Staff and Board

Leadership

Staci Fox

President and CEO

Staci Fox

Staci Fox serves as the president and chief executive officer at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. Staci most recently served as the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeast and Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates.
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Research

David Schaefer

Vice President of Research and Policy

David Schaefer

David Schaefer is the vice president of research and policy at the Georgia Budget and Policy Insitute. Davd helps interweave the organization's policy areas into a cohesive whole, coupling research with legislative opportunities to advance equity statewide.
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Danny Kanso, PhD

Director of Legislative Strategy and Senior Fiscal Analyst

Danny Kanso, PhD

Danny Kanso is the Director of Legislative Strategy and Senior Fiscal Analyst at GBPI. Danny leads GBPI's fiscal policy research and advocates for a state budget and tax system that is equitable, transparent and promotes the well-being of all Georgians.
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Leah Chan

Director of Health Justice

Leah Chan

Leah Chan is the Director of Health Justice at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. In this role, she uses data-driven and human-centered analysis and advocacy to promote policy and budgetary solutions that give all Georgians a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible.
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Ashley Young

Senior Education Analyst

Ashley Young

Ashley Young is the Senior Education Analyst at the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute. Ashley champions equitable higher education policy through research and data analysis to ensure that all students have fair access to post-secondary education and training.
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Ife Finch Floyd

Director of Economic Justice

Ife Finch Floyd

Ife Finch Floyd is the Director of Economic Justice at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. In this role, Ife advocates for policies that promote Georgians' economic security and opportunity, key components of economic justice.
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Operations

Jessica Woods

Vice President of Finance and Operations

Jessica Woods

Jessica H. Woods is the Vice President of Finance and Operations at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute (GBPI). She is a graduate of the University of the South in Sewanee, TN and a Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional (CNAP). Prior to starting at GBPI in 2009, Jessica worked for Georgia Sen. Gail Buckner and the National Women’s Business Council in Washington, D.C. She serves on the Steering Committee for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities' State Priorities Partnership. 
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Outreach

Erin Robinson

Director of Outreach and Strategic Campaigns

Erin Robinson

As Director of Outreach and Strategic Campaigns, Erin leads the organization's outreach strategy, including work engaging partners, coalitions, and individual Georgians. In this role she also drives GBPI's campaign strategies to achieve wins on policy priorities which build economic opportunity for all Georgians.
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Narek Boyajian

Fund Georgia’s Future Coalition Manager

Narek Boyajian

Narek's role is with Fund Georgia's Future (FGF), a coalition of individuals and advocacy organizations across the state, made up of educators, parents, and advocates committed to fighting for a just education system with fair and full funding. As FGF Manager, they are focused on supporting the coordination, communications, and infrastructure of the FGF coalition.
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Communications

Jennifer Heron

Associate Communications Director

Jennifer Heron

Jennifer Heron serves as the Associate Communications Director at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. She manages GBPI's digital brand, including website and social media, as well as printed collateral.

Board of Directors

Yasmine Antoine, Chair; Strategic Planning Committee Chair

Of Counsel | Baker Donelson

Teresa Tomlinson, Vice Chair

Former Mayor of Columbus, GA; Partner | Hall Smith Booth

James McCoy, Treasurer

Consultant | The Chason Group

Robert Sills, Secretary

Principal| Open River Strategies LC

David Sjoquist, Policy Committee Chair

Professor of Economics Emeritus | Georgia State University;

Faculty Affiliate | Center for State and Local Finance

Jim Stokes, Governance Committee Chair

Retired | Alston & Bird

Thomas Boller​

Retired | Stateside Investment

Hayden E. Brooks​

Director of Talent and Senior Consultant | Purpose Possible

Carla Cartwright

Director of Client Services | AKQA

Dr. Meria Carstarphen

Senior Scientist | Gallup

Flora Devine

Chief Legal Affairs Officer | Savannah State University

Ann Duffy

Principal | Education First

Lois Frank

Former Director | Mazon

Norelie Garcia

Executive Director | Showcase Atlanta

Charles Johnson

Retired | General Counsel, VP of External Affairs | Tuskegee University

Susan E. Neugent

President Emeritus | Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Maria del "Rosario" Palacios

Executive Director | Common Cause Georgia

Support GBPI Today

The Georgia Budget & Policy Institute is a 501(c)3 organization. We depend on the support of donors like you. Your contribution makes the work that we do possible.
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Critical SNAP Updates

The Georgia Department of Human Services has clarified that SNAP recipients can use their EBT card with any unspent SNAP benefits in November.  

DHS states: “Households may continue to redeem benefits issued to their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card prior to Nov. 1, 2025, at any SNAP authorized retailer.” 

However, as DHS reported before, the November SNAP benefits will be suspended until federal funds are available. 

If you are in need of food, you can find a local food bank here.  

Submit your comment on the Georgia Pathways to Coverage Program

Submit public comment on Georgia’s Pathways to Coverage program extension by February 20th – just complete this easily fillable form:

Submit Comment