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Former Staff

Showing 10 of results

August 11, 2022 | Sherri Egerton

Destiny LeVere

Communications Director, Virginia AFL-CIO
February 25, 2021 | Patrick

Elaine Maag

Principal Research Associate, Urban Institute
February 25, 2021 | Patrick

Eric Lin

Associate Broker, United Real Estate Richmond; Principle, The VIE Group
February 25, 2021 | Patrick

Chris Wodicka

Chris focuses on tax policy issues at TCI and helps to support the policy team’s overall analysis and research capacity. His prior experience includes positions at the Wisconsin Center for Education Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and with the State of Wisconsin’s Legislative Audit Bureau. He has also worked in schools in Seattle, WA and Pryor, MT. He graduated with an M.P.A. from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University Bloomington and a B.A. in English from the University of Notre Dame.
February 25, 2021 | Patrick

Chad Stewart

Chad leads policy research and advocacy for P-12 education at TCI. He also serves as a coordinator for the Fund Our Schools coalition. He is passionate about improving social welfare outcomes for all Virginians. Before joining TCI, Chad worked as a middle school math teacher in Detroit, Michigan and the Richmond metro area. His prior professional experience also includes conducting research in health care and the microfinance sector. Chad has a master’s degree from the University of Michigan’s School of Education and a B.A. in Economics from Connecticut College.
February 25, 2021 | Patrick

Kathy Mendes

Kathy contributes across all policy research areas as a policy analyst, and leads TCI’s research on school integration policy. She also supports TCI’s data visualization capacity by thinking creatively about and implementing new ways to present data and information to the public. Born and raised in the state, she is committed to social, economic, and racial justice in Virginia and doing the work to advance it. Prior to joining TCI, Kathy worked in the nonprofit sector with an organization focused on addressing inequality in education, providing daily literacy interventions for students in grades K-3 in Richmond Public Schools. She earned her Bachelor of Science in sociology from Virginia Commonwealth University.
January 12, 2022 | Sherri Egerton

Mel Borja

Mel Borja is TCI's Worker Power Policy Analyst. She works to build public knowledge about the benefits of collective bargaining in Virginia and partners with labor advocates to increase public support for strengthening collective bargaining rights at the local and state level. Mel also previously served as Vice Chair of the Virginia Office of New Americans Advisory Board. Previously, Mel managed the immigration casework portfolio in the Office of U.S. Senator Tim Kaine where she primarily focused on helping New Americans navigate the U.S. immigration system. In addition to legal aid and organizing experience, she has served in two of the three branches of Virginia state government as a 2018 Governor's Fellow in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and a Session Aide during the 2019 General Assembly. Born and raised in Virginia, Mel is the proud daughter of an Ecuadorian immigrant father & Puerto Rican mother. She earned her Bachelor's of Arts at the University of Virginia.
February 25, 2021 | Patrick

Loryn Crittendon

Loryn manages TCI’s social media accounts and digital products, broadening our reach and helping to ensure that folks across Virginia are able to engage in policy conversations. A Richmond native, Loryn earned her B.A. in African American & African Studies at the University of Virginia. During this time, she interned with four nonprofits, each with a mission to support various needs of marginalized communities. Following graduation, she worked as a content editor for a legal publishing company and as a technical writer on an Army contract. In both roles, she managed the review and execution of print and online deliverables with an eye for detail and reader comprehension. Loryn recently completed her M.A. in Communication at Johns Hopkins University and has shifted her professional focus back to supporting social justice missions.
February 25, 2021 | Patrick

Phil Hernandez

Phil Hernandez is the Senior Vice President for Policy & Advocacy with The Commonwealth Institute. He works to maximize the impact of TCI’s policy analysis, advocacy, and legislative engagement. Phil is committed to people-powered change and designing policy collaboratively with directly impacted communities. Phil has worked with partners on legislation to increase Virginia’s minimum wage, strengthen unemployment insurance, and repeal some of the most onerous court debt collection practices. Previously, Phil was an attorney with the National Employment Law Project. Phil also worked in President Obama’s White House Domestic Policy Council. He serves on the board of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, REAL LIFE Richmond, and was appointed by the Governor to the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice. Phil holds a J.D. from the Berkeley School of Law and a B.A. from William & Mary. He is an active member of the Virginia State Bar.
February 25, 2021 | Patrick

Purity Muthaa

Purity contributes to the implementation of programs, supports TCI’s development portfolio, and provides operational support to the senior leadership team in her role as TCI’s program and policy assistant. Prior to joining TCI, she worked with the Department of State and the Center for Economic Development providing statistical analysis and logistical support. Purity is passionate about policy work in order to bring about structural changes that allow everyone the resources and opportunities to thrive. Purity received her B.S. in economics from the University of Mary Washington and M.A. in economics at Virginia State University with certifications in Project Management.
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