Meet the Yale Dems Board
Christian Thomas
President
Christian is a junior at Yale studying Political Science and pursuing certificates in Education Studies and Spanish. His love for politics began when serving on his local Board of Education in Maryland as a representative for 111k people and loves talking about education policy. Outside of politics, he enjoys collecting records, hiking, traveling, and writing poetry in his free time. He loves studying at coffee shops so ask him to join you for a Chai Lattee in Koffee or Atticus sometime!
Alex Martinez-Garcia
Vice President
Alex Martinez-Garcia serves as the Vice President of the Yale College Democrats. She is a junior in Silliman College from Gales Ferry, CT. Alex is pursuing a major in Neuroscience and hopes to pursue a career in health and scientific public policy. Outside of Dems, you can find her in the pool with Yale Women’s Water Polo, volunteering at HAVEN Free Clinic as a patient navigator, or assisting in research with the Clinical Affective Neuroscience and Development Laboratory.
Zach Pan
Treasurer
Zach Pan (he/him) is a first-year in Ezra Stiles College majoring in Ethics, Politics, and Economics. He was born in Washington DC but has travelled the country working on political campaigns in Iowa, New York, and Virginia. He loves reading a good book (preferably by Murakami) and watching West Wing. Outside of Yale Dems, he is a runner, a competitive chess player, and has attained a second-degree black belt in tae kwon do. Most of all, he is a foodie and loves both good Japanese food and cooking his own creations. Feel free to reach out if you would like to chat!
Jack Dozier
Communications Director
Jack L. Dozier serves as the Communications Director of the Yale Youth Poll, from Charlottesville, VA. Aside from Yale Dems, he spends time with the College Democrats of America – the official collegiate wing of the DNC – working on their Northeast Regional and Communications teams.He is majoring in English and Political Science, with a focus in American Government and Creative Writing. Jack serves in a number of leadership roles with three on-campus organizations and is on two University committees. He holds an opinion column in the Yale Daily News, where he writes about national political movements. Jack is a sophomore in Saybrook College.
Ada Meighan-Thiel
City Engagement Coordinator
Ada Meighan-Thiel serves as the Yale Democrats City Engagement Coordinator. She is in Pauli Murray College majoring in Political Science and is from Culver City, CA. Outside of Dems, Ada volunteers with the Yale Undergraduate Prison Project, is a member of Alpha Phi, and leads first-year backpacking trips with FOOT. She is passionate about endowment justice at Yale and local progressive organizing. In her free time, Ada enjoys sports, movies, and the outdoors.
Riley Getchell
Elections Coordinator
Riley (she/her) is a sophomore in Silliman College from Whitman, Massachusetts majoring in Political Science with a certificate in Education Studies. She has loved her experience working on multiple state and local campaigns and can't wait to make an even bigger impact as Elections Coordinator. Outside of Dems, she is involved in YIRA, a Yale&You Counselor at the admissions office, a Silliman Aide, and a YCBA Assistant. In her free time you can find her going for a run, organizing her Spotify playlists, or drinking a matcha.
Ghazaleh Nozary
Legislative Coordinator
Ghazaleh Nozary is the Yale Dems Legislative Coordinator where she leads a team of Legislative fellows to research and advocate for federal and national bills, forging connections with legislators along the way. She is a sophomore in Timothy Dwight College studying Ethics, Politics, and Economics with passions regarding policy reform. Outside of YaleDems, Ghazaleh is involved with leadership in Students Demand Action, Yale Women's Leadership Initiative, and Yale's Sophomore College Council.
Emma Cantu
Voter Advocacy Coordinator
Emma Cantu is a sophomore in Ezra Stiles College, majoring in Political Science with a certificate in Education Studies. Originally from Palmhurst, TX, she serves as the Voter Advocacy Coordinator for the Yale Democrats, where she launched an initiative with the New Haven Public School System to bring Yale student fellows into civics classrooms and promote youth civic engagement. Aside from Yale Dems, she is also the Business Manager for Yale Out of the Blue, her a cappella group, overseeing performances, finances, and both domestic and international tours. Emma is passionate about public policy and spends her summers focused on research and advocacy. She interned for Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) in 2024 and will join Environment Texas, an environmental policy think tank, in summer 2025.
Grace O'Grady
Membership Director
Grace O’Grady is the Membership and Inclusion Coordinator for Yale Dems. At Yale, she double majors in Environmental Studies and East Asian Studies. She previously worked as a legislative fellow and enjoyed working on HR3302, the Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change bill. She loves getting involved with the arts on campus through theater, acapella, and fiber arts!
Liv Storti
Events Director
Olivia Storti is a junior in Saybrook College majoring in neuroscience on the pre public health/medicine track, interested in the intersection between policy and health inequality. Outside of Dems, she enjoys volunteering at Yale New Haven Hospital, working with Dwight Hall, conducting neuroscience research at the Wu Tsai Institute, and spending time with friends in the New Haven area!
