Officers

Amy Meyers

President

Amy is from the vast farmland known as Iowa. There she attended the University of Northern Iowa and obtained a degree in Secondary Social Science Education (e.g. she’s a teacher). Upon moving to the “big city” Amy began attending Maryland’s School of Public Policy where she specializes in social/education policy. Amy enjoys tennis, running, listening/playing all kinds of music, traveling to historic sites, and engaging in political debate.

Eric Baker

President

Eric comes from just outside of Atlanta, Georgia.  He is a MPP student specializing in International Security and Economic Policy.  He received his undergraduate education from the University of Georgia.  There he studied political science and international affairs.  He is captain of the two-time intramural champion Van Munchers flag football team. His hobbies include playing sports and wasting time with friends.

Justin Raines

Treasurer

Justin hails from Knoxville, Tennessee.  He is a second year MPP student within the Management and Leadership concentration.  Prior to attending Maryland, he received a degree in Systems Engineering Management from the United States Air Force Academy.  Upon completion of his degree, he will serve as an Acquisitions Program Management Officer within Air Force Materiel Command.  Most of the time, he can likely be found lighting the fires of patriotism.

Erin Ehrlich

Social Chair

Erin is a second-year MPP student specializing in International Development and Social Policy. Originally from Miami, she graduated from the University of Florida in 2008 with a degree in journalism and an outside concentration in Florida football. She has a specific interest in international health policy and currently works part time for the Colon Cancer Alliance in DC. When not studying or working, she can probably be found at the UMD intramural fields or spending time with friends. 

Ben Brosch

Service Chair

Ben is a second year student at MSPP focusing on Environmental Policy. Prior to graduate school, Ben attended the University of Maryland and received his bachelor's in Government and Politics. He also spent time working at a DC law firm in the areas of international trade litigation, insurance litigation, and export controls. Ben's scholastic interests include conservation and growth management. When the Terps are not playing, Ben can generally be found hanging around the atrium.

Craig Giesecke

Representative at Large

 Craig is from Flagstaff, Arizona (one of the few Southwesterners at UMD).  He studied environmental biology at the University of Colorado.  Later, he was a sustainable agriculture Peace Corps Volunteer in Nicaragua and Panama.  Currently, Craig is in the PPCN program: Mater's of science in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology and Master's of Environmental Public Policy.  You can usually find him riding his bike to, from, and around campus; he also represents his fellow PPCN colleagues on Graduate Student Government and helps run the Ecological Economics Student Group seminar.  

Russell Meyer

PhD Representative

 Russell Meyer is a student in the PhD program at MSPP with a research focus in energy and climate policy.  Russell’s undergraduate degree is from James Madison University where he majored in Integrated Science and Technology (B.S.), and he has received a Master’s in Public Policy (M.P.P.) from Georgetown University.  Russell is also a Senior Associate with ICF International where he works with policy issues related to fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector.  Russell Meyer is originally from Fredericksburg, Virginia, and has been living in the D.C. metro area for the past five years.  

Walter James

Alumni Representative

Walter James hails from Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes.  He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2006 with a BS in Biology and a BA in French.  He is currently pursuing his Masters in Public Policy, specializing in International Development.  In his spare time he enjoys football, cold weather, and eating street food in different countries.  Walter has worked on development and advocacy in Haiti, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Senegal.