National Student Leadership:
Jake Twomey // CALPIRG Students Board Chair
Jake is a 3rd year student at UC Santa Barbara, majoring in Economics and Political Science. As well as being treasurer on the statewide board, he also serves as the vice chair of the UCSB chapter. He got involved with CALPIRG in 2023 working to increase protections for California’s coast. After that, he went on to fight climate change by running the CALPIRG Students 100% clean energy campaign, calling on the UC system to lead the nation by committing to 100% clean energy by 2035. Running the 100% clean energy campaign, he was able to organize students across the state to lobby their Universities to set more aggressive targets for clean energy.
Sanjana Kumar // MASSPIRG Students Board Chair
Sanjana Kumar is the Chair of MASSPIRG’s Statewide Board, as well as Chair of Umass Amherst’s MASSPIRG Chapter, where she is working towards her undergraduate degrees in Psychology, Sociology, and Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. Previously, she has served as the Umass Amherst’s Chapter Secretary and Coordinator for the Save the Bees Campaign. Throughout her time in MASSPIRG, Sanjana has worked to expand community relations by organizing events and meetings to foster connections across-campus and the state, as well as coordinating and participating in a myriad of advocacy efforts to address causes of concern such as the American bee die-out and high textbook costs for college students. Her favorite part of MASSPIRG and serving as chair is being able to unite students from all walks of life to fight for shared issues, and creating a space to encourage and empower students to use their passion and voice to generate real, tangible change. Outside of MASSPIRG, Sanjana enjoys spending her time reading, playing her saxophone, and hiking.
Gianna Rivera // NJPIRG Students Board Chair
Gianna is a 2nd year student at Rutgers University-Camden, majoring in political science. As well as being on the statewide board, she also serves as the chapter chair of the Rutgers-Camden NJPIRG chapter. She got involved with NJPIRG her freshman year, working as the Save the Bees campaign coordinator. Since then, she has worked on the Waste is Out of Fashion Campaign, focusing on campus engagement, leadership development, and recruitment. In her free time, Gianna loves to read, try new restaurants, and does hot Pilates.
Kali Kleven // OSPIRG Students Board Chair
Kali is a 3rd year student at the University of Oregon, double-majoring in History and PPPM (Planning, Public Policy, and Management). Kali got involved with OSPIRG Students her freshman year because she wanted a space to use her voice to create real change. She has worked to create a more civically engaged campus and end food waste. Now, she is working to end student hunger while working as the chapter chair of OSPIRG Students. Looking to the future, Kali aims to continue engaging students in on-campus leadership and advocating for student voices.
Emma Yeaman // WashPIRG Board Chair
Matteah is a senior Environmental Science and Terrestrial Resource Management major at the University of Washington and serves as the Chair of the WashPIRG Students state board of directors. Additionally, she helps run the chapter’s Save The Orcas campaign
Caleb Gustavson // Georgia State University
Caleb Gustavson is a second-year Public Policy and Philosophy double major at Georgia State University. Caleb founded the Georgia State chapter of Georgia PIRG. He works for PIRG because of how effective the organization structure is at winning campaigns and building student power. Caleb does not work on a specific campaign and is focused more on building organizational power for Georgia PIRG at the state and campus levels while developing the other leaders of Georgia PIRG. His highlight is running the New Voters Project in the fall of 2024 and individually contacting over 5,000 Georgia student voters with helpful election information.
Staff:
Andy MacDonald // Executive Director
Andy manages our staff who work on 38 campuses in nine states, as well as training, staff development, volunteer programs, campaign strategy and canvassing. Andy has maintained a funding base for the student chapters, built a pipeline for students and staff to become lifelong activists, and been a part of a variety of social change campaigns. He has held numerous positions within the network, including regional director and assistant national summer canvass director for Fund for the Public Interest. Andy lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, with his family, and enjoys all outdoor sports, especially running.
Dan Xie // Political Director
Dan began her career in college as a student leader with CALPIRG, where she helped to bring high-speed rail to California. In her current role she directs the national political strategy for the Student PIRGs. She advises staff and students on strategic campaign plans and amplifies our work with coalition partners and at conferences. Dan has managed successful campaigns to cap global warming pollution, fight the high cost of higher education, and make voting more accessible for students. Dan lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she is an avid cyclist and climber.
Manny Rin // New Voters Project Director
Manny began his career in college as a student leader with CALPIRG. Now he works with staff and students to make sure the largest voting block in the country is activated and empowered. Previously the executive director of Change Corps, Manny has extensive experience leading campaigns, including working with MoveOn.org Political Action to get out the vote in swing states in 2014, and with Everytown for Gun Safety to pass gun safety legislation in Oregon. Manny lives in Denver, where he enjoys running, playing pool and trivia with friends.
Michael Basmajian // National Administrator
As the national administrator for the Student PIRGs, Michael oversees the team’s tracking systems, plans national trainings, and provides administrative and web support for Student PIRGs staff across the country. Michael has worked on a number of successful campaigns including helping to persuade major fast food chains, including McDonald’s and Subway, to protect public health and stop serving meat raised on the routine use of medically important antibiotics. Michael lives in Somerville, Massachusetts, where he enjoys playing guitar, going to shows and practicing heavy metal yoga.
Liam Horstick // Recruitment and Digital Director
As recruitment director for the Student PIRGs, Liam works to identify, recruit and empower people looking to make a difference. Before taking his current role, Liam was a campus organizer with CALPRG Students for four years, where he worked to train student leaders to run and win strategic campaigns. Liam has worked on successful campaigns in California to help students register to vote and turn out to the polls, commit the state and the UC system to 100 percent clean electricity, and pass and defend California’s plastic bag ban. Liam was born and raised in California, where he enjoys spending time at the beach or in the ocean, seeing live music and cheering on the Los Angeles Lakers.