For media requests, contact Camille Walsh, State Policy Network’s Communications Manager, at walsh@spn.org or (504) 338-8785.
Experts
Tony Woodlief
Tony Woodlief is a political science expert and executive vice president at State Policy Network. Tony is an alumnus of the University of North Carolina. He holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Michigan and an MFA from Wichita State University. Tony has been published in national outlets including The Wall Street Journal and RealClearPolitics. He is the author of I, Citizen: A Blueprint for Reclaiming American Self-Governance.
Kathleen O’Hearn
Kathleen O’Hearn is State Policy Network’s Vice President of Policy Advancement. Kathleen earned her BS in Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University, as well as a minor in Business Administration. She holds a Masters of Public Health from George Mason University. Kathleen is an expert in state-based policy issues and trends.
Carrie Conko
Carrie Conko is the Senior Vice President of Communications of State Policy Network. Prior to joining SPN in 2016, Carrie was senior vice president at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University where she oversaw all aspects of communications, marketing, and outreach. Carrie received her BA in International Relations and Anthropology from American University.
Erin Norman
Erin Norman is the Lee Family Fellow and Senior Messaging Strategist at State Policy Network, leading collaborative, strategic messaging development to persuade more people to choose free-market based reforms. She has over 15 years in communications research including experience in campaign polling at the local, state and federal level and in voter and consumer micro-targeting using predictive analytics. Erin holds a Master’s in Public Policy from The College of William and Mary, with a focus on econometrics, and a BS in Business Administration from Boston University.
Todd Davidson
Todd Davidson is State Policy Network’s Senior Director of Strategic Development. Todd works directly with state think tanks to develop their organization and advocacy strategies. Over the years he has helped start more than a dozen state think tanks and guided over 30 think tanks through strategy development processes. Todd received a Bachelors and Master’s degree in economics from the University of Kansas. Todd is an expert in organizational strategy, think tank advocacy, and political economy.
Chantal Lovell
Chantal Lovell is the Director of Policy Advancement at SPN, where she works to help state think tanks advance policy reforms related to workplace freedom, economic recovery, and healthcare. Before joining SPN, Chantal worked as the communications manager at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Michigan. Chantal holds a Master’s in Political Science from the University of Nebraska, and previously worked as an award-winning journalist in California. She was previously a journalist in Redlands, California and Napa Valley, where she received awards from the California Newspaper Publishers Association for investigative reporting, economic reporting and features writing. Chantal is an expert in government union policy, and the impact public policies have on American families.
SPN in the News
Op-eds
Independent Voters are Alive and Well—and Angrier Than Ever
Tony Woodlief in The New York Post | December 11, 2021
America Needs a Great Decentralization
Michael Lucci in National Review | November 26, 2021
Is America in ‘a Cold Civil War’? Not at All.
Tony Woodlief at Governing | October 8, 2021
State Bans on Critical Race Theory Won’t Work
Tony Woodlief in The Wall Street Journal | August 20, 2021
All Agree: Better Voting Access and Security Are Needed
Tony Woodlief at Real Clear Politics | September 11, 2021
How the States Can Fight the Federal Incentives Encouraging Joblessness
Michael Lucci in National Review | June 15, 2021
States Offer an Alternative Path to Save American Healthcare
Kathleen O’Hearn at US News & World Report | March 29, 2021
Why the 2020 Election is a Mandate for Solutions and Moderation
Carrie Conko and Erin Norman in USA Today | November 23, 2020
Free Speech Absolutism Killed Free Speech
Tony Woodlief at The Wall Street Journal | September 7, 2020
The Overlooked Potential of State AGs for Police Reform
Tony Woodlief at Governing | June 15, 2020
Broadcast
Reclaiming American Self-Governance
Tony Woodlief on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal | December 23, 2021
Independent Voters ANGRIER Than Ever, Will the Parties SMARTEN UP and Find Better 2024 Candidates?
Tony Woodlief on The Hill TV | December 17, 2021
I, Citizen Takeaways
Tony Woodlief on the Jim Bohannon Radio Show | December 6, 2021
The Rise of Independents
Tony Woodlief on the Lars Larson Show | November 15, 2021
Election 2021 and the Rise of the Independent Voter
Tony Woodlief on Fox News Radio | November 9, 2021
State Bans on Critical Race Theory
Tony Woodlief on the David Webb Show | August 27, 2021
Podcasts
Tony Woodlief: I, Citizen
Tony Woodlief on the Civil Squared Podcast | December 13, 2021
What Does ‘Self-Governance’ Look Like In The Era Of Community Decay?
Tony Woodlief on The Federalist Podcast | December 13, 2021
Podcast: Can American Self-Governance Be Saved?
Tony Woodlief on the Spectator Podcast | December 8, 2021
Episode 381: I, Citizen by Tony Woodlief
Tony Woodlief on National Review’s Bookmonger Podcast | December 6, 2021
The High Costs of Incarceration
Rebecca Painter on the Civil Squared Podcast | September 13, 2021