UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

 

400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202

www.ed.gov

The Department of Education’s mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global Competitiveness 

 by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.

2023 Negotiated Rulemaking Student Loan Debt Relief Committee

US Department of Education

Non-Federal Negotiators and Facilitators

October, November, December, 2023

Facilitators (non-voting)

Cynthia Jeffries, John Weathers, and Brady Roberts or Mike Franczak with Federal Mediation 

and Conciliation Service 

Non-Federal Negotiators

Civil Rights Organizations

Wisdom Cole, NAACP (primary) 

India Heckstall, Center for Law and Social Policy (alternate) 

Legal Assistance Organizations that Represent Students or Borrowers 

Kyra Taylor, National Consumer Law Center, (primary) 

Scott Waterman, Student Loan Committee of the National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees, 

(alternate)

State Officials, including State higher education executive officers, State authorizing agencies, 

and State regulators of institutions of higher education.

Lane Thompson, Oregon DCBS - Division of Financial Regulation, (primary) 

Amber Gallup, New Mexico Higher Education Department, (alternate) 

State Attorneys General

Yael Shavit, Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General, (primary) 

Josh Divine, Missouri Attorney General’s Office, (alternate)

Public Institutions of Higher Education, Including Two-Year and Four-Year Institutions

Melissa Kunes, The Pennsylvania State University, (primary) 

J.D. LaRock, North Shore Community College, (alternate)

Private Nonprofit Institutions of Higher Education 

Angelika Williams, University of San Francisco, (primary) 

Susan Teerink, Marquette University, (alternate)
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202

www.ed.gov

The Department of Education’s mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global Competitiveness 

 by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.

Proprietary Institutions 

Kathleen Dwyer, Galen College of Nursing, (primary) 

Belen Gonzalez, Mech-Tech College, (alternate)

Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and MinorityServing Institutions (institutions of higher education eligible to receive Federal assistance 

under title III, parts A and F, and title V of the HEA)

Sandra Boham, Salish Kootenai College, (primary) 

Carol Peterson, Langston University, (alternate) 

Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Lenders, Servicers, or Guaranty Agencies

Scott Buchanan, Student Loan Servicing Alliance, (primary) 

Benjamin Lee, Ascendium Education Solutions, Inc., (alternate) 

Student Loan Borrowers Who Attended Programs of Two Years or Less 

Ashley Pizzuti, San Joaquin Delta College (primary) 

David Ramirez, Pasadena City College, (alternate)

Student Loan Borrowers Who Attended Four-Year Programs 

Sherrie Gammage, The University of New Orleans, (primary) 

Sarah Christa Butts, University of Maryland, (alternate) 

Student Loan Borrowers Who Attended Graduate Programs 

Richard Haase, State University of New York at Stony Brook, (primary) 

Dr. Jalil Bishop, University of California, Los Angeles, (alternate) 

Currently Enrolled Postsecondary Education Students

Jada Sanford, Stephen F. Austin University, (primary) 

Jordan Nellums, University of Texas, (alternate)

U.S. Military Service Members, Veterans, or Groups Representing them 

Michael Jones, Veteran, (primary) 

Vincent Andrews, Veteran, (alternate) 

Consumer Advocates

Jessica Ranucci, New York Legal Assistance Group, (primary)

Ed Boltz, Law Offices of John T. Orcutt, P.C., (alternate)

Individuals with Disabilities or Groups Representing them

John Whitelaw, Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI) (primary)