WASHINGTON, D.C. - National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund today announced the addition of a key staff member. Laura Maristany will join the Washington, D.C. office as the organization’s new director of policy and legislative affairs.
“We are thrilled to have Laura Maristany join our staff as the organization’s chief policy advocate,” stated Arturo Vargas, executive director of the NALEO Educational Fund. “As we tackle voting rights and other key issues in advance of Election 2014, Laura’s expertise and wealth of knowledge will prove invaluable as we continue to work towards the full political participation of Latinos in the United States.”
Laura Maristany, a seasoned advocate with extensive Capitol Hill and legislative experience, will serve as the organization’s primary representative and chief policy advocate in Washington D.C. In this capacity, Maristany will work to pro-actively create and set the direction of critical policy initiatives relating to issues affecting Latino access to the electoral process.
Maristany joins NALEO Educational Fund after previously serving as the Executive Director of Legislative Affairs for the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). During her tenure at HACU, Maristany played a key role in developing and implementing the organization’s legislative agenda, which has included policy efforts on comprehensive immigration reform, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Farm Bill, the Higher Education Act, and the Workforce Investment Act. Maristany also spearheaded technical assistance initiatives to enhance the advocacy skills of administrators from higher education institutions.
Maristany began her career as a legislative assistant with both U.S. Rep. Pedro Pierluisi and U.S. Rep. Luis Fortuño. She holds an M.A. in International Commerce and Policy from George Mason University and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Puerto Rico.
“In the coming years, Congress and the Administration will work on issues that will have a significant impact on the nation’s second largest population group, including voting rights, the Census, immigration reform and naturalization,” Maristany stated. “I am honored to have been selected as the NALEO Educational Fund's chief advocate for these important public policy efforts, and excited to partner with my colleagues to help strengthen the fabric of our nation’s democracy.”
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The NALEO Educational Fund is the nation's leading non-profit organization that facilitates full Latino participation in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.