Foreign Affairs Committee Chair: Paul Davis
Paul is an attorney with long-standing interests in international affairs and environmental sustainability. He practices real estate and tax law and is a Board Member of the White Roof Project, Inc., an environmental non-profit organization that seeks to lower energy consumption and help curb climate change by coating black tar roofs with white solar-reflective paint. He earned a B.A. in Government & International Relations from Clark University, a J.D. from New England School of Law, and an LLM in taxation from New York Law School. Paul has been a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee since 2010 and is thrilled to be its chair.

You can reach Paul at foreign [at] goMYD [dot] com.
Eli Nofzinger CASE (Community & Social Equity) Committee Chair: Eli Nofzinger
Eli Nofzinger is currently employed in the Major Gifts department at Amnesty International USA. His career in non-profit fundraising also included roles working in Major and Planned Gifts at the American Civil Liberties Union and directing fundraising at Student World Assembly, a small NGO dedicated to global student activism. He also has nearly 100 assistant producer credits on foreign policy talkshows and has worked as a tutor for college admissions testing. He hopes that the Social Justice Committee, or CASE, can channel the diverse interests of its members to realize concrete, progressive change in New York City.

You can reach the CASE chair at case [at] goMYD [dot] com.
Economic Issues Committee Chair: Sasha Chait
Sasha Chait joined MYD in summer 2012 and became chair of the economics committee in 2013. She graduated from Clark University with a degree in international development and social change. Sasha’s nonprofit experience includes arts and community development in Worcester, MA; microfinance, healthcare, and education in Pokuase, Ghana; and fundraising/development and communications. Currently, she is the Coordinator for Corporate and Foundation Relations at NYU Langone Medical Center’s Office of Development.

You can reach Sasha at econ [at] goMYD [dot] com.
Education Committee Chair: Ben Max
Today, our schools, principals, teachers, parents, and, most importantly, students, face critical challenges. It is up to us, as a generation rising into a position of leadership, to assume responsibility for understanding and overcoming those challenges, as well as finding solutions so that our education system fosters the success and fulfillment of all. The MYD Education Committee seeks to identify the challenges we face, propose solutions, and take action toward progress. Ben Max chairs the Education Committee after nine years as a schools-based educator, including six as a high school history teacher. Aside from chairing this committee, Ben founded and runs DecideNYC.com, a comprehensive resource for following New York City elections, politics, and the important issues facing New Yorkers, including, of course, education. Ben also works as an education consultant with expertise in curriculum, instruction, use of technology in the classroom, and education policy.

Contact Ben anytime at education [at] goMYD [dot] com.
Environmental and Animal Issues Committee Co-Chair: Allie Feldman
Allie is the head of NYCLASS, the campaign to stop the abuse of NYC carriage horses. As an organizer for animal rights, she teaches fellow animal lovers how to become their own citizen lobbyists and win victories for the city’s four-legged community.
She also on the board of Greater NYC for Change. She’s an alumni of Florida State University, avid Sims player and mom of Mimi & Lulu, two adorable cats rescued from NYC Animal Care & Control.

You can reach Allie (and Allison) at green [at] goMYD [dot] com.
Environmental and Animal Issues Committee Co-Chair: Allison Kopf
Allison is a native New Yorker. She has a wide range of experience working on environmental projects, including managing an international, award-winning entry into the US Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon and leading a solar initiative for California-based affordable housing. She also spent time researching energy efficiency standards and legislation in the US House of Representatives and managed a downstate county legislature campaign in 2011. She holds a BS in Physics from Santa Clara University and is a LEED Green Associate. Currently, Allison is the Real Estate and Government Relations Associate at BrightFarms, a New York startup revolutionizing the food system. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Young Professionals in Energy.

You can reach Allison (and Allie) at green [at] goMYD [dot] com.
LGBT Committee Chair: Nick Sifuentes
Coming soon…

You can reach Nick at lgbt [at] goMYD [dot] com.
Transportation Committee Co-Chair: Ashley C. Emerole
Ashley has a Bachelors in Geography from the University of Arizona and a Masters in Urban Planning from CUNY Hunter College with a specialization in Transit Planning and Technologies. Her research included the logistics and design of European transportation systems, an analysis of the transportation activity space of low-income women in suburban areas, and a review of asset management policies for the Queens Midtown Tunnel.A life-long New Yorker, she has focused on a career of civil service. As an MTA New York City Transit intern, Ashley designed subway and bus models focused on passenger flows and train scheduling. She has also worked for the Permanent Citizen Advisory Committee to the MTA working on train delay analysis. Currently, she works for the City of New York’s Office of Management and Budget as a Senior Budget Analyst and rides the 3 train each way.Passionate about transportation issues, Ashley looks forward to the year ahead co-chairing the Transportation Committee.

You can reach Ashley (and Max) at transport [at] goMYD [dot] com.
Women’s Issues Committee Chair: Katie Petersen
Katie joined Manhattan Young Democrats in early 2012 to further pursue her passion for politics. Born and raised a small town girl from the Midwest, Katie moved to New York City after graduating from The University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Theatre Arts. She got her start in politics at age 16 when she facilitated her local precinct’s Iowa Caucus. Often referred to by her father as an “ultra liberal feminazi,” Katie is excited to be chairing the Women’s Issues Committee. She is currently an Administrative Manager in Pediatric Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and has non-profit experience in fundraising, leadership development, event planning, and communications. Katie is also a mentor, philanthropist, and aspiring social entrepreneur.

You can reach Katie at women [at] goMYD [dot] com.