Welcome to the Class of 2025! We have selected outstanding fellows from across Washington with a rich collection of backgrounds and experiences.
Andrew Hanna is the chief of staff for a space program at The Boeing Company, as well as a Non-Resident Scholar with the Middle East Institute. Prior to that, he served as a staffer on the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Andrew previously worked as an analyst at the United States Institute of Peace and a journalist at Politico. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University and a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. Andrew has completed fellowships with National Security Action, the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, and the Berlin Capital Program (Fulbright Commission). He currently lives in Seattle, Washington.
Armand is an emerging mobility policy expert and electrical engineer from Redmond, WA. Armand has spent his entire career working in public service, starting as an undergraduate engineering intern at Seattle City Light and now currently leading autonomous vehicle policy and transportation electrification efforts at the Seattle Department of Transportation. His career highlights include managing the Waterfront Seattle street lighting and 5G secondary voltage conversion to launching Washington State’s first autonomous vehicle testing permit program. Born and raised in the Puget Sound, Armand is a double alum of Seattle University, having graduated with a BSEE (’17) and MPA (’21). In his personal time, Armand enjoys traveling, skiing, riding bikes, motorcycle touring, and getting out as much as possible on his folding kayak.
Bennett Massey-Helber is a Field Representative and Negotiator for the Public School Employees of Washington, a labor union representing 30,000 Classified Staff in Washington’s public schools including Paraeducators, Bus Drivers, Custodians, and many others. In this role, he’s served as a lead negotiator for several multi-million dollar Collective Bargaining Agreements concerning a wide range of issues from pay increases, healthcare benefits, leaves, and several other labor issues. In addition, he’s represented dozens of employees in disciplinary/termination investigations, wage theft issues, and workplace accommodations. Outside of work, Bennett is an active member of his community, serving on a number of local and state political committees and as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Friendship House and Secretary for the Mount Vernon Parks Foundation.
Brandon Michael Rountree (He/They) is a Fiscal Note Analyst for the Local Government Fiscal Note Program at the Washington State Department of Commerce. In this role, they analyze and report on the potential fiscal impact of healthcare, hospital, and public health legislation on local governments and special districts. Outside of legislative sessions, Brandon has served as a campaign field organizer for Senator Sharon Shewmake, the Washington State Democrats, and the Whatcom County Democrats. They also managed a successful county council campaign for Whatcom Council Member Jonathon Scanlon. A native of Renton, WA, and Kent, WA, Brandon graduated from Western Washington University in 2021 with a degree in political science. He now resides in Bellingham, WA with his fiancé and cat. Brandon’s personal interests include exploring Washington state parks, playing rummy cards with his fiancé, and running Dungeons & Dragons campaigns for his friends.
Chelsea (she/her) is from the island of Guam and spent her early years traveling between Guam and the Philippines before eventually settling in Washington State. Growing up in a multicultural community, Chelsea developed a deep passion for public service, equity, and advocacy. Her engagement began in high school as a Youth Council member for the City of Lakewood and continued in college, where she served as an All-Campus Senator in student government. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Global Politics from Washington State University. Chelsea has since worked in various roles as a Legislative Intern for the Washington State Senate, Field Organizer for the Washington State Democratic Party, Government Affairs & Policy Coordinator for WSMA, and Campaign Fellow for Emily Randall Campaign for Congress, where she honed her skills in legislative tracking, stakeholder, engagement, and community organizing. Chelsea is committed to bridging the gap between government institutions and underrepresented communities, fostering transparency, and building trust. Bilingual in English and Tagalog, she brings a multicultural perspective to her work and is dedicated to addressing misinformation and fostering clarity.
Cynthia Tamayo is a committed advocate for her community, currently working as the Chief of Operations and Policy at the Commission on Hispanic Affairs. She was born and raised in Skagit Valley and moved to Lacey, where she earned her BA in psychology, along with a minor in sociology and cultural anthropology from Saint Martin’s University. Motivated by her personal experiences and the ongoing challenges within underserved communities she chose to change her career path and pursued a Master’s in Public Administration with an emphasis in government and policy. Cynthia serves on the CIELO board, the only Latino-serving organization in Thurston County and the Washington State Leadership board. She firmly believes that community engagement and effective policy are essential for fostering true inclusivity. Her enthusiasm for acquiring new skills and knowledge fuels her commitment to driving meaningful change. In her free, she loves to hike with her two dogs, dive into a good book, and cherish moments with her family.
Born and raised in Tacoma, Devin Noel-Endres is a passionate policy researcher committed to improving the health, well-being, and development of people across different communities. He serves as the Regional Research Director at Inclusive Data where he uses Participatory Action Research (PAR) to empower underserved communities in creating their own solutions to local challenges. As Co-Founder and Director of Research and Innovation at Noel-Endres Public Affairs, he provides research consultation to organizations through a racial equity lens. He holds a master’s degree in Research Psychology from Seattle Pacific University. Devin loves to try new experiences and learn about other cultures through travel. He previously served as the lead researcher for youth homelessness at DSHS and as a research analyst at OSPI.
Diana is the Director of Programs for the Southwest Washington Equity Coalition (SWEC) in Vancouver, WA, where she leads initiatives centered on coalition and power building. She is the co-owner and managing partner of Betancourt Torres & Associates and serves as the Director of Operations for La Casita Art Gallery, where she works to create opportunities to amplify Latine and BIPOC artists. As an undocumented lesbian Latina, Diana’s personal experiences fuel her passion for supporting undocumented and mixed-status families. She founded the Betancourt Foundation to mentor and empower students on their path to higher education. Diana holds a BA in Political Science and a Master’s in Education from the University of Washington. She’s a poet, community organizer, and proud dog mom to her Aussie Doodle.
Emily Miller is passionate about civics education and currently works for the King County Bar Association (KCBA) where she plans legal educational events for attorneys. Prior to KCBA, she served as the state-wide Program Director for Washington YMCA Youth and Government hosting competitive high school Mock Trial and Youth Legislature. Emily has also served the last two years as the Vice Chair for the 43rd Legislative District Democrats. In her free time, you can find her walking her dog around Wallingford or reading for her two book clubs.
Emma Dorazio works on regional transportation, health, and environment projects at community engagement firm based in Seattle, WA. Her passion for connecting government agencies and jurisdictions to the people their work impacts is rooted in her background in Public Health, which she studied at the University of Washington. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Emma enjoys bicycling around Washington, cooking for friends, and making textile art. Driven by her passion for harm reduction and her commitment to community, Emma is also a volunteer with the Downtown Emergency Services Center, where she has worn many hats, from public health researcher to photography group co-lead.
Fatema is an artist, activist, and policy analyst, living and working in Seattle. She is the volunteer Director of Operations at the start-up non-profit Revolutionary Grains, and is also working with OneAmerica to help push for legislation to create better outcomes for immigrants in Washington State. She is passionate about living her values, and wants to do everything within her power to help create a society where everyone can thrive. For her day job, she currently works as a Software Engineer at Apple.
Gabriel Garcia is the narrative and communications strategist for Rural People’s Voice, a grassroots political organizing non-profit based in North Central Washington. Garcia aims to take what he learns from WAIDF to create new communication strategies to help candidates and policies endorsed by Rural People’s Voice win/pass local elections. Born and raised in Wenatchee, Washington to a Mexican-immigrant family, Garcia has a bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communication and Public Relations from Washington State University. Garcia is an award-winning journalist, having previously spent two years with Wenatchee World covering Hispanic communities, business, agriculture, Indigenous topics, religion, education, city government, and more.
Gabriel Neuman (he/him) is GSBA’s Policy Counsel & Government Relations Manager. He collaborates with GSBA members and state and local leadership to understand community needs and transform those perspectives into advocacy. He also helps entrepreneurs through legal consulting. Gabriel takes pride working in coalition with advocates across the state to support and uplift Washington’s LGBTQ+ community. Outside of work Gabriel enjoys crocheting, gardening, reading sci-fi, and live music.
Education equality advocate, T1D warrior, first-generation Eritrean-American, public health professional, and Miss Washington 2024, Hermona Girmay is committed to catalyzing social change. A proud University of Washington alumna, she earned her BA in Public Health-Global Health and completed a Minor in Bioethics. Her plans for graduate school are set on a dual degree program, as she will complete a Master of Public Health and a Master of Public Policy. As Miss Washington, she proudly represents the state as a titleholder in the Miss America Opportunity, and furthers her advocacy internationally through her Community Service Initiative, “SHECAN: Support Her Education, Change A Nation”. A born and raised Washingtonian, Hermona resides in Edmonds and can be found learning Ge’ez – the ancestor of her native languages, preparing for her next big musical theatre callback, or spending quality family time with her many cousins.
Josh is a political communications professional currently working as a Communications Coordinator in the Office of the Mayor at the City of Kent. He has worked as a campaign manager and consultant for several municipal and legislative democratic campaigns. His strengths include writing, design and organizing. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from WSU Pullman in 2020, and served as Vice President of the Young Democrats chapter at the university. Josh is passionate about civil rights, social reform and supporting progressive policy and candidates up and down the ticket. Outside of work, he enjoys going out with friends to enjoy nature or live music, reading, gaming and listening to podcasts.
Kaden was born and raised in Enumclaw, WA. In high school, he became involved in community organizing and student government. While earning his BA in Political Science and International Affairs from Pacific Lutheran University, he engaged in local politics by serving as the campaign manager for City Councilmember Kristina Walker. Bitten by the campaign bug, he managed the campaigns for Pierce County Councilmember Jani Hitchen and Rosie Ayala for a short time. He then accepted a full-time position as the Director of Campaign Services at Argo Strategies, a leading Democratic political consulting firm. In addition to his professional roles, Kaden is the youngest and first openly gay member of the Enumclaw Parks Board. He passionately advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, labor rights, and environmental policy.
Kari Bull works to create conditions for positive health and social outcomes for her community by bringing ranked-choice voting to Washington. Kari’s conviction for political action is inherent, but her drive for a more equitable democracy has been cultivated through years of political and legislative campaigns that have spanned the U.S. Senate to the Minneapolis City Council. Her skills have been honed working with the many generous communities across Washington for the past five years. True to her Midwestern roots, Kari builds community in every space she finds herself. She currently lives in North Seattle with her husband and dog, and serves as a Precinct Committee Officer for her legislative district party. Kari is proud graduate of the University of Minnesota.
Kele Isibor is the office manager for the Washington State Democrats. She previously worked for progressive leader and current State Democratic Party Chair Shasti Conrad. Kele is a first-generation American from Nigeria who grew up in Houston, Texas. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Texas State University and a Master’s of Science in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon’s Heinz College. As a graduate student, Kele worked on projects addressing racial disparities in key quality-of-life indicators. She is passionate about racial equity, economic justice, and behavioral health policies. Kele lives in Seattle and enjoys reading African literature, knitting, and journaling.
Landon Labosky believes governance is not a spectator sport; we need to be involved in the process of creating policy in all levels and forms of government. Landon comes into this space with a passion for positive change and a deep desire to show our community that the government can work effectively to solve issues we see in our everyday lives. While studying for his Masters in Public Administration – State and Local Policy degree, he saw a lack of involvement from the community in the decisions that impact people the most and wanted to be a part of changing that dynamic. Landon believes Washington State and the people that inhabit it can solve huge issues facing our community and can lead by example in our country on what it looks like when all people have an opportunity to flourish.
Logan Noel-Endres is a strategic advocate with a vision for equitable policy solutions driven by civically-engaged communities. As Director of Advocacy and Policy at BrightSpark Early Learning Services, he leads organizing, mobilizing, and advocacy work focused on child care affordability and living wages for educators. Additionally, he serves as Co-Founder and Strategy Director at Noel-Endres Public Affairs, where he advises clients on advocacy and empowering youth voices. Logan holds an MPA from American University and has a deep love for traveling around the world, coffee, and music. His career includes roles with the Washington State School Directors’ Association, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and U.S. Senator Patty Murray’s office. He currently lives in Tacoma and serves as Board Secretary for Palmer Scholars.
Maharshi (Maha) Roy is a human rights advocate and public leader who turns pain into purpose. Surviving political violence and displacement, Maha’s life reflects the struggles of persecuted communities, caste injustices, and the complexities of South Asian and Middle Eastern politics. Appointed by Dow Constantine to the King County Immigrant and Refugee Commission, Maha amplifies immigrant voices and advocates for justice over war. They have led impactful dialogues at the United Nations and with Nobel laureates, pushing for peace, dignity, and accountability. Whether advancing critical policies or championing women’s healthcare and LGBTQ+ rights, Maha works to rebuild systems that uplift the vulnerable. Looking to the future, they envisions a world where justice, equity, and dignity prevail for all those silenced and oppressed.
Marisa Nolte is a lifelong Washingtonian, raised in Woodinville and is building her career in public service. After graduating from the University of Portland in 2022 with a B.A. in Political Science and German Studies, Marisa returned to Washington ready to find a role in international relations. But after working at King County Elections for three elections in the voter services department, it sparked a passion for public service. This led her to become a session aide during the 2024 legislative session, which developed her interest in the state policy and local government. Most recently she worked as the campaign manager for a State Representative. Marisa loves diving into new policy areas, but in her spare time you can find her cooking, finding a new TV show to watch, or hanging out with her dog.
Matt lives in Green Lake and hopes to become a full-time math teacher once he completes his Master’s in Teaching in 2025. He currently works as a server at The Queen Anne Beerhall and substitute teaches at Billings Middle School. Matt’s excited to learn about issues across Washington state and share about his main passion area: combating climate change with a better built environment. He has taken on community projects outside of work, including becoming a commissioner for the Seattle Planning Commission and organizing street clean-ups for his adopted one mile stretch of Aurora Ave. In his free time, Matthew loves biking, playing basketball, and watching Jeopardy! with his roommates.
Nadia is an accomplished advocate in child welfare policy, passionate about engaging impacted communities and individuals in decision-making. With a love for community organizing and grassroots advocacy, Nadia has worked alongside the National Foster Youth Institute, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, and several Congressional offices to elevate lived experience and push for systemic change. She currently works as the Communications and Advocacy manager at the Legal Foundation of Washington, primarily leading the Equal Justice Coalition. Nadia grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and after struggling with her own experiences in the child welfare system, she joined AmeriCorps and relocated to Washington in 2018. She obtained her M.A. in Policy Studies from the University of Washington and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at National Louis University.
Naira (She/They/Ella) is a passionate organizer, writer, artist, and a first-generation immigrant. Naira worked in state government for two years and continues her legislative work advocating for support to survivors of sexual assault by participating in Senator Orwall’s Title IX Campus Sexual Assault Workgroup. Naira is currently employed at the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) and loves her job as it aligns with her values and gives her the flexibility to organize, empower, and create alongside fellow immigrants. When she’s not working you can find her in outside participating in recreational activities, painting, writing, listening to law podcasts or spending time with her family and friends.
Nichelle serves as the Associate Superintendent at Echo Glen Children’s Center in Snoqualmie, WA, and is an adjunct professor for the School of Social Work at Saint Martin’s University. With a strong commitment to advocacy and community service, Nichelle chairs the Legislative Action Committee for the National Association of Social Workers, where she has been an active member since 2017. She also contributes locally as a commissioner on the City of Federal Way’s Human Services Commission. A proud graduate of the University of Indianapolis (BSW) and Simmons University (MSW), Nichelle is also an alumna of the Community Leadership Institute through Puget Sound Sage. Her passions include sports—especially gymnastics, wrestling, and track and field—and she is deeply dedicated to empowering youth and giving back to her community through volunteering and mentorship.
Noal Alsharbini (she/her) currently serves as a Communications Specialist for the House Democratic Caucus in the Washington State House of Representatives. She previously worked for a statewide nonprofit association as the Policy and Communications Director and prior to that as a Legislative Assistant to State Representative Joe Fitzgibbon. Noal has experience working on six different political campaigns, rising the ranks from intern to field organizer, and campaign manager to regional field director over the years working to get democrats elected to various positions of power. She earned her B.A. with an emphasis in Psychology from The Evergreen State College. Noal has lived in Olympia since 2012 but grew up in Lakewood, WA. She is passionate about social and environmental justice, civic engagement, worker’s rights, voting rights, reproductive freedom, and person-centered therapy. In her free time, Noal enjoys taking way too many photos walking around town, laughing with loved ones, and roller skating.
Ry Armstrong (they/them) is an American, trans/non-binary artist and activist focused on pushing the overton window of our society toward an equitable and sustainable future. Born in Seattle, they ran for Seattle City Council as a progressive Democrat and democratic socialist hoping for radical policy changes in the face of a looming climate crisis. Today, their activist focus is on labor organizing as a SAG-AFTRA Delegate to MLK Labor and on the National Council of Actors’ Equity Association. Most recently, they were chosen among many leaders to be a 2024 Outstanding Voice award winner in the LGBTQ community by the Puget Sound Business Journal. Their artistic focus continues to be on creative projects dedicated to the pursuit of truth and breaking down the binary of the world around us.
Sage grew up on a small farm in Washington and first jumped into political work as an organizer in rural eastern Washington. He has worked on campaigns across the country over the last eight years, most recently managing Frontline Congresswoman Val Hoyle’s successful re-election campaign in Oregon, and has a Master’s of Public Policy focused on rural economic development from UC Berkeley. Sage is passionate about finding innovative ways to increase economic opportunity in rural communities throughout Washington state. Drawing on his understanding of how to lead successful teams and bring diverse groups together, he is committed to building bridges between state and federal lawmakers and the local leaders working on the ground to implement policies that strengthen social services, local infrastructure and our small businesses.
Sara Kate Develle, a Vancouver native, earned her BA in Public Administration from WSU Vancouver and her MPA from The Evergreen State College. She began her career in the Washington State Legislature, working there for a total of five sessions. Sara went on to manage campaigns, including the Home Fund for the City of Olympia and Tanisha Harris’s State Representative race, and consulted on democratic campaigns statewide with WinPower Strategies in 2020. She served as Executive Assistant to Thurston County Commissioner Carolina Mejia before joining Congresswoman Strickland’s team, where she currently serves a dual role as Political Director for the congresswoman’s re-election campaign and Senior Outreach Representative in her official office.
Tony Ivey serves as a senior manager specializing in political and voting rights advocacy for a statewide environmental organization. After earning his degree from Howard University, he relocated to the Pacific Northwest to enhance his public policy expertise and became actively engaged in local environmental justice and political causes. His career includes roles as a field organizer promoting environmental candidates and policies, as well as an Executive Legislative Assistant for House Speaker Laurie Jinkins. In his spare time, Tony enjoys weightlifting, exploring local parks, and volunteering with local Democratic and environmental organizations in Pierce County.
Yazmin Aguilar Carretero is a leader with over a decade of expertise in nonprofit management, public policy, and education advocacy. As a former undocumented immigrant, her 19-year journey has shaped her commitment to equity and community empowerment. As the founder of South Puget Sound Pathways Consulting, Yazmin advances equity for BIPOC communities through strategic partnerships and innovative solutions. At the Foundation for Tacoma Students, she oversaw a $1.2 million grant portfolio, leading collaborations addressing youth and education challenges. Now serving on the State Board of Education, Yazmin advocates for equitable education policies across Washington State. She holds dual master’s degrees in Education and Public Policy from the University of Washington and is a proud mother to her 20-month-old baby; noodle.