Libby Rosenbaum

CEO

Libby Rosenbaum serves as the chief executive officer overseeing the ACYPL’s fundraising, communications, grants management, new business development, and strategic planning. Libby previously served as the vice president of programs and communications.

Prior to this, Libby served as the education partnerships manager at the British Council where she promoted and established US-UK university research collaborations and planned international summits devoted to higher education best practice. She also served as the major gifts officer at the Center for American Progress, a progressive think tank, and as a fundraiser on the US Senate campaigns of Ken Salazar and Joe Hoeffel.

Libby graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Political Science and received an MSc in Politics and Government of the European Union from the London School of Economics.  Libby lives in Washington, DC with her husband and twin sons.

lrosenbaum@acypl.org
(202) 448-9331

Shannon Billings

Chief Financial Officer & Chief of Staff

Shannon Billings is ACYPL’s chief financial officer and chief of staff and handles a wide range of matters of organizational importance, including financial and strategic planning, human resources, and office operations. She has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit and political organization as well as program and financial management. Prior to joining ACYPL, Shannon served as Director of Advocacy Programs at Alliance for Justice, Senior Regulatory Compliance Officer at the Sierra Club, Director of Public Affairs for the Investment Company Institute, Controller for EMILY’s List, and in the controller’s office at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Shannon has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with minors in Russian and French from Bates College.

Shannon comes from a long line of political hacks and journalists and worked her first political campaign at age 6. In her spare time, she does yoga, hikes, and serves on the Board of Community Bridges of Maryland.

sbillings@acypl.org
(202) 448-9321

Emily Levy

Director of Special Programs

Emily serves as Director of Special Programs for ACYPL and also supports outreach and engagement. She previously produced the bi-annual Professional Fellows Congress for ACYPL in partnership with the US Department of State from 2015-2019, as well as oversaw ACYPL’s second Active Citizens’ Summit in Chicago in 2014 for social entrepreneurs from 22 Middle East and North African countries.

Prior to this, Emily worked for the Center for American Progress, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, US Congress, Boston University, and community non-profit organizations working to make change in the fields of education and mental health.  She specializes in program development and management, fundraising, and event planning.

Emily has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania with a minor in Middle East studies. She lives outside Boston with her husband, three young daughters, and Puerto Rican rescue puppy. In her spare time she likes to hike, cook, and volunteer with Coaching4Change, a non-profit working to provide opportunities and a pathway to success for youth in low income communities.

elevy@acypl.org

Peter DeAnna

Vice President of Programs

Pete DeAnna joined ACYPL in April 2016 and currently serves as the Vice President of Programs, overseeing the program team as well as managing ACYPL’s programs for young professional fellows from South East Asia and their American mentors.

Pete graduated from the University of North Carolina Asheville in 2014 with a bachelor’s in international studies and studied abroad in the Netherlands his junior year.
After graduating, he interned at the Jazz and Heritage Foundation’s archive in New Orleans before returning to Washington to pursue his interests in foreign affairs.

pdeanna@acypl.org
(202) 448-9328

Arlie Ziskend

Director of External Relations

Arlie serves as Director of External Relations for ACYPL, overseeing the nomination and selection of delegates, managing alumni relations, and supporting development efforts.

Prior, Arlie spent four years at Schwarzman Scholars, a masters-degree program founded by Stephen A. Schwarzman, CEO and Co-Founder of Blackstone. As an outreach and selection officer, Arlie traveled across the U.S., Asia, and Europe executing a world-class admissions process designed to select young leaders for an unparalleled introduction to China.

Earlier, Arlie worked at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was responsible for day-to-day operations of the human resources division that supported the Chamber’s various business objectives.

Arlie is proficient in Mandarin Chinese. Originally from Tampa, Florida, Arlie graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Languages and Literatures. Arlie and her husband live in Washington, DC.

aziskend@acypl.org
(202) 448-9322

Rob Smalley

Professional Fellows Program Manager

Rob Smalley joined ACYPL in June 2019 as a Program Officer. He interned with ACYPL during the Summer of 2018 before completing his undergraduate work. In this role, Rob develops and implements international, educational exchange programs for next generation American and foreign political and policy leaders.

Rob graduated from the University of Georgia in December 2018 with a bachelor’s in international affairs and political science and a minor in public policy. He studied abroad in Cortona, Italy in 2017.

Outside of work, Rob enjoys spending time with family and friends. He loves following the Georgia Bulldogs, world soccer, playing guitar, and snow skiing each winter.

rsmalley@acypl.org
(202) 448-9327

Charles Ogden

Program Manager

Charles Ogden joined ACYPL in January 2022 as a Program Officer. He is responsible for coordinating educational exchange programs for next generation political leaders and supporting ACYPL’s programs for young professional Fellows from Southeast Asia.

Charles graduated from the University of Florida with a BA in political science, a minor in business administration, and certificates in international relations and European studies. After completing his bachelors, Charles received his MSc. in public policy and human development at Maastricht University and the United Nations University-MERIT in the Netherlands.

Before joining ACYPL, Charles interned with the German Marshall Fund on their strategic convening team. In his free time, Charles enjoys cooking, boating, and going on hikes with his partner.

cogden@acypl.org
(202) 448-9323

Kasiyah Tatem

Program Officer

Kasiyah joined ACYPL in August 2022 as a Program Officer. She is responsible for coordinating educational exchange programs for next generation political leaders and supporting ACYPL’s programs for young professional Fellows from Southeast Asia.

Kasiyah graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in political science with a concentration in Law, Politics, and Theory and a Legal Studies Minor. Before joining ACYPL, Kasiyah interned with Delaware Governor John Carney during his 2020 re-election campaign, and ACYPL Alumna Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (El Salvador & Nicaragua 2000). One of her most notable accomplishments is being elected the first Black Woman Student Body President for the Student Government Association at the University of Delaware.

ktatem@acypl.org

Emily Pavolini

Program Officer

Emily graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2020 with Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Spanish. She had the opportunity to study in Cadiz, Spain during the summer of 2018 and continued to obtain her Master’s degree in International Relations with International Law at the University of Kent in Canterbury, England in 2022. Prior to joining the ACYPL team, Emily worked as an Outreach and Widening Participation Student Ambassador in the United Kingdom and as a Marketing and Communications intern at the Global Fund for Children. Outside of work, Emily loves exploring the DMV, meeting new people, and hanging out with friends.

epavolini@acypl.org