Martin Phillips: Chair of the Board of Directors // Martin is a senior in the Chemical Engineering program at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. He became active in MPIRG in the spring of 2006 by working with the Environment Task Force during Earth Week. The following year, Martin was elected to the vice chair of the MPIRG board of directors where he worked with former Executive Director Rachel Bartleson and Chair Ani Loizzo. From their leadership, he developed a strong commitment to MPIRG's mission of training student organizers and continuing the tradition of student direction. He is currently working on coordinating a strategic planning process which will serve as a roadmap to future boards over the next five years. Martin has been accepted into the University of Minnesota's Medicinal Chemistry Ph.D. program, and he looks forward to working closely with MPIRG for years to come.

Jennifer Nguyen: Vice Chair of the Board of Directors // Jennifer is a senior studying environmental policy and social justice at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. She has been involved with MPIRG ever since she took a service-learning course in conjunction with an internship with her campus chapter. In the nearly three years that Jen has worked with MPIRG, she has gained valuable experience. She hopes to use her experience to teach others she meets along the way. Her career goals are to support MPIRG's student development, to continue in nonprofit management and to work with the governmental sector focusing on environmental issues/policy.

Jamison Tessneer: Executive Director// Jamison works with the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities chapter directing and advising MPIRG's campus team. He graduated from the University of Minnesota – Duluth with degrees in political science and communication. He got his start with MPIRG in Duluth as a student where he held various leadership roles including Democracy Task Force leader, state board representative and organizing intern. Jamison then worked with NMPIRG at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque where he helped establish a New Mexico PIRG Student Chapter. He's attended and led national trainings for students on issues related to the environment, fighting poverty, eliminating student debt and increasing youth voter turnout. He then moved to Minneapolis to Canvass Direct with the Fund for Public Interest Research where he ran recruitment efforts for one of the largest canvass offices in the country. He has now found his way back to MPIRG where he remains committed to making a difference in the world.

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Extension 302, jamison@mpirg.org

Peter Starzynski: Campus Organizer // Peter is the campus organizer for Hamline, Macalester and the University of Minnesota – Morris. He grew up in Chicago and loves the Bears and Cubs (he appreciates it when the Twins beat the White Sox as he despises his South Side rivals). He attended the University of Minnesota – Duluth from 2002 until 2005 where he received a bachelor's degree in political science. He was involved in MPIRG as a student in many different roles. He has been a co-chair, task force leader, organizing intern and a state board representative. In 2004, he was part of a voter registration effort that turned out 85 percent of the students at UMD and 92 percent of the Duluth Community. In 2006 he assisted the regional director for the Northeast Minnesota Chapter of America Votes. From 2006-2007 he was the Campus Organizer for the Duluth MPIRG Chapter when he helped organize the 4th annual Free Democracy Summit. He loves to cook…and eat!

Hamline University
Macalester College
University of Minnesota – Morris
Extension 304, peter@mpirg.org

Karmann Peters: Campus Organizer // Karmann is a 2006 graduate of the College of St. Catherine and a 2004 graduate of Minneapolis Community and Technical College. Karmann had the unique opportunity of leading energized activist groups with both an extremely diverse, urban campus community and a private, women-focused campus community. She understands and respects the value of collective voice in creating lasting social change. Although not a member of MPIRG as a student, Karmann was able to support her campus chapter by holding a seat on the student senate, building coalitions with MPIRG task force leaders (especially in relation to The Vagina Monologues) and aiding in the vocalization of what students wanted by working with campus faculty, staff and administration. She eagerly looks forward to the challenges and successes that will come with organizing the campuses of Augsburg, St. Kate's and Carleton colleges. She enjoys collecting independent music, watching independent films and playing Guitar Hero (which is in no way independent) with her husband of six years, Leon.

Augsburg College
Carleton College
College of Saint Catherine
Extension 303, karmann@mpirg.org

Extension 301, rachel@mpirg.org

Staff
Maggie Ludlow, Field Canvass Manager
mludlow@mpirg.org