Staff and Fellows
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Benjamin Orr is the Founder, President, and CEO of the Maryland Center on Economic Policy. From 2011 to 2013 he was Interim Director, Transition Coordinator, and Policy Analyst for the Maryland Budget and Tax Policy Institute. Mr. Orr also spent three years with the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program, where he worked on policy issues affecting the greater Washington DC region. Prior to his time at Brookings, Ben worked for the CUNY Institute for Demographic Research, the New York Census Research Data Center, and the John Jay College Center on Terrorism. Mr. Orr holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Baruch College, City University of New York. |
Email: borr@mdeconomy.org
Phone: 410-412-9105 (x700)
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Jasmin Aramburu is MDCEP’s State Policy Fellow. Prior to joining MDCEP, Jasmin worked as a Research Associate at the Northwestern Bluhm Legal Clinic’s Children and Family Justice Center, where she assisted in policy and research projects focused on addressing gun possession and gun violence issues, while simultaneously promoting healing and health among Illinois residents. Her professional background also includes provision of case management and social services to various communities in Chicago. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan. |
Email: jaramburu@mdeconomy.org
Phone: 410-412-9105 (x708)
| Musaab Ibrahim is MDCEP’s Senior Research Assistant. Prior to joining MDCEP, Musaab was an intern for the DC Fiscal Policy Institute where he assisted analysts in producing toolkits on the DC budget and collaborated with partners and coalitions on matters of fair budgeting, taxation, and public safety. He holds a dual degree in Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. |
Email: mibrahim@mdeconomy.org
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Christopher Meyer is MDCEP’s Research Analyst. Prior to joining MDCEP, Christopher worked as a College Aide at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York, where he assisted the Department of Subways with performance measurement and compliance reporting. He has also worked as a Graduate Research Assistant at Baruch College, City University of New York, where he contributed to research in government-nonprofit relations and development economics. He holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Baruch College, City University of New York. |
Email: cmeyer@mdeconomy.org
Phone: 410-412-9105 (x703)
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Taneeka Richardson is MDCEP’s Policy Analyst. Prior to joining MDCEP, Taneeka worked as a Housing Counseling and Research Assistant for the Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership, where she was instrumental in the development of program policies and forging relationships with community partners. Taneeka also has extensive volunteer experiences, including serving with AmeriCorps and participating on various work groups and committees with local nonprofits. She holds a Master’s degrees in Public Health from the University of Maryland, College Park. |
Email: trichardson@mdeconomy.org
Phone: 410-412-9105 (x702)
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Kali Schumitz is MDCEP’s Vice President for External Relations. Prior to joining MDCEP in 2015, Kali worked as a newspaper reporter and editor for more than 13 years, most recently covering local and state government in Virginia for Post Community Media. She also has an extensive background in nonprofit communications and management, having provided board and volunteer support to several organizations. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association. Kali holds a B.A. in Mass Communication from Towson University. |
Email: kschumitz@mdeconomy.org
Phone: 410-412-9105 (x701)
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Dr. Kevin Slayton is MDCEP’s Campaign Manager. Prior to joining MDCEP, Kevin served as the Executive Director for the Baltimore City House Delegation in the Maryland General Assembly, where he assisted with the promotion and execution of City legislative policy initiatives. He has also worked as a civil rights lobbyist consultant representing the interest of clients that included CASA de Maryland, Progressive Maryland, and Associated Black Charities. Kevin worked with the Public Justice Center as the Public Policy Director, where he was instrumental in the passage of significant legislation impacting issues around housing, immigrant rights, worker’s rights, education, and ex-felon voting rights. Prior to his legislative work he served as a program officer with the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Kevin is also a pastor in Lanham, Maryland. He holds a B.S. in Finance and Economics from Alabama A&M University and D.Min from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester, New York. |
Email: kslayton@mdeconomy.org
Phone: 410-412-9105 (x705)
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Nonso Umunna is MDCEP’s KIDS COUNT Director. Prior to joining MDCEP, Nonso worked as Research Director at Advocates for Children and Youth, where he was responsible for evaluating the effectiveness of programs and policies for the state’s children and youth. He worked to expand and update Maryland’s child well-being indicators on the KIDS COUNT® Data Center. Nonso earned his Bachelor of Arts in Government and Public Policy and his Masters in Public Administration and Policy from the University of Baltimore. |
Email: numunna@mdeconomy.org
Phone: 410-412-9105 (x706)
