Humphrey Policy Fellows

Paul Andrighetti is the director of community advocacy at CAPI USA, a non-profit located in the Twin Cities metro and focused on serving the immigrant and refugee communities that call MN home. He has worked in a number of roles over 4+ years at CAPI, including helping build out their basic needs, development, and civic engagement/public policy programming. Before CAPI, Paul lived internationally working as a humanitarian worker for two years in Northern Iraq where he led a small team of local staff in providing a group-based mental health curriculum to the victims of the ISIS genocide. Outside of work, Paul enjoys a myriad of hobbies, including long-distance hiking, biking, rock climbing, and a host of nerdy things, but primarily tabletop roleplaying games. He is the author of a self-published poetry book called Ache and just authored and self-published a cyberpunk TTRPG rulebook called House of Eidolons. 

Lincoln Bacal serves as the director of people & partnerships at Bridgemakers, a nonprofit she helped start dedicated to developing young people as leaders. Her work has facilitated the investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars into young entrepreneurs and enabled young public leaders to take on leadership roles and drive change in their communities. Outside of Bridgemakers, Lincoln trains young people in community organizing and serves on the boards of Youthprise and People for PSEO. She was born and raised in Minneapolis and currently enjoys spending time in its parks.

Amina Baha is a first-generation Afghan immigrant and the first woman in her family to finish college. Amina’s journey highlights her commitment to fostering inclusivity, women empowerment, and advancing social justice. She has extensive experience in refugee resettlement, healthcare, and organizational development. Amina has significantly contributed to the well-being of Afghan refugees after the rushed U.S. evacuation of 2021. Before that, she worked in healthcare I.T. Amina’s dedication to community service extends to her involvement in local organizations, including her roles on various Twin Cities boards to promote women’s rights and economic empowerment for marginalized communities. Her educational background includes a bachelor's degree in IT, a master's in IT management, and certifications in project management, Scrum, and healthcare IT. Amina is also a candidate for city council in Blaine Ward 3. 

Alejandra Bejarano works in economic development at the Region Nine Development Commission in Minnesota, where she leads regional community and economic development initiatives. Originally from Colombia, she moved to the United States at a young age to play college tennis. Having lived in both large metropolitan areas and small towns, she has gained a unique perspective on navigating different community and economic contexts. Alejandra has a passion for global affairs, entrepreneurship, and economic development, and speaks multiple languages. She holds a bachelor's degree in business from Dalton State College and a master's degree in public administration from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Through her volunteer and leadership work, Alejandra is dedicated to fostering resilient communities and facilitating economic opportunities for all.

Chris DeLong is an attorney in the government solutions & investigations group at Dorsey & Whitney LLP. Chris’s practice focuses on government procurement and contracting, False Claims Act litigation, and complex civil litigation, including representing and advising Fortune 500 companies on matters across the U.S. Prior to Dorsey, Chris practiced in Mankato, MN, after his clerkship for Justice G. Barry Anderson of the Minnesota Supreme Court. Chris is a former Marine, serving as a Korean cryptologic linguist and signals intelligence analyst. Chris lives in Woodbury with his wife and four young children.

Shanaya Dungey has partnered across sectors to develop and implement innovative, people-centered practices, programs, policies, and processes that have been essential to building the sustainable infrastructure that supports thriving communities throughout her 20-year professional tenure. She is currently the chief operating officer for African American Leadership Forum where she's helped build infrastructure as the organization quadrupled in size, influenced and shaped human-centered policies and practices to support and care for the employees who do the organization's important community work. In her role as COO, she serves as a strategic partner to the CEO while overseeing the organizational health and effectiveness of finance, human resources and operational functions and serves as executive lead of the organization's cross-cultural solidarity coalition, Linking Leaders, in partnership with three other racial equity nonprofit executive directors.

Ifrah Farah is a dynamic community organizer and fervent advocate for social justice, with extensive experience in institutional leadership. With a deep commitment to racial and economic justice, Ifrah has driven impactful political and developmental activism on national and international stages, partnering with grassroots organizations to foster positive change in marginalized communities. As the executive director of a nonprofit dedicated to empowering East African women and youth through career and professional development programs, and the managing director of Housing Support Services, Ifrah leads with vision and commitment. She has a bachelor’s degree in networking administration from Minneapolis Community College. She  enjoys networking, exploring innovative strategies to amplify marginalized voices, and diving into enriching literature.

Maggie Gregg is the field maintenance manager for the Minnesota Army National Guard. Currently serving as a Major, Maggie commissioned into the National Guard in 2012, and has proudly served on two overseas deployments, and in several command and logistics centered positions during her tenure. In addition to her work, Maggie is the vice president-army for the Minnesota National Guard Association of the United States Board of Directors, working to advocate for Soldiers and Airmen across Minnesota and the United States. Maggie volunteers with the Old National Bank veterans outreach group, including Carry the Load and Wreaths across America. Additionally, Maggie remains an active member of the Bennie Mentorship Program, fostering relationships in the community of College of St. Benedict grads where she completed her undergraduate degree. Maggie earned a master of science degree in supply chain management from Carlson School of Management in 2023. Maggie enjoys reading, running, pickleball, and spending time with family and friends. She resides in Maple Grove with her dog, Teddy.

Dr. Jasmine Grika is a Citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, and Tribally affiliated with Red Lake Nation in Minnesota. She was born and raised in Minneapolis and resides in St. Paul with her dog, Remi. She received her bachelor of science from Augsburg University, master of social work from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, and most recently her doctor of social work from USC. She is the Tribal Collective for aging and disability services administration’s supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Human Services focused on strengthening government-to-government relations  between the State and Minnesota’s 11 Tribal Nations. She serves as vice president for Ain Dah Yung (Our Home) Center’s board of directors, as well as a board member for the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center. Her passion is building anti-racist and culturally inclusive environments, and equitable opportunities through design justice work. She enjoys hiking, traveling, kickboxing, running, exploring new dog parks, and spending time with family and friends. 

Razia Hashemi is the Afghan housing stability manager at CAPI USA where she has worked since 2022. As an Afghan immigrant who is new to the US, Razia has a passion to work with immigrants in making Minnesota their home. With that passion, she started working as an interpreter, but later shifted gears as she saw a need in resettling Afghans. She holds a bachelor's degree in politics, philosophy, and economics from Asian University for Women in Bangladesh. As a person interested in law and seeing the huge need in immigration law, she participated in the Minnesota capacity building mentorship offered by Catholic Legal Immigration Network where she is learning about immigration law and its practices.

Lauren Hayward is dedicated to transforming public education. She holds a master’s degree in elementary education from Vanderbilt University and began her teaching career in Nashville, TN. Lauren taught for three and a half years at one school where 90% of students lived in extreme poverty and another where 75% spoke English as a second language. Lauren has since returned to her home state of Minnesota, where she now serves as a legislative assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. At the legislature, she assists two Representatives with constituent services and outreach to the Representative’s districts.

Mukhtar M. Ibrahim is the founder and principal consultant of Sayid Group, a strategic advisory and communications firm that partners with clients to tackle complex issues, advocate for positive social impact, and transform the world into a more just and vibrant place. He previously founded and led Sahan Journal, a nonprofit newsroom that covers Minnesota’s immigrants and communities of color. Mukhtar’s leadership has earned him numerous prestigious awards, including the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Great Immigrant Award, a spot on the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal's "40 Under 40" list, and a Bush Foundation Leadership Fellowship. In 2024, he was selected as one of 140 rising leaders from the United States to participate in the Young American Leaders Program at Harvard Business School. He was also awarded the Hubert H. Humphrey Public Leadership Award. Mukhtar holds an MBA from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management and a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.

Zach Johnson is the grants manager at the Blandin Foundation where he is responsible for administering all components of grants processing and management. Working closely with grantees and foundation staff, he works to design processes that increase transparency, build deeper relationships, and highlight the strengths of organizations and communities. With more than 10 years of experience working and volunteering in the nonprofit sector (primarily in rural Minnesota), he strives to support opportunities that allow for creativity and problem solving. An adventurous and curious person, he enjoys discovering new music venues, yoga, and hiking with his puppy Oreo.

Holly Kreft is the executive director of Charlson Meadows, a unique non-profit adult renewal center located in the west metro whose primary mission is to serve other non-profit organizations. Prior to her work in the non-profit sector, she served almost 20 years in municipal government with a focus on community development. With an educational background in geology, she likes to incorporate the healing benefits of nature in programming at Charlson Meadows as well as her own free time with her husband, children, and rescue shih tzus. She has served on the boards of local nature centers and arts organizations.

Jenna Libersky is a principal researcher at Mathematica, a non-partisan public policy consulting organization. For nearly 15 years, Jenna has worked to support states and the federal government as they design and oversee the Medicaid program, which provides health care and long-term services and support to low-income people nationwide. Prior to Mathematica, Jenna worked in city and county governments in New York and Minnesota, and for the U.S. House of Representatives. Jenna holds a bachelor’s degree in foreign service from Georgetown University and a master’s in public health from Johns Hopkins University. She lives in Minneapolis with her multi-generational family and enjoys biking the lakes and spending time in the sauna.

Lisa Linnell is a senior sustainability policy manager at Target, working on projects at the intersection of corporate sustainability goals and public policy development. Prior to Target, she was a legislative assistant for Senator Kent Conrad and a college intern for Congressman Jim Oberstar in Washington, D.C. She recently completed service as vice chair of the Twin Cities German Immersion School board of directors. She has a bachelor’s degree in history from Carleton College and is pursuing a master’s degree in environmental policy and management at the University of Denver. She lives with her husband, daughter, and three cats in St. Paul. Fun fact: she also is a classically trained pastry chef.

Sara Marino is a sales and marketing consultant working with growth-minded companies. As an early adopter in digital and social media marketing she helped shape social media policy for nonprofits and businesses in Minnesota. She also launched OnShore, a cost-effective solution to her client’s offshore staffing challenges. It not only kept jobs in MN, it added to it and gave recent college graduates their first opportunities in the IT consulting space. As an avid reader, she enjoyed working for a publisher and her team was featured in a BuzzFeed Netflix documentary on book design and publishing. She is involved with a myriad of nonprofits and organizations and believes in being an active participant in MN. Sara resides in Edina, and enjoys running ultra-marathons and visiting her son who lives in Germany for soccer.

Gabriela [Gaby] Miranda Orr has spent the last 25 years in the health industry with experience in compliance for an array of products such as pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements and medical devices; operating at the nexus of business and public policy. Gaby earned her MBA with Thunderbird School of Global Management in AZ. She was born in the Midwest and raised in Mexico. She is raising two Minnesota boys who show pride in their Hispanic and American roots. MN is her home, and she wants to contribute to the positive evolution of policy through industrial action and public policy influence. 

Priya Narula is an entrepreneur, speaker, board member, and bridge builder. She is the co-founder of Keyhubs, a software and services firm specializing in the power and wisdom of human networks, self-awareness, and fostering connections to create high performance culture. Additionally, Priya is the co-founder of Neighborhood Forest, a social venture dedicated to giving free trees to school children every Earth Day. She is passionate about bridging divides and has spoken at various venues, including the Minneapolis Chamber, DEED, SAWN Midway Chamber and MEDA. Priya lives in Minneapolis with her husband, two boys, and a Siberian Husky.

Claire Peterlin was born and raised on the Iron Range in NE Minnesota and currently lives outside of Grand Rapids, MN. Through her personal passions and professional roles she has developed a deep loyalty to serving greater Minnesota. She is a chemical engineer with a bachelor of science from Minnesota State University, Mankato and a master of engineering from the University of Minnesota, Duluth as well as a MBA in leadership and change from the College of St. Scholastica. Her professional experiences include engineering in three of the major industries of the region. The steel industry’s downturn in 2016 led her to pivot towards education and workforce development, where she spent six years designing career pathways and fostering business-education collaborations across the region. Presently, she directs University Partnerships with Minnesota North College, where she supports the college’s strategic goal of establishing local, four-year programming in high-demand workforce and community need areas. She enjoys traveling, exercising, reading, outdoor activities like fishing and gardening, and spending quality time with her husband, two dogs, and family.

Rachel Placzek is an economic & community development professional who currently works at GREATER MSP, the regional economic development partnership for the 15-county metro. Her role is positioned to work across the enterprise and at the nexus of cross-sector coalitions, partnerships, and major projects. Since 2022, she has served on the board of directors for Towerside Innovation District. Rachel is an MSP transplant, relocating in 2019 from her hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she studied political science, global studies, and Spanish. Upon graduation, she led the development of the city's talent attraction and retention work as director of talent strategy for the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development. In this role, she grew an interest in place-based projects that has continued throughout her decade of work in economic development. She lives in Minneapolis with her three favorite boys: Sam (husband), Oskar (son), and Bowie (Boston Terrier).

John Pournoor is the CEO and founder of Government Analytica, a consultancy pioneering “public value analytics” to fast-track advocacy efforts and policy outcomes. He serves nonprofits, NGOs, and the private sector clients with a portfolio of healthcare, AI, infrastructure, and sustainability projects benefiting Minnesotans.  Previously, he led government affairs at 3M, covering federal, state, and international portfolios. He is a tireless advocate and volunteer for community-based organizations. John serves several associations in public health, infrastructure, exports, and foreign policy.  He holds a bachelors, masters, and doctorate in engineering (UC Berkeley & U of Washington, Seattle) and an MBA (U of Saint Thomas). He lives with his wife, Erin, in Minneapolis enjoying film, music, theatre and CrossFit. Being multilingual, an avid cook, and an adventurous traveler (2 million miles) has blessed him with lasting friendships around the world.

Elvis Rivera is a seasoned professional with a rich background in management, finance, and community activism and is driven by a passion for empowering underrepresented communities. He’s had a career spanning roles as a small business owner, corporate leadership in institutional and retail financial consulting, and executive leadership in education and management in the biomedical industry. He has contributed to numerous boards and committees, including DFL Latino Caucus, LatinoLEAD, and the Ramsey County Bar Association. As a first-generation immigrant from Guatemala, Elvis brings a unique perspective to his work. In 2023, he received awards from HACR (Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility) for Young Hispanic Corporate Achiever, Minnesota's Latino Chamber of Commerce for Inclusive Employer of the Year, and Molson Coors for Lider (Spanish for Leader) of the Year. He was also elected to be one of the DFL's presidential electors for 2024. As a three time marathoner and long distance cyclist, you can find him training on the treadmill or on his bike or spending time with his 16-year-old son Elvis Jr. and 13-year-old daughter Brooklynn.

Curtis Rogers serves as the deputy director for the White Earth Nation Tribal Government, where he collaborates with program directors across various sectors, including behavioral health, economic development, natural resources, and more. His primary focus is on the revitalization of language and culture, as well as strengthening programs to support the 17,000 members of the Tribe in achieving mino bimaadiziwin, or "the good life." Curtis also works closely with Tribal Leaders to help realize their goals and initiatives. Curtis is a Native Nation Rebuilder from Cohort 11 and holds an associate's degree in liberal arts from Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Bemidji State University, and a master's degree in Tribal administration and governance from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Born and raised in White Earth, Curtis has always been passionate about serving his community. He enjoys hiking, playing basketball, and spending quality time with his wife and children.

Khalique Rogers, founder of Good Riddance Consulting and co-director of the Center for School Change, is a social entrepreneur focused on social impact initiatives within the state of Minnesota. He works on bridging gaps and amplifying the voices of communities, organizations, and businesses to “create space for the culture” within the legislature. Khalique is an alumnus of Harvard Business School's Minnesota Young American Leaders Program. His work ranges from public policy focused on the holistic needs of youth and families, including education, youth and family homelessness/affordable housing, and workforce development. Through his innovative youth lens and lived experience, he examines the systemic barriers and issues that create vicious cycles. When you look close enough, it tells us about the system's health and ways that we can combat it.

Josh Sande is a committee administrator at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He leads the work of the Health Finance & Policy Committee under Chair Tina Liebling; a committee with expansive jurisdiction over Minnesota’s public programs, major health systems, and insurance providers. Since 2023 he has also served as the task force administrator for the joint legislative task force on emergency medical services, whose work produced bipartisan reforms to Minnesota’s ailing EMS system during the 2024 legislative session. Prior to his work at the House, Josh managed Grant Hauschild’s successful campaign for the Minnesota Senate in 2022. He holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy and political science from Gustavus Adolphus College and a master's degree in international affairs from the Geneva Graduate Institute. He lives in St. Paul and enjoys playing tennis, golf, board games, and the cello.

Steve Stowers, with over 15 years of expertise in emergency and crisis management, technology, and retail, is the lead risk consultant on Target's risk and reputation team. Holding a master of science in organizational leadership and emergency management and a bachelor of business administration, he ensures the company's preparedness for crises, manages reputational events, and leads cross-functional teams fostering a culture of proactive crisis management. Known as "Safety Steve" to his friends and colleagues, he has managed responses to major disasters, including hurricanes, earthquakes, unrest, and COVID-19. Outside of work, he enjoys family time with his wife and toddler, traveling, outdoor activities, and socializing with friends.

Dr. Macarre Traynham is the assistant commissioner of the Office of Equity and Engagement at the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). Dr. Traynham has more than 25 years of experience in education, professional development and organizational leadership. Prior to this role, Dr. Traynham held multiple roles at MDE designing and leading professional development and creating the concept for the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Center. Dr. Traynham has served as a high school math teacher in Southern California, as a vice principal and principal in the Pacific Northwest, and as the executive director for teaching and learning in a large urban school district in the Midwest. Dr. Traynham graduated from Norfolk State University with a bachelor of science in mathematics. She has a master’s of arts in educational administration from California State University San Bernardino and a professional administrator’s license from Portland State University. She also holds a doctoral degree from Lewis & Clark College in educational leadership with a focus on equity and social justice. 

Alex Trunnell represents Minnesota corn farmers in Saint Paul as the public policy manager for the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA). In that role he communicates to policy makers the perspective and policy initiatives of Minnesota’s corn farmers and connects farmers with elected officials, giving them the opportunity to tell their story. Prior to MCGA he worked at the Minnesota Senate and the Farm Service Agency. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Minnesota State University- Mankato. Alex and his wife recently moved to Minneapolis. In his free time, he enjoys running, hiking in the mountains and finding new coffee and breakfast spots.

Dan Vogel is married with two young children and has lived in Eagan most of his life. Dan has a B.A. in education from Hamline University, M.A. in education from Bethel University and his education specialist degree from the University of St. Thomas. He proudly serves in the National Guard, and his full-time position is the director of plans for the 133rd Airlift Wing. In this capacity, he facilitates the planning process, integrates local, state and HHQ plans, and advises the Wing Commander during plan execution. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his family, attempting house projects, running, hiking, and almost all outdoor activities. In the winter, he enjoys playing basketball, hockey, and cheering on the hometown Golden Gophers, Minnesota Wild and Timberwolves. 

Kenneth Wittmann was born in Abilene, Texas, and now lives on 20 acres in the Northwoods of the White Earth Nation where he has owned and operated WoodKrazy Tree Service for over a decade. He serves the community as an employer, a volunteer firefighter, and the go-to helper for everything from getting a dock in the water to driving seniors home from bingo. He does most of his work in the summers, then splits his winters with his six boys, ages 9-21, or back in the cities with his wife and their home renovations. When he's not climbing trees, he enjoys hunting, fishing, motorcycling, and traveling.

John Zwier has practiced law as a U.S. District Court of Minnesota judicial clerk, a U.S. Army Reserve judge advocate, an intellectual property litigation attorney and as a contract attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota. John also serves as an appointed referee for Ramsey County Conciliation Court. His spouse’s work as an exhibit designer at the Science Museum of Minnesota brought John to the Twin Cities in 2012. Since then he has involved himself in the community as a Big Brother, as a Saint Paul District Council representative, as a church leader at congregation and regional levels, as appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court to the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board and as a public member appointed by Governor Walz on the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy. John is the proud father of two kiddos, ages 7 and 4.