on his home reservation to address food sovereignty issues.

Born and raised in Missoula, Michael Nelson graduated from the University of Montana with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, a Minor in International Development Studies, and was a graduate of the Global leadership Initiative. In college he developed his passions for youth organizing and interdisciplinary problem solving. During the budget crisis at UM, Michael was central in organizing student efforts to protest budget cuts to the Humanities. Michael was a field canvasser for Montana Conservation Voters where he personally knocked hundreds of doors to advocate against Legislative Referendum 126 that would have eliminated same-day voter registration in Montana. Currently, Michael is Field Manager for Forward Montana in Billings. He advocates for higher education funding, affordable housing solutions, and accessible elections. Additionally, he develops young leaders through field and classroom training, and oversees get -out-the-vote programs that reach thousands of voters every election cycle.

During his tenure as Billings Field Manager, Michael tripled the amount of active volunteers, exceeded numeric goals for get-out-the-vote efforts, and registered over 1,200 voters in Yellowstone County.

Michael believes deeply in the power of young people changing our communities through civic participation, and has spent the majority of his professional life cultivating space for young leaders to explore careers in community organizing. While not at work, Michael hikes in Montana’s pristine public lands, gardens, plays Dungeons and Dragons, and travels to new places across the globe.

Michael Wainwright was born in Irvine, CA, and currently resides in Bozeman, MT, where he has lived since 2007. Michael serves as Development Director for Montana State University’s Montana Shakespeare in the Parks program, which provides free performances of Shakespeare and other classics to rural communities throughout Montana and surrounding states. In this role, he oversees all aspects of philanthropy and fundraising, including corporate partnerships, individual giving, grants and estate gifts.

Prior to joining Montana Shakespeare in the Parks’ staff, Michael served as Annual Giving and Foundations Manager at American Prairie Reserve, a Bozeman-based conservation nonprofit creating the largest wildlife reserve in the lower 48 states. Michael is active in several civic organizations, and served two terms on Intermountain Opera’s Board of Directors before transitioning to the Opera’s Advisory Board after “terming out” in 2018. Michael’s passions include the performing arts, conservation, writing, and photography.

Stephan Cardella is a politically-active businessman from Missoula. He is passionate about progressive health care issues and battling addiction within our great state. Stephan has volunteered within his community and in Iowa for our most recent presidential election.

Currently, Stephan works for the Montana Medical Marijuana Program to facilitate change and advocate for patient-friendly policy within the program. He is currently working on his own not-for-profit to help bring affordable access and information to Montanans interested in alternative medicinal sources. He hopes to bring his perspective and leadership to combat the opiate crisis and the consistent problem of alcoholism destroying the lives on Montanans by shaping policy and being tenacious in this fight.

Throughout his professional and personal life, he has held many leadership positions and his diverse work background and experience help him maintain a well-rounded perspective in his pursuits. He has travelled around the United States to gain a better understanding of our nation and the people living within it.

As a young professional residing in the Missoula area, he is passionate about connecting with his community and having conversations to gain a better grasp of the diverse political climate in Montana. Aside from his professional and political interests, Stephan is an avid dog lover and enjoys hiking, kayaking, cooking, and competitive sports.