MEET THE TEAM

GOHAR SEDIGHI

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Gohar comes to PCAF with over fifteen years of experience fighting for economic, gender, and racial equity. Gohar previously served in leadership roles for progressive members of Congress with a successful record of passing laws to improve the lives of students, immigrants, and families. In addition, Gohar worked on programs to reduce achievement gaps while serving in the U.S. Department of Education during the Obama Administration. For several years, Gohar worked to resettle refugees and provide social services to immigrants as a leader of a group of nonprofit organizations in New England. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of California San Diego.

Katherine Eyster

CHIEF OF STAFF

Katherine is committed to supporting the CPC Center's strategic direction, program development, and organizational effectiveness. Before joining the CPC Center, Katherine served as Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) and as a Senior Advisor in WHD and the Office of the Secretary during the Biden-Harris Administration. Katherine has extensive experience advancing economic, labor, and health policy in government and nonprofit organizations, including roles as legislative director for a D.C. councilmember, as senior staff at the National Partnership for Women & Families, and in nonprofit advocacy and programming in New Orleans and Washington, D.C. Katherine holds a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy and a Bachelor’s in History from Wesleyan University.

Catherine Rowland

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS DIRECTOR

Cat comes to the CPC Center after nearly a decade on Capitol Hill. Most recently, she served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for Congressman Andy Levin, a deputy whip for the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Prior to that, Cat was a professional staff member for the House Foreign Affairs Committee and senior policy advisor to the Committee's ranking Democrat. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science from George Washington University. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Cat lives in Washington, DC.

Talia Harris

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Talia Harris (she/her) is passionate about using her skills and expertise in managing multimillion-dollar budgets, streamlining highly complex operations, and building high-caliber teams to contribute to the progressive movement. At the Green New Deal Network and Earthjustice, Talia has worked on progressive causes of climate and environmental justice from both a policy and operations perspective. She was the first operations hire at Green New Deal Network and built out its operations infrastructure. Talia is a forward-thinking professional who continuously innovates, forges strategic partnerships, and strives to exceed goals. Talia is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a native of Washington, D.C., and received a B.A. in Political Science from Trinity Washington University.

Mckayla Eskilson

CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

McKayla comes to PCAF with significant expertise in nonprofit fundraising, operational strategy, and project management. Previously McKayla served as Senior Manager of Foundation Relations at Equal Justice Works, where she helped expand funding to increase access to justice in underserved communities. Prior to that, she spent several years managing the grants portfolio and general operations for the American Immigration Council’s Immigration Justice Campaign. 

Jessica Juarez Scruggs

DIRECTOR OF TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING

Jessica comes to PCAF with more than a decade of experience in political communications, organizing, and progressive policy. Most recently, she served as Interim Policy and Legislative Director for People’s Action Institute, a grassroots network active in 30 states that fights for racial, economic and gender justice on issues including healthcare, housing justice, the climate crisis, fighting toxic contamination, mass liberation and consumer protection. She has a Masters in Political Communication from American University and a Bachelor's in public policy and political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Katie Thomas

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Katie Thomas brings a decade of experience working on energy and environmental policy and legislation, having most recently served as Staff Director for the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight Subcommittee on the Environment for Rep. Ro Khanna. Prior to that, she spent more than five years as Policy Advisor for Energy and Environment to Senator Bernie Sanders. During that time, Katie advised the Senator on energy, environment, and tribal and territorial issues in the Senate office and both Presidential campaigns. Katie worked as an Associate Attorney for Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke, P.C. where she advised electric utilities, states and tribes. Katie holds a Juris Doctor, with a focus on energy law, and a Master of Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School and is admitted to practice law in Colorado. 

Sara Steffens

WORKER POWER DIRECTOR

Sara Steffens comes to the CPC Center with more than 15 years of experience as a union activist passionate about helping workers stand together to build democracy on the job, in their communities and across our nation. A native of Minnesota, Steffens attended The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA, and went on to work as a newspaper reporter in Minnesota, Washington and California. In 2008, she helped lead her co-workers at the Bay Area News Group-East Bay to organize and join the Communications Workers of America (CWA). Steffens went on to work as a union organizer, local activist, staff representative, and as secretary-treasurer of The NewsGuild-CWA. She served two terms as the elected secretary-treasurer of CWA, and most recently, was the interim director of the Worker Power Coalition.

Krystal Tang

SENIOR DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

Krystal Tang (she/her) is a progressive and passionate coordinator and writer. Prior to joining our team, Krystal worked in public universities in higher education administration, communications, donor relations, and events. She also served as the executive assistant at the Virginia Department of Labor. She received two Bachelor's degrees in English (Writing) and Gender Studies. She also studied at University College London and received an interdisciplinary Master's degree in Gender, Society and Representation. Since her studies, Krystal has been committed to connecting people to humanitarian needs, while including all of their intersectionalities. Krystal's hobbies include traveling, dancing, gardening and herbalism.

CHENELLE HAMMONDS

SENIOR POLICY ASSOCIATE

Chenelle comes to PCAF from the U.S. House of Representatives after serving in the Office of U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-13). Here she worked on a number of diverse issues that included healthcare, reproductive rights, civil rights, and education. Prior to arriving on Capitol Hill, Chenelle gained legislative experience monitoring and analyzing federal and state health policy legislation and working in the Texas House of Representatives. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Howard University and Master of Public Policy and Master of Social Work degrees from the University of Houston. A social justice advocate at her core, Chenelle is committed to advancing progressive policies like Medicare for All, and dismantling systems of inequality that harm vulnerable and marginalized communities.

MARIAM MALIK

SENIOR FOREIGN POLICY ASSOCIATE

Mariam Malik joins PCAF from the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on House Administration, where she assisted the committee with its work related to election administration, voting rights, and election security. Prior to arriving on Capitol Hill, she was in London, United Kingdom, where she received her Master of Science in European Union Politics with a specialization in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her research analyzed transatlantic foreign and security cooperation and compared the capabilities of the U.S. State Department, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and European External Action Service to implement their policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As a graduate student, she also worked part-time in the British Parliament on issues such as women’s rights, Brexit, the war in Yemen, and the NHS. She received her Bachelor's of Art in Political Science from the University of Kentucky.   

Heejin Hahn

PROGRAM ASSOCIATE

Heejin comes to the PCAF from the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS), where she implemented campaign trainings and professional development programs to increase Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) representation and engagement at all levels of the political process. She developed her passion for AAPI community building and organizing during her time in college. Heejin received a Bachelor’s Degree in Women and Gender Studies, which continues to fuel her commitment to issues at the intersection of race and gender.

GRAHAM STEINBERG

OUTREACH AND ORGANIZING ASSOCIATE

Graham comes to the CPC Center with several years of experience in state and local campaign organizing including leading statewide volunteer networks and managing large-scale voter outreach efforts. Before joining the Center in 2021, he worked with a legislative advocacy group focusing on election security and campaign finance reform. Growing up in a mom-and-pop toy shop, Graham became committed to the progressive politics that helped working families like his own. Graham received his B.A. in Political Science from the George Washington University. He is also a fierce advocate for animal welfare and is involved in local humane reform efforts.