Our Staff

Liz Schrayer serves as the founding Executive Director of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, responsible for the overall direction and strategy for the influential and well-respected broad-based coalition. Ms. Schrayer also serves as President of Schrayer & Associates, Inc., a nationwide political consulting firm specializing in grassroots organizing. Prior to beginning her own firm, Ms. Schrayer served as the national Political Director of AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) for more than a decade. She worked on Capitol Hill, founding the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and in state Government. She has traveled across the country organizing citizen advocates in every state and on various issues. Ms. Schrayer currently serves as a member of ACVFA (Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid). She has a Bachelor’s degree from University of Michigan in Political Science and American Studies and serves on the Michigan in Washington Advisory Board.

Kate Bunting is the Managing Director of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and oversees the day-to-day operations of the USGLC and the mission to educate Americans about the importance of development and diplomacy. Ms. Bunting previously worked as CARE USA’s Director of Strategic Initiatives. During her 17-year tenure, she represented CARE on Capitol Hill specializing in global health issues and developed innovative advocacy campaigns and events to engage CARE’s supporters. Ms. Bunting has travelled extensively and has worked on Capitol Hill and in the private sector. She is a graduate of Clemson University, and holds a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs from American University where she focused on U.S. foreign policy and international development.

Tod Preston joins the USGLC with over fifteen years of government relations and public policy experience in Washington, DC, spanning Capitol Hill, the Administration, and the development community. Most recently, Mr. Preston served as Vice President for U.S. Government Relations at Population Action International (PAI), where he led PAI’s advocacy and outreach to U.S. policymakers and opinion-leaders. Prior to joining PAI, he worked as a congressional liaison and speechwriter at the U.S. Department of Commerce. On Capitol Hill, he served for seven years as a legislative aide and legislative director in the House of Representatives, including four years for Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY). Mr. Preston graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in government from Connecticut College.

As Director of Development, Sarah is responsible for strategic initiatives to engage donors — individuals, corporations, foundations, and organizations interested in supporting the USGLC’s work and mission. Prior to joining the USGLC, Sarah was Director of Development at the Truman National Security Project, a D.C.-based leadership training institute. Sarah is a lawyer by training, and has held positions in marketing and corporate communications at various private companies. In the world of NGOs and international affairs, she worked as program officer at the United Nations Association in Canada’s National Headquarters in Ottawa and as a Junior Professional Consultant at the UNICEF-Innocenti Research Center in Florence, Italy. Sarah has a Bachelor’s degree from McGill University and a law degree from the University of Montreal, School of Law. She is a native of Montreal and is fluent in French.

Jessica O’Connell serves as Field Director for the USGLC. Previously, she has helped elect U.S. federal and statewide political candidates throughout the country and served as a political consultant internationally. Ms. O’Connell has helped raise millions of dollars for non-profit organizations and causes nationwide. As former COO for Hillary Clinton for President, she managed internal communications and operations of over 1,500 staff in 40 states.  She has served in senior roles for groups like the Children’s Defense Fund, on-line communications firm EchoDitto and the Colorado AIDS Project. In 2009, Ms. O’Connell founded Youth Trek, a 501(c)3, to utilize travel and adventure to inspire and advance the social, community and economic empowerment of girls. She has been a featured speaker and trainer for the Campaign Corps Training, Emerging Leaders Program, and WeLEAD with the American University Women in Politics Institute.

Matt Michaelree serves as USGLC’s Deputy Field Director and is responsible for building, deepening, and expanding advocacy coalitions comprised of political, business, faith-based, military, academic and civic leaders in target states. Most recently he served as Political Director for a non-proliferation advocacy group in Washington, D.C. Previously, he served on the Clinton and Obama campaigns as National Operations Manager and Regional GOTV Director. He also worked on the Obama-Biden Transition Project, Presidential Inaugural Committee and in the Capitol Hill legislative offices of Congressman Russ Carnahan and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Matt earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History from Texas Tech University.

Avi Glandon joins the USGLC Field Team as a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. His primary areas of activity for the USGLC are Florida, Nevada and Wisconsin. Avi is a former intern at the USGLC and, while at Washington University, worked on the field team for Missouri State House Candidate Phil Bognar. Avi also served as the co-captain of Washington University Men’s Crew, helping lead them to consecutive silver medals at ACRA National Championships.

Jack McLaughlin comes to the USGLC from the National Community Reinvestment Coalition where he worked on a legislative campaign to pass the Community Reinvestment Modernization Act. Before working at NCRC, he was the executive assistant at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York City. Jack also worked for Grassroots Campaigns, a political consulting firm, where he ran fundraising offices for the Democratic National Committee and Save the Children in Ohio. During the 2008 Presidential election, he organized a volunteer voter registration drive at Eastern Michigan University. Jack graduated from Fordham University with Bachelor’s degrees in Social Science and Spanish Studies.

Andy Amsler joins the USGLC from a higher education association in Washington, D.C., where he worked in new media and media relations. Andy has worked in politics for the past four years, most recently travelling the country as a member of the National Advance Team for the Obama for America campaign. Prior to that, he worked on Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign for president in Iowa and on the staff of Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, both during and after his campaign. He also worked for the online progressive media watchdog Media Matters for America. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Politics and Journalism and was Editor In Chief of The Review, the university’s independent student newspaper.

Jordan Smith came to the USGLC from the Project on National Security Reform, where he served as Press Officer. He completed an editorial internship at the American Prospect, and was a Reporter at Canada’s Western Standard magazine. His writing has appeared in numerous print and online publications, including Foreign Policy, the New Republic, the Boston Globe, the Huffington Post, the Christian Science Monitor and many other publications. Jordan received his Master’s degree in Political Science from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada; and his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science/English from the University of Western Ontario. He was awarded a 2012 Media Fellowship at the Hoover Institution and is a Truman National Security Project Partner.

Meghan joins the USGLC from Capitol Hill, where she most recently served as a Legislative Assistant for Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), advising the Senator on foreign affairs, transportation, and housing issues. Prior to her Legislative Assistant position, Meghan served as Senator Collins’ Legislative Correspondent for foreign affairs, defense, and veterans affairs. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Maine in Orono. Meghan is a member of the Maine State Society of Washington, D.C.

Stuart comes to the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition from Media Matters for America, where he was a Research Assistant conducting extensive ANALYSIS on the print and television news media. Previously, he has held positions on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Project 2049 Institute, and the National Endowment for Democracy. Stuart graduated from Stanford University in 2009 with a Bachelor’s in Political Science, and received an Honors Certificate in International Security Studies from the Center for International Security and Cooperation. While at Stanford, he participated in the Stanford-in-Washington program.

John K. Glenn is Policy Director of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. He joins the USGLC after serving as Director of Foreign Policy at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, where he led Transatlantic Trends, an annual survey of foreign policy attitudes in the United States and Europe, and oversaw GMF’s foreign policy grantmaking and programming. His background also includes academic expertise as executive director of the Council for European Studies and project manager at the Institute of War and Peace Studies at Columbia University. He is adjunct faculty at the Elliott School for Public Affairs at George Washington University and has written numerous books, articles, and policy briefs, as well as appears in the media regularly as a commentator on international affairs. Dr. Glenn holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in sociology from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College.

Hannah Kaye comes to the USGLC from the Glover Park Group, where she served as an Associate in their Public Affairs department. While at the Glover Park Group, she specialized in assisting their internationally-focused and development based clientele. Prior to joining the Glover Park Group, Ms. Kaye worked as a Research Assistant for the Sanford Institute of Public Policy in North Carolina, analyzing international election monitoring reports and data. Ms. Kaye has also worked abroad in both the United Kingdom and Paraguay. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from Duke University.

Joel Paque comes to the USGLC from Counterpart International, where he served as a Manager in the Office of the CEO. While there, Joel served as project manager for several CEO-led initiatives. Previously, he worked as a Policy Associate in the International Government Relations department at The Nature Conservancy where he performed research and outreach to increase support for international conservation efforts from bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors. Joel holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and History from Trinity University, and a Master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning from Tufts University.

Beth Fellman serves as the Program Director for the USGLC and is responsible for overseeing USGLC programming, events and institutional advancement. Prior to joining the USGLC, she served as External Relations Manager and Senior Grant Writer at Citizens for Global Solutions. Ms. Fellman received her Master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University, and received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Peace and Conflict Resolution from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Claire Sullivan joins the USGLC after serving as the Program Associate for development, advocacy, and finance for Peace Brigades International-USA. Prior to her work with PBI-USA, she served as an assistant teacher for an inner city after school program based in New Jersey. During her studies, Ms. Sullivan interned with Human Rights First where she conducted research on the use of torture in media. Ms. Sullivan received her Master’s degree in Political Science-International Relations/ Comparative politics and her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Psychology from Kean University.

Kelsey Viets joins the USGLC as a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where she received dual Bachelor degrees in Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs and Spanish, with a minor in Latin American Studies. Kelsey is a former intern of the USGLC fulfilled during her time with the American University Washington Semester Program, where she focused on U.S. Foreign Policy and Spanish linguistics. At Miami, Kelsey served as President of the Mortar Board Senior Honor Society and Treasurer of the Women’s Club Lacrosse Team. She studied abroad in Madrid, Spain and is fluent in Spanish.