Spotlights

Profiles in Public Service - Mary Jane Collipriest

Her father's patriotism inspired Mary Jane Collipriest to purse a career in public service.  A decorated veteran of World War II, her dad instilled in his family a deep and abiding love for the country and respect for the institution of government.  Mary Jane currently serves as chief of staff to U.S. Senator Robert Bennett (R-UT).  Prior to assuming her current position as chief of staff, Mary Jane served as Senator Bennett's communications director where she acted as a senior advisor on strategic and political activities as well as communication initiatives.

Profiles in Public Service - Fitzhugh Elder IV

Fitzhugh Elder IV was drawn to public service as a college student in Montana when he began to understand the impact of U.S. Forest Service policy on local communities.  Fitz believed he could go to Washington, D.C. and make a difference. Prior to his public service career, Fitz worked for Plum Creek Timber Company as a forestry aid and the Society of American Foresters as a "Henry Clepper" forest policy intern.  In Washington D.C., he interned for the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Resources and Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health.

Profiles in Public Service - Kriston McIntosh

Kriston McIntosh was recognized as one of the top 35 Capital Hill staffers under the age of 35 by The Hill newspaper for her dedication to public service. She was also the recipient of the 2008 Young Women of Achievement Award by the Women's Information Network (WIN). "The concept of whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly continues to serve as the inspiration of my career in public service," said Kriston. She currently serves as deputy director for the U.S. Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee. Before her work on the Committee, Kriston served as a senior legislative assistant for U.S. Congressman John Lewis (D-GA).

Profiles in Public Service - Deborah Estes

While in law school, Deborah Estes became interested in the relatively new field of environmental and natural resource law and secured an internship at the Senate Interior Committee in her final year of school.  Deborah currently serves as senior counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.  Deborah is primarily responsible for legislation dealing with energy efficiency and natural gas.

Profiles in Public Service - Elise Aronson

Elise Aronson began her career on Capitol Hill a decade ago as a staff associate on the U.S. House International Relations Committee and worked her way up to her current position as chief of staff to U.S. Representative Jim Saxton (R-NJ).  She was selected, along with 31 other Congressional staff members, as a 110^th Congress John C. Stennis Congressional Staff Fellow.  Elise had previously been a part of the Stennis Center's Emerging Staff Leaders Program that matches senior congressional staff leaders with emerging leaders in a mentoring relationship.

Profiles in Public Service - Andrea Martin

Andrea was selected, along with 31 other Congressional staff members, as a 110^th Congress John C. Stennis Congressional Staff Fellow. Andrea currently serves as legislative director and Judiciary Committee counsel for U.S. Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA). Prior to her current position, she served as legislative director for U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO). She also served as U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn's (D-SC) senior advisor and earlier as policy director for the Congressional Black Caucus while Clyburn served as chair. Andrea also served as U.S. Representative Juanita Millender-McDonald's (D-CA) chief of staff and U.S. Representative Corrine Brown's (D-FL) senior legislative assistant.

Profiles in Public Service - Joe Goffman

Joe Goffman's public service experience spans international, national, and state levels working on environmental issues. Joe currently serves as senior counsel for the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Joe previously served as legislative director for U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) with a portfolio reflecting the Senator's priorities with regard to climate change, energy policy, national security and foreign policy, education, health care and trade and competitiveness.  He began his career in Senator Lieberman's office as an environmental counsel.

Profiles in Public Service - Susan McAvoy

Susan began her career in Congress working for former Congressman Martin Frost (D-TX) in his Dallas and Grand Prairie offices in 1988.  While working for Frost in Texas, Susan also was an instructor at Tarrant County College, Fort Worth, teaching U.S. Government and State and Local Government.  In 1992, Susan moved to Washington D.C. to work in Frost's Washington office, serving as his press secretary and later becoming his legislative director. In 1999, Susan took a position within the Clinton Administration, serving as deputy press secretary to then-Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, until the end of the administration. 

Profiles in Public Service - Chad Metzler

Chad Metzler decided to pursue a career in public service after the Cold War believing that he could be a part of directing the country down a better path. He came to Washington to enter graduate school with dreams of joining the State Department or Pentagon but arrived at a time of major downsizing. Instead, he joined U.S. Senator Herb Kohl's (D-WI) team as an intern and grew to love the Senate. Chad currently serves as legislative director for Senator Kohl, but in the past advised the Senator on a variety of issues including defense, foreign policy, energy, environment, trade, and labor.

Profiles in Public Service - Aranthan Jones

Aranthan Jones currently serves as one of the highest ranking healthcare advisors and the only African American policy director in the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves as the director of policy and research for the U.S. House of Representatives Majority Whip's office headed by U.S. Congressman James E. Clyburn (D-SC). He is also the policy director for the Congressional Katrina and Rita Leadership Working Group which is charged with coordinating and directing Congressional action on Gulf Coast recovery matters.