Meet the Executive Board

Thomas Saacks

saacks@cua.edu

President

Thomas is a senior majoring in Politics and minoring in Health, Society, and Policy.  He serves as the President of the Philanthropy Club at CUA and interned for Maryland Senator Ben Cardin as well as the Center for American Progress.

TBD

TBD

Vice President

TBD

Austin Janssen

janssena@cua.edu

Treasurer

Austin is a junior majoring in Politics and minoring in Writing. Outside of Dems, he is the President of the Bell Society, a Knight of Columbus, a two-time Congressional Intern, and a member of the Cornerstone Program.  He currently serves as one of the two SGA Class of 2027 Senators!!

Abbie Dawe

dawe@cua.edu

Political Director

Abbie is a senior majoring in Politics. She has interned for Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed and was the Title IX Task Force Director.

Emmanuelle (Emmy) Ward

wardemm@cua.edu

Events Director

Emmy is a sophomore majoring in Politics. She was a U.S. Senate Page in high school and interned for the West Virginia Democratic Party.  She was the campaign manager for Priscilla Rodd's successful campaign in West Virginia.

Reagan Budasi

budasi@cua.edu

Communications Director

Reagan is a senior majoring in social work and is originally from Guam. She is so popular in the Dems that she once hosted an Office Hours on Guam that filled the entire room. She is the Program Board Queen!!

Matt Nichols

nicholsm@cua.edu

Alumni Director

Matt is a junior majoring in Media and Communications with a minor in Marketing Management.  He is an operations assistant in the Pryz and is a dedicated Catholic U Democrat at heart!!

Emma Bonney 

bonneye@cua.edu

Executive Secretary

Emma is a sophomore majoring in Politics. She is currently serving as one of the two SGA Senators for the School of Arts and Sciences. Her love of politics and service began to cultivate when she was a pager in the Louisiana House of Representatives!!

Jaime Handwerger

handwerger@cua.edu

Chief of Staff

Jaime is a junior politics major who currently plays Lacrosse.  She is dedicated to CUA Dems being the best chapter in Washington, DC, and getting the best out of everything Dems do.

Marie Mendoza

mendozamn@cua.edu

Advocacy Director

Marie is a junior politics major who is nonetheless super committed to making our chapter as professional as possible. When you are in a room with her, you know she is committed to making this country a better place!

Liya Shewakena

shewakena@cua.edu

Freshman Representative

Liya is a freshman politics major from Maryland who is inspired by the work of Kamala Harris. She has been a congressional intern before and is currently interning in the Maryland General Assembly.

Grace Beurket

beurket@cua.edu

Freshman Representative

Grace is a freshman politics major from Pennsylvania who loves the advocacy-based angle of College Dems. She is so siked to be Freshman Representative.