Current Fellows

Each Michigan Political Leadership Program class of fellows is composed of 24 individuals from across Michigan. Brief biographical sketches of the current MPLP fellows, the Class of 2012, are below. An overview of the fellowship is also available online.

2012 MPLP Fellows

Mandy Bolter, Kent:  Mandy serves as the legislative director for Rep. Peter MacGregor. She graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor of arts in political science. While at WMU, she worked full time in retail, interned in a state representative's office, worked on a state Senate campaign and later a presidential campaign. Mandy lives in Ada with her family.

Darryle J. Buchanan, Oakland: Darryle is president of the Southfield Board of Education and in his second term on the board. He is a member of the Michigan Association of School Boards’ board, president of the Michigan Caucus of Urban Boards of Education and recently selected to serve on the Michigan State University Extension Leadership Council of Oakland County.

Michelle Busuito, Oakland:  Michelle is a law clerk for Michigan Supreme Court Justice Diane M. Hathaway. Michelle also teaches business law at University of Detroit Mercy School of Business and Macomb Community College as an adjunct professor. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from Kalamazoo College and her juris doctor from University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.

Sarah Bydalek, Kent:  Sarah completed her first term as Walker City Clerk last November and was re-elected for another four year term. She also is a director of the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerk’s Board and has served as secretary and president of the Kent County Clerk’s Association. Sarah holds a designation as a Certified Municipal Clerk.

Theresa Davis, Lapeer:  Theresa is a sergeant in the Lapeer County Sheriff’s Department. Theresa graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor of arts degree with a concentration in political science in 1993. While at U of M, Theresa served a one year internship with former U.S. Sen. Riegle in his Flint office. 

Graham Filler, Ingham:  Graham is an assistant attorney general in the state Department of Attorney General Licensing and Regulation Division. Graham received a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Miami University and juris doctor from Detroit Mercy School of Law. He is also the co-founder of Off Tackle Empire, a Big Ten football sports blog.

Dandridge Floyd, Wayne:  Dandridge is Director of Legal and Labor Affairs for the Southfield Public Schools District. She is responsible for managing the district’s general legal matters and for administration of the district’s collective bargaining agreements.  She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work and earned a juris doctor from Wayne State University Law School.

Brad Heffner, Gratiot:  Brad is corporate counsel for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.  His work includes drafting and monitoring legislation, interpreting statutes and working with various community and business leaders negotiating contracts and agreements. Previously, he was Ithaca City Manager for 14 years. He has served on boards of the Michigan Rural Water Association and Michigan Local Government Manager Association.

William Holley, Wayne:  William is director of constituent services in the Office of State Rep. Rashida Tlaib. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Yale University.  He also served as an intern in the office of U.S. Rep. Hansen Clarke and was a fifth grade teacher in South Dakota through the Teach for America program.

John Kaczynski, Bay:  John is the director of the Center for Public Policy & Service at Saginaw Valley State University and is a doctoral student at Michigan State University. He holds a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor of science from Central Michigan University. He is vice-president of the Central Michigan University Young Alumni Board.

Lena Koretzky, Oakland:  Lena is a principal, general manager and board member of
Vesco Oil Corporation, her family’s oil distributorship. A Bloomfield Hills native, Lena graduated from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, after earning her bachelor’s degree. in economics from Harvard University. She is a member of the Anti-Defamation League of Michigan board of directors.

Kristina Leonardi, Genesee:  Kristina is a senior program analyst with Michigan’s Department of Military and Veteran’s Affairs. She also serves as the executive coordinator for the Great Lakes Hazards Coalition, a multi-state public/private partnership. Kristina is a graduate of Michigan State University with a master of science in criminal justice and bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice and Spanish.

Jelani McGadney, Washtenaw:  Jelani is a senior and Student Body President at Eastern Michigan University. He expects to graduate in 2012.  He has interned in the Scottish Parliament as well as in the EMU Political Science Department. He also participates in various student organizations, including the United Nations Alliance and has competed in numerous Model United Nations conferences.

Andrew Martin, Kent:  Andrew works in the Michigan House of Representatives as legislative assistant for House Majority Floor Leader Jim Stamas. Andrew earned a degree in political science from the University of Michigan and subsequently served two years as an educator with Teach for America in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is a founding committee member of the Reid VanGelderen Memorial & Scholarship Fund.

Nolan Moody, Washtenaw:  Nolan is a student in his second year of law school.  He graduated in 2009 with honors from Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University, where he also earned four varsity letters and senior captain honors for baseball.  He went on to pitch two seasons in the Detroit Tiger’s farm system. 

Kayla North, Midland:  Kayla attends Central Michigan University studying political science and sociology with a concentration in criminal justice. She expects to graduate in 2012.  She has been employed with Dow Corning as a college co-op for four years.  Recently, she obtained a summer internship with state Sen. John Moolenaar. She volunteers for, among others, Midland County Republicans and U.S. Rep. Dave Camp.

Emily Pontz, Osceola:  Emily is office manager for state Sen. Darwin Booher. She graduated with a bachelor of arts in political science followed by a master’s degree in comparative politics from Central Michigan University. While pursuing her degrees, Emily worked as a law clerk. She has worked on several statewide Republican gubernatorial campaigns and on the presidential campaign of New York Mayor Rudy Giulani.

Syed Rob, Oakland:  Syed is a graduate of Lawrence Tech University where he served as president of the university’s International Student Council while an undergraduate. He earned a master of business administration. Rob is a multi-line insurance agent, and has been treasurer of the Bangladeshi Democratic Caucus. He also served on Warren’s Planning Commission. He recently ran for state representative in Michigan’s 28th District.

Scott Russell, Wayne:  Scott works in management at J.D. Power and Associates, specializing in automotive finance analytics. He holds a bachelor of science degree in psychology from Michigan State University.  He serves as a volunteer officer for the YMCA youth programs in his area and holds a seat on the Van Buren Public School Board of Education.

May Saad, Wayne:  May is an attorney at Williams, Williams, Rattner & Plunkett, PC where she practices commercial litigation, immigration and family law. May is currently on the board of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services and sits on its development committee. She is a member of the Arab-American Bar Association and Women Lawyers Association of Michigan.

Nicole Wells Stallworth, Wayne:  Nicole is director of community outreach & governmental affairs for the Children’s Center of Wayne County. Previously, she worked as outreach director with the Michigan Association of Public School Academies. She holds a bachelor of arts in English from Wayne State University and a master of arts in communication studies.

Ryan Stevens, Washtenaw:  Ryan works at Genpact, Inc., a business consulting firm. Previously, he was a legislative aide to former state Sen. Valde Garcia. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in public administration from Eastern Michigan University. He is a junior executive member of the Detroit Economic Club.

Gregory White, Wayne:  Gregory is financial analyst for the Detroit field office of the U.S. Office of Strategic Planning and Management. He recently returned to Detroit from Washington, D.C. He holds a bachelor of education degree from the University of Michigan and a master of education degree from Harvard University. While at Harvard, Gregory was a Rockefeller Brothers Fund Fellow.

Angela Wilson, Ingham:  Angela is president of the Okemos School District Parent Council. A former intern for state Rep. Mark Meadows, Angela has held research and administrative positions at the RAND Corporation, University of California Los Angeles and the Ohio State University.  Angela earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Toledo.

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