NRDP Rural Policy Fellows
Office of the Federal Co-Chair
Appalachian Regional Commission
Akofa A. Bonsi
Email: abonsi@arc.gov
Telephone: (202) 884-7713
Fax: (202) 884-7693
Office of Rural Health Policy
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Deanna L. Durrett
Deanna Durrett recently graduated with an Honors B.A. in Political Science from
Saint Louis University. Concentrating her studies in American politics and
communications, she also received a certificate in Political Journalism.
Prior to becoming a 2003 Truman Scholar, Deanna was active in public policy
by serving as a youth advocate for tobacco control. As a volunteer for the
American Lung Association and a member of their Board of Directors, Deanna
traveled throughout her home state of Kentucky and across the country educating
children on the dangers of cigarette smoking. While working with rural
communities to reduce tobacco use and preserve their tobacco-growing heritage,
Deanna discovered a passion for providing health care and education to rural
children and youth. Deanna currently works in the Office of Rural Health Policy
and plans to pursue a law degree in the future.
Email: ddurrett@hrsa.gov
Telephone: (301) 443-1689
Fax: (301) 443-2803
Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs and the
Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Kenna Matthews
A native Wyomingite, Kenna graduated from the University of Wyoming in 2004
with a degree in Psychology. During her time at UW, she added to her academic
studies by volunteering with a domestic violence/sexual assault hotline and the
Albany County Juvenile Justice Project.
A 2003 Truman Scholar, Kenna is currently a fellow at the US Department of
Veterans Affairs, sharing time with both the Office of Public and
Intergovernmental Affairs and the Office of Congressional and Legislative
Affairs. She sees her time at VA as an opportunity to combine her interests in
disability related issues and legislative policy. Prior to her placement at
Veterans Affairs, she interned with the Wyoming Legislature, the Wyoming
Institute for Disabilities and the US Department of Education. Kenna enjoys
reading and traveling and is always trying to find new hobbies to occupy her
spare time
E-mail: kenna.matthews@va.gov
Telephone: (202) 273-9399
Fax: (202) 273-5716
Federal Duck Stamp Program
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Terri L. Porter
Terri Porter is a recent graduate
of the University of Florida, where she majored in Sociology and Political
Science, focusing on U.S. contemporary race relations and the juvenile justice
system. She is especially concerned with the lack of opportunities available
to youth of rural communities and those with poor community activity
infrastructure. Terri currently works in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's
Federal Duck Stamp Office (FDSO), a conservation program that has raised
nearly $700 million to preserve wetlands for conservation within the National
Wildlife Refuge System.
Prior to accepting her position at the FDSO, Terri served as the youth
spokesperson and delegate for the National Association of School Resource
Officers (NASRO), worked on National Organization for Youth Safety (NOYS)
campaigns, and served as a volunteer and intern at the Alachua County State
Attorney's Office Project Payback, a juvenile restitution program. Terri also
served as Florida State Coordinator to the Southeastern Panhellenic Conference
in 2003, and was President of the University of Florida Panhellenic Council,
the largest all-women's organization in the Florida University system. Terri
is also a member of the University of Florida Hall of Fame and Florida Blue
Key.
Email:
terri_L_porter@fws.gov
Telephone: (703) 358-2005
Fax: (703) 358-2009
U.S. Department of Transportation
Anthony Swift
Anthony graduated from Austin College in 2003 with a degree in Biology and Political Science and a minor concentration in Economics. Prior to joining the NRDP, Anthony served as a program assistant for the National Council for Science and the Environment; conducted research for the Center for the Study of International Terrorism in St. Andrews, Scotland; and worked on energy issues at the West Texas Earth Resources Institute. He has an interest in ecological restoration and has developed systems to monitor biological integrity in the wetlands of Michigan and the prairies of North Texas. Anthony was born and raised in rural West Texas and will be working as an NRDP Honors Fellow at the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Email: anthony.swift@ost.dot.gov
Telephone: (202) 366-7107;
Fax: (202) 366-7618
Please send all inquiries about the Rural Policy Fellows
program to
Yvette Butler (USDA):
yvette.butler@wdc.usda.gov or 202-690-4743
Akofa Bonsi (ARC): abonsi@arc.gov
or 202-884-7713
