Our Team
Libby Rosenbaum
CEO
Libby Rosenbaum serves as CEO of ACYPL. She oversees ACYPL’s fundraising, communications, grants management, new business development and strategic planning. Previously, she served as the vice president of programs and communications.
In addition to her time at ACYPL, Libby worked at the British Council as the education partnerships manager, creating U.S.-UK university research collaborations and managing international summits devoted to higher education best practices. Earlier in her career, she also worked at the Center for American Progress and as a political fundraiser.
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
Shannon Billings
Chief Financial Officer & Chief of Staff
Shannon Billings is ACYPL’s Chief Financial Officer & Chief of Staff. She 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. She’s come 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 Levy serves as Director of Special Programs for ACYPL. From 2015 – 2019 she produced the Professional Fellows Congress for ACYPL in partnership with the U.S. Department of State, as well as the Active Citizens’ Summit for social entrepreneurs from 22 Middle East and North African countries in partnership with the Bureau of Near East Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.
Prior to ACYPL, Emily worked at the Center for American Progress, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, U.S. House of Representatives, Boston University, and community non-profit organizations. 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 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
Pete DeAnna
Vice President of Programs
Pete DeAnna joined ACYPL in April 2016 and currently serves as the Vice President of Programs. In this role, he oversees the program team’s work on all of ACYPL’s short-term exchange programs as well as the YSEALI Professional Fellows Program for emerging Southeast Asian leaders. He also oversees all of ACYPL’s international Exchange Partner Organizations and is ACYPL’s liaison with the U.S. Department of State and embassies around the world.
Prior to this, Pete served as the YSEALI Professional Programs Manager and as a Program Officer at ACYPL. He also previously interned at the Jazz and Heritage Foundation’s archive in New Orleans before returning to Washington to pursue his interests in foreign affairs.
Pete graduated from the University of North Carolina Asheville with a bachelor’s degree in international studies. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
pdeanna@acypl.org
(202) 448-9328
Arlie Ziskend
Director of External Relations
Arlie Ziskend serves as Director of External Relations for ACYPL, overseeing the nomination and selection of delegates, communications, managing alumni relations, and supporting development efforts.
Prior to this, 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. 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 but now serves as the YSEALI Professional Fellows Program Manager, an exchange for emerging leaders from Southeast Asia.
Rob graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s in international affairs and political science and a minor in public policy. He also studied abroad in Cortona, Italy.
Outside of work, Rob enjoys spending time with family and friends. He loves following the Georgia Bulldogs, world soccer, playing guitar, and skiing.
rsmalley@acypl.org
(202) 448-9327
Charles Ogden
Program Manager
Charles Ogden joined ACYPL in January 2022 as a Program Officer but now serves as a Program Manager. In this role, Charles is responsible for managing ACYPL’s short-term exchange programs for emerging political leaders and for supporting the YSEALI Professional Fellows Program.
Before joining ACYPL, Charles interned with the German Marshall Fund on their strategic convening team.
Charles graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s in political science, a minor in business administration, and certificates in international relations and European studies. After completing his bachelor’s, Charles received his MSc in public policy and human development at Maastricht University and the United Nations University-MERIT in the Netherlands.
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 Tatem joined ACYPL in August 2022 as a Program Officer. She is responsible for coordinating ACYPL’s short-term exchange programs for emerging political leaders and for supporting the YSEALI Professional Fellows Program.
Before joining ACYPL, Kasiyah interned with Delaware Governor John Carney during his re-election campaign, and Delaware Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester.
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. Kasiyah also was the first Black woman to serve as Student Body President at the University of Delaware.
ktatem@acypl.org
202-448-9325
Emily Pavolini
Program Officer
Emily Pavolini joined ACYPL in April 2023 and currently serves as a Program Officer. She is responsible for coordinating ACYPL’s short-term exchange programs for emerging political leaders and for supporting the YSEALI Professional Fellows Program.
Before joining the ACYPL team, she worked at the University of Kent and at the Global Fund for Children in Washington, DC.
Emily received bachelor’s degrees in political science and Spanish from The University of Southern Mississippi. She studied in Cadiz, Spain to complete her Spanish degree and received a master’s degree in international relations with international law from the University of Kent in Canterbury, England.
epavolini@acypl.org
202-448-9332
Hannah Stewart
Development and Outreach Associate
Hannah Stewart joined ACYPL in January 2024 as the Development and Outreach Associate. She is responsible for engaging with ACYPL’s network of donors, as well as supporting the nominations and delegate selections processes, alumni events, and exchange programs.
Prior to joining ACYPL, Hannah served as the events director for Lee Kaplan’s campaign for mayor of Houston.
Hannah graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s in Economics, and completed a minor in Social and Behavioral Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands. After finishing her bachelor’s, Hannah received a Master’s of Public Policy from the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston.
hstewart@acypl.org
202-448-9330