Our experts are available for comment and background. They bring insightful, principled analysis to bear on a range of issues, including: war and violent conflict, Middle East, economic justice, environment and energy, civil liberties, criminal justice, immigration and refugees, and nuclear weapons.
Amelia Kegan
Legislative Director, Domestic Policy
Amelia Kegan leads the domestic policy team’s work in analyzing legislation, advocating on Capitol Hill, and developing legislative strategy.
Anika Forrest
Legislative Manager, Immigration and Refugee Program
Anika Forrest leads FCNL’s immigration and refugee policy program. By integrating her knowledge of the legislative process, political advocacy, and public policy reform, she is working to protect the rights of all immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants.
Allen Hester
Legislative Representative, Nuclear Disarmament and Pentagon Spending
Allen Hester leads FCNL’s Nuclear Disarmament and Pentagon Spending portfolio. He develops legislative strategies and lobbies Congress for reductions in Pentagon spending, strengthened arms control regimes, and the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons.
Clarence Edwards
Legislative Director, Sustainable Energy and Environment
Clarence Edwards leads FCNL’s work on sustainable energy and environmental policy. He brings to FCNL extensive experience in government relations, issue advocacy, and strategic communications.
Diana Ohlbaum
Senior Strategist and Legislative Director for Foreign Policy
Diana Ohlbaum directs FCNL’s foreign policy lobbying team and leads an effort to replace the current U.S. foreign policy paradigm of military domination and national superiority with a more ethical and effective one based on cooperation and mutual respect.
Diane Randall
General Secretary
Diane Randall is the General Secretary of the Friends Committee on National Legislation. Diane leads FCNL’s staff to effectively educate and lobby for the policies and legislative priorities established by FCNL’s General Committee.
Hassan El-Tayyab
Legislative Director for Middle East Policy
Hassan El-Tayyab is FCNL’s lead lobbyist on Middle East policy. He is also responsible for representing FCNL with the various coalitions that work on these issues.
Heather Brandon-Smith
Legislative Director, Militarism and Human Rights
Heather Brandon-Smith is FCNL’s Legislative Director for Militarism and Human Rights. Heather leads FCNL’s work to repeal outdated war authorization, promote respect for human rights and international law, and reduce U.S. armed interventions around the world.
Jim Cason
Associate General Secretary for Strategic Advocacy
Jim Cason is responsible for directing the full range of FCNL’s strategic advocacy work. In this capacity, he works with program staff to develop long term change strategies that accomplish our particular legislative goals.
José Santos Woss
Director for Justice Reform
José is FCNL’s Director for Justice Reform. He leads FCNL’s work on criminal justice reform, election integrity, and policing.
Portia Kay^nthos Skenandore-Wheelock
Congressional Advocate, Native American Advocacy Program
Portia manages the Native American Advocacy Program, lobbying on legislation that affects Native communities.
Shukria Dellawar
Legislative and Policy Manager for the Prevention of Violent Conflict
Shukria Dellawar is FCNL’s Legislative Associate for the Prevention of Violent Conflict and the Coordinator of the Prevention and Protection Working Group. She has served as a peace and security expert, human rights advocate, and a gender specialist.
Ursala Knudsen-Latta
Legislative Manager, Peacebuilding
Ursala is the Legislative Manager for Peacebuilding. Ursala lobbies Congress to change U.S. foreign policy from an overly militarized and security-driven approach to one that prevents, mitigates, and transforms violent conflict and builds sustainable peace.
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