Meet the Speakers
Meet the Speakers
Danielle Allen
Director of Harvard University's Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics
Professor Danielle Allen is a political theorist who has published broadly in democratic theory, political sociology, and the history of political thought. She is a professor at Harvard University and Director of Harvard's Edmond Safra Center for Ethics, a former Chair of the Mellon Foundation Board, past Chair of the Pulitzer Prize Board, and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society.
Maggie Toulouse Oliver
Secretary of State (New Mexico)
Secretary Maggie Toulouse Oliver is New Mexico’s 26th Secretary of State. She has served the people of New Mexico in this role since first being elected in 2016. She was first appointed to public office in 2007 when she became County Clerk in New Mexico’s largest county, Bernalillo County. Elected to her first full term in 2008, Secretary Toulouse Oliver served 2 1/2 terms as County Clerk. Overseeing elections in the state’s largest county gave Secretary Toulouse Oliver detailed, on-the-ground expertise in election administration that has helped to guide her current work overseeing elections statewide.
Amber McReynolds
United States Postal Service Board of Governors
Amber McReynolds was appointed to the Postal Service Board of Governors by President Biden and was confirmed by the Senate on May 13, 2021. McReynolds is a leading expert on election administration and policy. Her professional career has been focused on strengthening democratic institutions with the goal of improving the voting experience for all. She is the Founding CEO of the National Vote at Home Institute, a non-partisan non-profit dedicated to expanding and improving vote-by-mail systems in all fifty states.
Leigh Chapman
Acting Secretary of State (Pennsylvania)
Acting Secretary Leigh Chapman was appointed as the Acting Secretary of State of Pennsylvania on January 8, 2022. Previously, Chapman served as executive director of Deliver My Vote. She also held senior leadership positions at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and other non-partisan, non-profit election reform and advocacy organizations. From 2015 to 2017, Chapman served as policy director at the PA Department of State, advancing key agenda items including the implementation of electronic voter registration.
Sheila Krumholz
Executive Director of Open Secrets
Sheila Krumholz is OpenSecrets' chief administrator, the liaison to its board and major funders, and its primary spokesperson. Sheila became executive director in 2006, having spent eight years as OpenSecrets' research director, supervising data analysis for OpenSecrets.org and OpenSecrets' clients. She first joined the organization in 1989 as assistant editor of the very first edition of Open Secrets, OpenSecrets' flagship publication.
Chisun Lee
Director of Elections & Government at the Brennan Center
Chisun Lee directs the Elections and Government Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan law and policy institute that strives to uphold and improve the systems of democracy and justice to work for all. Lee oversees work to advance money-in-politics reform and improve election administration. She leads strategy and research for policy initiatives, legislative campaigns, publications, litigation, and public advocacy.
Ann Ravel
Former Chair of the Federal Election Commission
Ann Ravel was nominated to the Federal Election Commission by President Obama on June 21, 2013 and joined the Commission on October 25, 2013. She served as Chair of the Commission for 2015 and Vice-Chair for 2014 before leaving in 2017. Previously, Ms. Ravel served as Chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Torts and Consumer Litigation in the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice, the Santa Clara County Counsel from 1998 until 2009, a Governor on the Board of Governors of the State Bar of California, a member of the Judicial Council of the State of California, and Chair of the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation.
Onida Coward Mayers
MiRam Group Vice President
Onida Coward Mayers is Vice President of the MiRam group, the former Director for New York City’s Voter Assistance at the Campaign Finance Board, and an award-winning communications executive. For the past 10+ years, Ms. Coward Mayers directed strategic voter outreach, policy, and vision planning for one of the largest voting populations in the United States. In her capacity at the CFB, Ms. Coward Mayers led the launch of the nonpartisan NYC Votes Program aimed at increasing voter awareness, education, and participation. In 2013, she led New York City to place second in the United States for the highest number of people registered in a single day. Ms. Coward Mayers is also an Adjunct Professor of Public Speaking for the City University of New York.
Sarah Blahovec
Voting and Civic Engagement Director, National Council on Independent Living
Sarah Blahovec is a disability rights advocate and activist. She currently works as the Voting and Civic Engagement Director for the National Council on Independent Living, where she advocates for greater accessibility in elections; educates the disability community on voting rights, and works to energize a disability voting bloc; and addresses barriers to running for office for people with disabilities. Sarah is the creator of Elevate: Campaign Training or People with Disabilities, the first national run for office training program for people with disabilities.
Molly Fitzpatrick
Boulder County Clerk & Recorder (Colorado)
Molly Fitzpatrick was elected as Boulder County Clerk and Recorder in 2018. As Boulder County Clerk and Recorder, Molly oversees three divisions including elections, motor vehicle, and recording. Since taking office, Molly has overseen five elections. As Clerk, Molly has prioritized the advancement of processes designed to enhance integrity, accuracy, accessibility, and security in the elections process and has worked to demonstrate these values to the public. Before being elected County Clerk, Molly was the Organizing Director with New Era Colorado, where she managed statewide programs to register thousands of young voters in Colorado, helped voters navigate our elections process, and supported the policies and administrative reforms to make democracy more accessible.
Michelle Whittaker
Messaging and Campaign Strategist
Michelle Whittaker has over 15 years of experience in communications, advocacy outreach, and grassroots mobilization. She is the principal at MCW Creative, a boutique strategic consulting firm for nonprofits and political campaigns. She is the statewide coordinator for Ranked Choice Voting Maryland. Her expertise is in strategy development, storytelling, constituency engagement, organizing, and media outreach. Michelle is a seasoned campaign manager and financial administrator, running successful fundraising, outreach, and election programs for local races in Montgomery County, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
Teresa Mosqueda
Seattle City Councilmember
Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda was elected in November 2017 to serve the over 725,000 residents in Seattle as the citywide Councilmember in Position 8 for a four-year term. Mosqueda's top priority on City Council is promoting healthy communities, lifting-up working families, and creating more affordable housing for all residents through the city.