Staff & Advisors

Jackie Payne (she/her) is the founder and executive director of Galvanize Action, where she is connecting with moderate women to promote civic engagement, combat disinformation, and advance progress on key issues. Last year alone, Galvanize Action reached over four million women with programming proven to defuse the culture wars and grievance-based narratives being used to divide us. Jackie’s innovative leadership supports women to play a role in building a thriving, multiracial democracy.

Jackie has over two decades of experience leading organizations and working to advance gender, racial, and economic justice. Prior to founding Galvanize USA and Galvanize Action, Jackie designed and ran an 80 million dollar movement-building project for the NoVo Foundation. In this role, she partnered with an extraordinary team of racial and gender justice leaders to develop an intersectional approach to ending violence against girls and women. She previously championed reproductive justice as the Director of Government Relations for Planned Parenthood Federation of America and economic justice as a Legal Aid lawyer and as Policy Attorney for the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund. Jackie received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Michigan. She is a trustee of the Patsy Takemoto Mink Foundation and on the board of the Women and Justice Project.

Emily Cavanaugh (she/her/hers) brings over a dozen years of experience in the world of nonprofit and programmatic operations, overseeing compliance, finance, human relations, and more. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Women & Gender Studies to a chorus of “What are you going to do with that?” and feels exceedingly proud of her career working to advance gender justice. Emily has a long history of successful collaboration with Galvanize Action’s Executive Director; they worked together at Planned Parenthood Federation of America and teamed up again to launch the NoVo Foundation’s Move to End Violence program.

Emily Robinson’s (she/her) first exposure to civic engagement began at age 6, when she “helped” her parents gather petition signatures by catching frogs in the nearby pond. Since then, she’s been passionate about finding the stories that bring people together to take action for progress, helping candidates and organizations run effective, purposeful campaigns from the local to the national level. Using thoughtful, research-driven strategy, she’s worked to help a wide range of diverse candidates across the country introduce themselves to voters, trained hundreds of staffers, and built bridges between organizations large and small to make change happen.

Kelly Starr (she/her) brings over two decades of experience in strategic communications, public policy, research, program design, and nonprofit management. Most recently she worked in the movement to end gender-based violence, implementing a state-wide strategic communications plan, including message development and evaluation of impact for owned and earned media. Kelly also led a mixed-method research project studying intimate partner-related homicides and issuing policy recommendations. She was a member of the adjunct faculty of Antioch University and her work has been published in Sage Publications’ Homicide Studies journal. Kelly has a passion for bringing people together and fostering relationships both within organizations and across sectors to create safe, just, and thriving communities.

Kristin Wheeler (she/her) is the chief strategy officer for Galvanize Action, where she spearheads the organization’s research, campaign, and partnerships strategy. Since joining in 2020, Kristin has played a pivotal role in reaching and influencing millions of moderate women through data-driven interventions.

Before her time at Galvanize Action, Kristin made significant contributions in community and public affairs while working for the National Park Service. Her role involved supporting the integration of public health and public lands systems. With two decades of experience as a grassroots organizer, non-violent direct action campaigner, and strategic advisor, Kristin brings a wealth of expertise from both the non-profit and government sectors. Outside of her professional pursuits, Kristin resides in rural Washington state with her wife and a growing family of animals.

Jasmine Allred (she/her) has always had an interest in coding and analytics. Earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics and Data Science from UCSD, she always knew she wanted to use her statistical knowledge and the power of data to propel positive change. During her time as a Data Intern at EMILY’s List, Jasmine recognized the transformative power of data in political work. This realization has fueled her commitment, and she is proud to continue leveraging data for meaningful outcomes at Galvanize Action. Nestled in the vibrant city of San Diego, when Jasmine is not engaged in data analytics, she’s a jigsaw puzzle aficionado and avid ultimate frisbee player, and enjoys volunteering her time as a coach for the women’s ultimate frisbee team at UCSD.

Co Alvarez (she/her) is the right hand to Galvanize Action’s executive director. She is passionate about empowering and advancing girls and women. Previously, she worked on a capital campaign to raise funds for a new permanent home for an all-girls school. As a former fundraiser, she brings over five years of experience in project management, relationship-building, and strategy to the team. Outside of work you can find Co exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her partner and her dog.

Amy Bhatt (she/her) brings over two decades of experience as a writer, educator, and content creator to Galvanize Action’s development team. She was Associate Professor of Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County before starting a writing and communications firm specializing in social and gender justice in Seattle. Prior to her academic career, she worked for diverse organizations such as Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Institute for Policy Research, and the Museum of History and Industry. She received her B.A. in Political Science and Women’s Studies from Emory University and her Ph.D. in Feminist Studies from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA.

Danielle Bryan (she/her) worked in advertising for almost twenty years as an Emmy Award-winning broadcast producer before finding her home with Galvanize Action. She is passionate about social equity, women’s issues, and the power of grassroots-level activism above all else. When she’s off the clock, Danielle can be found at home in Colorado raising her two teenage sons as well as hosting a website and podcast for women who joined the LGBTQIA+ community later in life.

Hannah Curtis (she/her/hers) brings over a decade of experience in public health and community-engaged research, public policy, program design and evaluation, and activism. Hannah has led multiple mixed-method studies, including research to better understand and reduce the psychosocial stressors faced by women construction workers. She is passionate about utilizing research to address structural inequities and improve the wellbeing of all women. Hannah’s thirst for learning and belief in taking a holistic approach to understanding people and their experiences led her to Galvanize Action where she enjoys connecting the dots between a wide range of data. She looks forward to passing along her love of social justice, hiking, and theater to her daughter and son.

Rebecca Cutler (she/her) is a cognitive neuroscientist passionate about understanding how people are shaped by, and in turn shape, their experiences. With a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University and a B.S. from the University of Glasgow, she has held research positions at the University of Texas at Austin, the University of California, Berkeley, and Charité Universitätsmedizin in Berlin. She has dedicated her career to studying human cognition and using data science to drive meaningful impact. She is especially interested in making data accessible and actionable, aiding in strategic decision-making and community empowerment. Originally from Scotland, Rebecca now lives in Austin, TX.

Dinah Dale (she/her) is a development professional with over 25 years of experience. She has meaningfully driven millions of dollars in fundraising contributions for a diverse range of political and nonprofit organizations and campaigns. She has played a key role in architecting the strategy and execution of numerous impactful fundraising campaigns throughout the nation. Dinah has a deep love of building relationships and organizing people to invest in great causes to support making equitable, strong, safe, and vibrant communities.

Dani Dichter (she/her) brings her consulting and campaign experience to her role as Database Architect. Prior to joining Galvanize USA and Action, Dani worked with public schools districts across the country on issues of equity, organized on Senator Warren’s 2020 primary campaign, and was the New Hampshire Data Director with NextGen America. She has focused her career on engaging underrepresented communities and is excited to continue that work with Galvanize Action. Outside of work, Dani enjoys doing the New York Times crossword and exploring local coffee shops throughout her hometown of Los Angeles.

Rachael Firestone (she/her/hers) has a background in conducting a diversity of research projects at the intersection of politics and psychology. She specializes in using mixed-method approaches to answer research questions that help drive positive social change. Her most recent projects include voter mobilization of the New American Majority and preventing recruitment to violent extremism. Rachael holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and political science from the University of Alabama, a Master’s degree in political science from Columbia University, and political science PhD coursework from Vanderbilt University. Outside of work, Rachael enjoys hiking and exploring the Nashville area.

Kristi Glass (she/her) has a background in campaign finance and operations that has given her the knowledge required to support Galvanize Action’s mission. Kristi has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Virginia, experience working on multiple political campaigns, and a passion for grassroots activism. She lives in Richmond, Virginia where she enjoys spending time with her friends and family and volunteering for political campaigns.

Alex Greenler (she/her) is a creative professional with a background in graphic design, digital media, and marketing. An early developer of the Galvanize Action brand, she endeavors to create a strong visual story-telling style and identity that lifts up the work of her colleagues and engages audiences. From creating branding for a small-town bakery to managing external communications for an environmental advocacy non-profit, her deep passion for community building, positive social change, and finding new perspectives through art and creation shows up in every aspect of her work.

Laura Hardner (she/her/hers) has always tried to use her research to make the world a better place, focusing on issues of diversity, representation, and prejudice. She is passionate about using the power of research to drive positive social change. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Thiel College in Psychology, with concentrations in Counseling, Social, and Cognitive-Developmental Psychology, and a Master of Science in Psychology from Villanova University. Outside of work, Laura loves to read, bake, and hang out with her two cats, Noodle and Sushi. She currently resides in Pittsburgh, PA.

Deanna Hobbs (she/her/hers) is a community organizer and grassroots activist with a passion for empowering others to get involved in the political process. As a peer educator and lobbyist for reproductive rights, Deanna found her calling for uplifting underrepresented voices and making political action more accessible. Continuing with this theme, she branched into environmental activism, food justice, and agricultural advocacy, as a way to bring important conversations to the dinner table—literally. Deanna has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Genocide Studies from Pacific Lutheran University, and experience with legislative action, peer empowerment, victim advocacy, digital organizing, and volunteer engagement. She is also an organizer in her free time and enjoys recreational event planning.

Kathleen Kelso (she/her/hers) is a content creator and strategist at the helm of Galvanize USA’s digital program. Her creative and technical expertise have contributed to thousands of unique, exciting opportunities for our members to connect with each other and take part in building the supportive, authentic community we all need. Kathleen’s passion for creating programs that foster relationships and help us become a healthier, truer community leverages strong writing, strategizing, and problem-solving skills honed over several years and multiple continents.

Jillian Laux (she/her) has over a decade of experience managing development operations for nonprofits across the globe. She has helped raise millions of dollars to advance the work of human rights, social justice, community development, and conservation organizations. Jillian is committed to helping nonprofits think and act collaboratively to advance their missions and support the greater good. When not working, you will find her out on the water or exploring the beautiful trails that surround her home in San Diego where she lives with her partner and their many animals.

Ella Mora (they/them) has always loved writing and storytelling. Their love of narrative has taken them all over the country, serving as a field organizer, digital organizer, and digital strategist for various progressive candidates and elected officials including mayors, congresswomen, and senators. After spending years as a campaign staffer and then political consultant, Ella brought their communications skills to digital marketing agencies that serve nonprofits, arts organizations, higher education institutions, mission-driven organizations, and Broadway shows. Ella is thrilled to be back in the world of advocacy helping to build community. 

Urooj (she/hers) is an experienced coalition builder with a strong background in civic engagement strategy, policy advocacy, and network coordination. She specializes in fostering consensus and growing infrastructure on both national and local levels. Her work has centered on how to serve those who lead and build power in their communities. Urooj worked on immigration policy and public engagement for US Senator Tim Kaine. She has also worked with Palestinian refugees in the West Bank and resettled refugee families and asylum seekers at the U.S. Southern Border. Born in Multan, she’s the daughter of immigrants and part of the Pakistani diaspora that has taken her family through South Asia, Ireland, and now the US. Urooj loves the mountains (any nature, actually!), old school Desi music (and Iron Maiden, and Rihanna. . .), her cherished plants, and bakeries.

Laurie Schipper (she/her/hers) brings nearly four decades of activism, community organizing, providing direct services to victims of gender-based violence, and facilitating training and technical assistance to local victim service providers. Laurie views politics as a way to create a country where everyone can thrive and spends much of her free time volunteering for progressive local, state, and national candidates. For nearly three decades, before joining the Galvanize USA and Galvanize Action, Laurie served as the Executive Director for the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Laurie resides in Iowa where she grew up, raised her family, and now loves spending time with her grandkids.

Yasmin Torabian (she/her) grew up in Washington DC going to social justice protests and creating art with her community from a young age. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and anthropology from Goucher College in Baltimore, MD, in which she focused her studies on confronting inequality and structural violence. She began her career in nonprofit development by contributing to a monthly academic journal for women and activists in Iran. She has since then worked in marketing, tech education, and design, but is always driven by her innate passion to uplift the voices of others and enrich her community at large. As a mother of two, most of her free time is filled with cycling, skateboarding, reading, painting, and embracing childlike wonder in the city she still calls home. 

G Tucker (they/them) is an artist and organizer with a background in digital media, graphic design, and advocacy work. They graduated from Pitzer College with a Bachelor of Arts in Gender and Feminist Studies. With more than a decade experience as a digital artist and designer, G approaches digital design as an ongoing evolution of crafting media that attends to the needs of those engaging with them in the most aesthetically appealing ways possible. Driven by a passion for community-building and social change, G is dedicated to using art and design as a catalyst for empowerment and mobilization. Born in Seattle and raised on Maui, HI, G loves the ocean and seeks to be near it every chance they get.

Ariel Volk (she/her/hers) has over a decade of experience in public policy, communications, government relations, and foreign affairs. Ariel is passionate about bringing together people of all backgrounds to fuel positive change. Her work has focused on building coalitions to advance a range of issues, including access to reproductive healthcare, immigration reform, religious freedom, and US funding for the United Nations. Ariel earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and history from Bowling Green State University, and her master’s in global governance, politics, and security from American University. She currently lives in Columbus, Ohio where she serves as operations director on the board of New Leaders Council. An avid traveler, Ariel spends her spare time dreaming about her next big trip.

Row (she/her) brings over 15 years of experience in high-level administrative and executive support. Her studies in Sociology have shaped her commitment to social justice and equity throughout her career. Known for her warm and detail-oriented approach, Row excels at creating efficient systems that empower teams and leadership to focus on their mission.

Jacquelyn Westermark (she/her) has a background in campaign consulting and fundraising, that has given her the tools to support Galvanize Action’s mission in her role. Jacquelyn has a Bachelor’s Degree from University of Washington, varied campaign experience, and a strong sense of social justice. She currently lives in Philadelphia where she enjoys exploring the city and keeping up with local politics.

Alli Willis (she/her) is a communications professional based in Washington state. A multidisciplinary storyteller, Alli brings her experience in digital media, public relations, technical writing, and outreach together to tell—and show—the Galvanize Action story. A former ghostwriter with thousands of published articles, her work has reached publications ranging from Mother Jones to the Wall Street Journal.

Alexandra Acker-Lyons has worked at the intersection of electoral politics, the nonprofit sector, and philanthropy for over 20 years. She is the President and Founder of AL Advising, a philanthropic and political consulting firm. AL Advising works with progressive philanthropists to create a portfolio of civic engagement, policy, and advocacy investments including 501c3, 501c4, candidate, and related political giving. She is also the Director of Chambers Initiative, a vehicle for Merle Chambers’ political and philanthropic giving.

Maya Bourdeau (she/her) has over 20 years experience leading global studies based on metaphor elicitation and neuroscientific techniques. She has created communication strategies and increased market share for a wide variety of Fortune 500 companies, including Procter & Gamble, Crayola, Frito Lay, Danone, The World Bank, and Kellogg. Maya graduated with an Honors BA in psychology from Harvard University and received her MBA from Harvard Business School. She is fluent in French and Japanese.

Catherine Briggs (she/her) has always been passionate about giving back to others. After a career in marketing and consulting, she pivoted to volunteering, helping to lead non-profits with organizational change and strategy. She has served in a variety of leadership capacities and boards in her community as well as for her undergraduate and graduate alma maters. One of her greatest passions was serving on the Executive Board for Boys & Girls Club of Silicon Valley. In 2014, she co-founded the Centennial Circle which has served as an innovative model for women’s philanthropy.

Catherine graduated with Phi Beta Kappa honors from Dartmouth College and earned her MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management. She lives on Vashon Island, WA with her husband, Gary, and has fraternal twin sons, Trevor and Jonathan.

Katherine Grainger (she/her/hers) is the Managing Partner at Civitas Public Affairs Group. With 25 years of policy, legal, and advocacy experience Katherine is a thought leader on gender, race and sexuality. A lawyer by training she has a unique ability to combine big-picture vision with real-world solutions to generate tangible results. Katherine spent several years working in New York state government, which she describes as a master class in learning how to build, harness and generate power. Katherine now uses that knowledge to help clients come up with solutions to disrupt systems and generate change. Katherine is responsible for crafting and implementing several major legislative initiatives, including the Marriage Equality Act. One of Katherine’s greatest honors is teaching the next generation of policy makers, as an Adjunct Professor at Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University. Katherine is also a co-founder of Supermajority, an organization that focuses on building women’s political power. She sits on the boards of the national YWCA and Way to Win Action Fund and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Adrienne Kimmell (she/her/hers) is the Founder of Spark Solutions, a strategic consulting firm at the intersection of communications, psychology, and politics. We innovate to create behavioral change at the individual and movement level while strategically navigating disinformation and biases, including those around race, class, and gender to break through the noise and win. A pioneer in messaging research grounded in behavioral and cognitive science, Adrienne has helped create an understanding of the interplay between emotion and voting behavior. In her 20 years fighting for progressive causes, Adrienne has served as an organizational leader, leading sophisticated political programs, leveraging message research, and deploying electoral and legislative strategies at the federal and state levels. Her commentary has appeared in national publications including The New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Politico, The Atlantic, USA Today, and NPR.

Celinda Lake is one of two main pollsters and a senior advisor to President Biden and is a prominent pollster and political strategist for progressives. Celinda currently serves as President of Lake Research Partners. Lake’s polling and strategic advice has helped candidates such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Senator Jon Tester, Senator Debbie Stabenow, and former Governor Bob Wise to groundbreaking wins, and her expertise guided former Senator Mark Begich to victory, making him the first Senate candidate in Alaska to oust an incumbent in 50 years. Celinda has focused especially on women’s concerns and women candidates, including Speaker Pelosi, former Governor Janet Napolitano, Senator Debbie Stabenow, former Senator Barbara Mikulski, Mayor Carolyn Goodman, former Mayor Annise Parker, and over a dozen women in the House and Senate. Celinda worked on behalf of the largest independent expenditure to take back the House in 2006 and has been a key player in campaigns launched by progressive groups such as the AFL-CIO, SEIU, NRDC, ecoAmerica, Planned Parenthood, Vote Vets, HRC, and EMILY’s List. Lake co-authored the book What Women Really Want with Republican pollster Kellyanne Conway, which examines the way women are changing the political landscape in America. Celinda works with innovative messaging projects that help redefine language on the economy, inequality, big money in politics, climate change, public schools, teachers, criminal justice reform, and race & class.

Laura Ligouri (she/her/ella) is the Executive Director and Founder of Mindbridge. Her interest in the intersection of neuroscience and human rights emerged while at the Saxelab Social Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory at MIT, where neurobiological research often sought to understand the biological underpinnings of implicit bias, inter-ethnic social conflict, violence and conversely collective empowerment and change. Laura’s interests lie at the intersection of how neurobiological processes, culture and societal influences converge to give rise to and perpetuate bias, discrimination and violence within among groups.

Lanie McNulty (she/her) is a New York-based artist and social activist. Her photography series include The Angel in the House, Lifted Up in New York City, and From the Ashes of Rwanda. Working in other media, she has created a series of tapestries called Say a Little Prayer for U.S. Past and upcoming exhibitions include shows at Planthouse Gallery, BravinLee Programs, the All Things Project, the Bronx Presidential Gallery, Books and Books Gallery, and the Van Vleck House in collaboration with Montclair Art Museum. McNulty’s work is included in the permanent collections of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University, the Hirsch Library at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the University of Victoria Library, the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Collection at New York Public Library, and several private collections.

McNulty studied photography at the International Center of Photography. She holds degrees from Dartmouth College, Harvard University, and Bank Street College of Education. She lives in Harlem with her husband, Paul McNulty. They have three children: Sophie, George, and Anna.

Brina Milikowsky is a political strategist and social entrepreneur who advises progressive organizations and major donors on strategic planning, legislative and ballot initiative campaigns, and organizational development. Her experience and expertise sit at the intersection of law, policy, politics, and large-scale advocacy efforts. She is a co-founder of the Voting Rights Lab, a campaign hub designed to supercharge the fight against voter suppression and transform our voting systems. From 2014-2017, Brina served as the founding Chief Strategy Officer at Everytown for Gun Safety, the nation’s largest gun violence prevention advocacy organization, chaired by Mike Bloomberg. She is a member of the boards of Reboot, Roosevelt Forward, Galvanize, and NARAL Pro-Choice of America, where she was chair from 2017-2020.  

Margie Omero (she/her) is a Principal at GBAO and has over 25 years of experience using qualitative and quantitative research to provide strategic advice to Democratic candidates and progressive causes. In the 2022 election Omero worked with Governors Laura Kelly (KS) and Tony Evers (WI) on their re-elections, along with new Senator John Fetterman (PA). She has also worked with a range of organizations, such as AFL-CIO, AARP, The Center for American Progress, Groundwork Collaborative, DNC, DCCC, EMILY’s List, Planned Parenthood, NARAL, Everytown for Gun Safety, and Brady PAC. Omero leads a monthly focus group series for the New York Times Opinion Page, and also co-leads the Navigator Research team—a regular investigation into public opinion of the country’s top issues. She is a regular writer, speaker, and commentator, appearing in major national outlets and on shows including MSNBC’s Morning Joe, NPR’s Morning Edition, and ABC’s This Week. She attended the University of Texas at Austin, and lives in Takoma Park, Maryland.

Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner is the cofounder and Executive Director of MomsRising, an organization with over a million members across the nation working to increase economic security security, decrease discrimination, and to build a nation where everyone can thrive. She is also a frequent public speaker, radio host, and an award-winning author. She has also been published and featured in numerous outlets, including: Politico, USA Today, TIME, The Guardian, CNN, MSNBC, the Washington Post, and more.

Miriam Yeung (she/they) supports organizations and social justice leaders in individual and organizational transformation through leadership development, strategic planning, and campaign development with an emphasis on building anti-racist capacity. She was the Executive Director of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum from 2008 – 2016.