MCCE Staff

Anna grew up in Maine before earning a BA in Political Science from Yale University and a Masters in Conflict Studies from the London School of Economics. Their experience with democracy and anti-corruption campaigns in Eastern Europe and Central Asia makes them all the more committed to preserving and strengthening civil society and grassroots democracy in Maine. Anna started working at MCCE in 2014 as an organizer on the Clean Elections Initiative. They ran for the state legislature as a Clean Elections candidate in 2016. In 2017, Anna was appointed as the first joint Executive Director for MCCE and the League of Women Voters of Maine.

Jen hails from the Bluegrass region of Kentucky. She’s worked in public libraries, and has done communications work in the fields of environmental education & sustainability, city government, and higher education. She served as an AmeriCorps VISTA for 3 years in the London Ferrill Community Garden, a radical space where members grew healthy and free food for the community. She has a B.A. in English and French from Transylvania University and a M.A. in French from the University of Kentucky.

Allyson has based her career in working towards a liveable and just future. She has worked for the past twelve years with nonprofits whose missions ranged from growing youth leadership to fighting for equitable financial access to demanding food justice. The through line of all of these organizations has been rooted in uplifting community voice and local organizing. Allyson is excited to leverage this experience as the Director of Maine Students Vote.

Al Cleveland is a seasoned organizer with a decade of experience in progressive advocacy and campaigns. They have worked to close youth prisons, build public power, strengthen democracy, and support LGBTQ youth. Al has lived in Maine since 2018 where they first started as an organizer with the League of Women Voters of Maine and Maine Citizens for Clean Elections.

Evan is a Mainer with a degree in sociology from USM, who spent ten years on the other side of the US and came back in 2019. Their nonprofit and educational experience in equity and inclusion led them to the League and MCCE, where they can work to ensure that everyone has equal access to our government. They've been delighted to revisit their 20-year-old political roots in Maine, where they first learned what civic engagement means.

Jill Packard has been running nonprofits and small businesses for over twenty years. Jill is passionate about rural communities, our capacity to connect, and how our values shape our systems. Their work advocating for underserved communities led to wanting to do deeper work to support the organizations that have their feet on the ground. Jill holds a BA in Political Science and an MS in Environmental Studies where she focused on education, American government, sustainable communities, and connective capacity. Jill and her family moved to the Highlands area of Maine in 2007 and they can’t imagine living anywhere else.

Deb is an educator, organizer, and facilitator based in rural mid-coast Maine, Penobscot Territory. They settled in Maine in 2016 to attend UMO for their BA in Biology with a minor in Environmental Science. During this time they have organized and worked towards reproductive rights, Indigenous sovereignty, racial justice, climate and environmental justice, outdoor access for underrepresented communities, and decolonial movement building. Deb is passionate about community and supporting marginalized identities and youth in practicing decolonial community work.

John is an attorney and consultant with over 25 years of experience in campaign finance and election law, public policy, advocacy, and legal representation. He is a former Maine State Representative (2004 - 2008) and House Chairman of the Insurance and Financial Services Committee. Prior to his tenure in the legislature, John served as Assistant Attorney General. As legal counsel he successfully defended the constitutionality of the 1996 reforms to Maine campaign finance laws, including the Maine Clean Election Act. John holds a law degree from Stanford Law School, a BA in Government from Wesleyan University, and an MA in History from Trinity College.