Staff
Apply for a Citizens League internship: The Citizens League is seeking interns for the Water Policy Project, the Poverty Project, and Membership and Engagement. Click on the titles to view full job descriptions.
- Bob DeBoer, Director of Policy Development
- Victoria Ford, Policy Manager
- Sean Kershaw, Executive Director
- Ann Kirby McGill, Deputy Director
- Annie Levenson-Falk, Policy Coordinator
- Tim Schuster, Membership and Engagement Intern
- Sean Skibbie, Office Manager and External Relations Assistant
- Jody TallBear, Public Policy Intern
Bob DeBoer
bdeboer@citizensleague.org
651-293-0575 ext. 13
Bob joined the Citizens League staff in October 2003. He staffed the 2004 Transportation Study Committee and the 2005-06 Medical Facilities Study Committee. Bob is the primary staff for the Citizens League Policy Advisory Committee, and is responsible for the three property tax studies that the Citizens League issues each year (residential homestead survey, tax increment financing and fiscal disparities).
Before coming to the Citizens League, Bob was director of communications at the Office of the State Auditor and committee administrator for the Minnesota House of Representatives Committee on Taxes and Committee on Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs. Bob also has experience as a journalist, market researcher, and health care manager and worker. During a short stint as a consultant, Bob produced a report on the efficiency of the state lottery in April 2003.
After years of "research" into the transient behavior of college undergraduates (including study in Birmingham, England and Tel Aviv, Israel), Bob received a Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Communication from the University of Minnesota in 1987. He has also completed coursework in state-local fiscal relations and economic development at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.
Currently Reading: The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy-Tale Detectives (with 11-year-old daughter) by Michael Buckley; P.J. O'Rourke on The Wealth of Nations by P.J. O'Rourke; A Green Journey by Jon Hassler
What I enjoy when I'm not working: Live local music, running and baseball
Most people don't know that: when looking for more creative forms of expression than property tax spreadsheets, Bob moonlights on the trumpet in two local bands, GST and Chooglin'.
Victoria Ford
vford@citizensleague.org
651-293-0575 ext. 17
Victoria Ford joined the Citizens League staff in September 2004. She leads the Citizens League's education initiatives, including the Immigration and Higher Education. In addition, she serves as managing editor of the Minnesota Journal, coordinates the Policy and a Pint event series with 89.3 The Current and manages both the Citizens League website and the Community Connections Calendar.
Before coming to the Citizens League, Victoria held a fellowship at the Center for Democracy and the Third Sector at Georgetown University. Her research was on the relationship between civic participation and democracy building in the former Yugoslavia; unfortunately, her results were inconclusive and as a result she is currently persona non grata in the Bosnian city of Mostar (no, not really). Previously, Victoria worked in research at the Urban Institute's Justice Policy Center and the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and has worked extensively with neighborhood organizations through the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs.
A Minneapolis native, Victoria holds a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from the University of Minnesota. She serves on the Saint Paul Mayor's Education Roundtable Working Group and the board of the Twin Cities Young Nonprofit Leaders Network.
Currently reading: The Assault on Reason and Grace.
What I enjoy when I'm not working: reading on the porch, baking, architecture and real estate.
Most people don't know that: I was once featured on Scotland's version of Candid Camera.
Sean Kershaw
skershaw@citizensleague.org
651-293-0575 ext. 14
In 2003, Sean Kershaw became just the sixth Citizens League president in its 50-plus-year-history. Sean had been a member of the Citizens League Board of Directors since 1996, and co-chaired the Citizens League's 50th Anniversary report, Doing the Common Good Better.
Sean left his position as Deputy Director for the City of Saint Paul's Department of Planning and Economic Development (PED), where he had worked for 11 years. During his tenure, Sean chaired then-Mayor Norm Coleman's e-Government initiative and coordinated Coleman's information technology, charter school and education initiatives. Sean also worked as community outreach coordinator on the Mayor's Y2K initiative (where he learned many now-important aspects of community emergency preparedness!). Before coming to Minnesota, Sean was planning coordinator for the Public Housing Authority in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska.
Sean describes his life work as building the institutions necessary to "make policy public." Sean is passionate about active citizenship, civic organization and good public policy. He is a founding member of the Active Citizens School for Young Adults, a young-adult civic leadership program, and is currently working on non-profit civic leadership efforts through the Minnesota Active Citizenship Initiative. He's not afraid to admit that he's been a policy wonk his whole life; he drew political cartoons even as a third grader.
Sean has a BA in Sociology from Haverford College. He lives in Saint Paul's West Seventh neighborhood with his partner Tim Hawkins and their son, Aidan, and daughter, Grace.
Currently Reading: Atlantics and New Yorkers. Looking longingly at the pile of books I compulsively buy at Borders from their discount section.
Currently watching: Six Feet Under -- never saw this when it was going --and depraved reality shows that I'm too embarassed to name.
What I enjoy when I'm not working: family time, my yard, and not working
Most people don't know that: I took a glass blowing class (and loved it); and I'm proud of being a Nebraskan.
Ann Kirby McGill
akirbymcgill@citizensleague.org
651-293-0575 ext. 15
Ann was thrilled to join the Citizens League staff as Deputy Director in April 2006. In her new role, she will focus on expanding membership, enhancing engagement, developing new partnerships and assisting with the implementation of the Citizens League's work plan.
Most of Ann's professional life has been spent working in higher education. At the University of Minnesota she worked in the Office of State Relations and served as the director of Constituent Relations. In that role she worked on special initiatives such as the Summit on Minnesota's Economy; programs focused on leadership engagement and community outreach; and, co-directed the University of Minnesota Legislative Network, a program aimed at increasing grassroots advocacy for the University with state government.She then moved from the University to work as a senior consultant for The Reeher Group, a firm engaged by the advancement organizations of leading colleges and universities to improve performance in development, alumni relations and marketing.
A true product of the Midwest, Ann is a native of Minnesota, and has lived in Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin. Like her parents, three sisters and brother, Ann is an alumnae of the University of Minnesota. She lives in the Summit Hill neighborhood with her husband, son, dog and cat.
Currently Reading: In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant; When the Rivers Run Dry by Fred Pearce; and various cookbooks.
What I enjoy when I'm not working: spending time with family and friends, cooking, knitting, and reading
Most people don't know that: I'm a car radio rock star - solo artist, audience of one.
Annie Levenson-Falk
alevensonfalk@citizensleague.org
651-293-0575 ext. 16
Annie joined the Citizens League staff in April 2006. As Policy Coordinator, she leads the Water Policy Study Committee and provides support for the Immigration and Higher Education Study Committee, as well as staffs the Action Groups. In addition, she manages the Citizens League website.
Before coming to the Citizens League, Annie interned with Dirigo Health Now, an alliance of individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations building support for Maine's Dirigo Health Reform. She was also a member of Youth Adelantando, a grassroots organization in Bangor, Maine, focused on building youth leadership in the community, in cooperation with Bangor's sister city in El Salvador.
Annie graduated from Haverford College in 2005 with a B.A. in Political Science and has studied in Northern Ireland and Guatemala. She lives in Minneapolis with her boyfriend, Mike, and his imaginary cat, Doug.
Currently reading: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz.
What I enjoy when I'm not working: Being outside, making and eating dinner with friends, and not being the very worst player on my soccer team.
Most people don't know that: I can wrestle sheep.
Tim Schuster
tschuster@citizensleague.org
651-293-0575 ext. 11
Tim Schuster joined the Citizens League in May of 2007 as the Membership and Engagement Intern. He is responsible for a variety of tasks within the membership and engagement functions, including event planning, the emerging leaders program, and supporting committee work. He occasionally washes the dishes and assembles office furniture.
Before coming to the Citizens League, Tim assisted in the recruitment campaign for the Hiawatha Leadership Academy, a south Minneapolis public school started by Citizens League member Jon Bacal. He has served as co-president of a student-run organization dedicated to leadership development and community service. Tim has worked with young people in several capacities, including the role of Junior Mentor at the National Leadership Camp in Sydney, Australia. He also worked for the Career and Community Learning Center at the University of Minnesota and interned at the District Office of Congressman John Kline.
Tim is currently working toward a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of Minnesota. He is passionate about making Minnesota and the Twin Cities an even better place to live. He resides in the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood with several friends, all prospective Citizens League members.
Currently reading: Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, by Doris Kearns Goodwin
What I enjoy when I'm not working: Reading, traveling, reading while traveling, and "living simply so others may simply live."
Most people don't know that: I recently returned from a 3.5 month study abroad experience in Jaipur, India.
Sean Skibbie
sskibbie@citizensleague.org
651-293-0575 ext. 10
Sean joined the Citizens League as a staff member in March of 2008. He has volunteered as a co-chair for the action group on energy and the environment since 2006, and his group is in the process of completing two rain gardens at different schools in the Twin Cities. Sean is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, where he majored in political science and minored in mass communication. In his current role, he maintains daily office functions, serves as assistant to Sean Kershaw, and guides current and prospective members on how to get engaged in the activities of the Citizens League.
Before joining the Citizens League, Sean did everything from coach little league baseball to volunteer with Restorative Justice Community Action. Sean currently lives in North Minneapolis with is wife Vang, daughter Emma, and dog Millie. He is a native of St. Paul.
Currently Reading: The Boy Who was Raised as a Dog, by Bruce Perry and Maia Salavitz
What I enjoy when I'm not working: Teaching Emma new words, daydreaming about different policies to enact (not kidding), spending time with family, and playing/watching sports
Most people don't know that: I renovated my entire house (with more than a little help from my friends).
Jody TallBear
jtallbear@citizensleague.org
651-293-0575 ext. 11
Jody joined the Citizens League staff in June 2007 as a summer policy intern. Her work this summer will focus on providing research support and coordination for the Immigration and Higher Education Study Committee.
Jody considers the Twin Cities home although she spent much of her life moving back and forth between the Twin Cities area and Dakota reservations in South Dakota. She attended 12 schools by the time she graduated from high school and is a firm believer that "if it doesn't kill you it makes you stronger". A five-year stint in an unnamed big city on the East Coast cemented her view that the quality of life enjoyed by Twin Citeans benefits us in real ways and is worth fighting for. Jody is of Dakota and Arapaho descent and is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma.
Jody left a career in a sales industry to attend law school and has just completed her first year at Hamline. Upon graduation she hopes to practice in an area of law that intersects with public policy.
Currently reading: Think, by Simon Blackwell
What I enjoy when I'm not working: Running, dinner with friends, and discovering connections with people
Most people don't know that: I'm living my dream