EXECUTIVE BOARD
Brandon Gonzalez - President
Brandon Gonzalez (he/him) is a senior at SUNY New Paltz majoring in Political Science. Brandon has experience in political campaigning, legislation, and organizing. Brandon serves as the Political Director for the New Paltz College Democrats and volunteers with the Ulster County Democratic Party. He has also worked in Albany as an Assembly session intern for Assemblymember Chris Eachus (Assembly 99th district) during the 2023 legislative session. During the 2022 elections, Brandon worked as a working fellow for Pat Ryan’s congressional campaign (NY-18). Brandon has a deep passion for getting Gen-Z invested in their democracy and is excited to serve as President of CDNY!
CJ Burgardt - Vice President
CJ Burgardt (he/him) is a senior at Stony Brook University, double majoring in Political Science and History. At Stony Brook, CJ is President of the College Democrats at Stony Brook University, Vice President of the Model United Nations Club, and Vice President of the National Security and Global Affairs Organization. He interned on the successful reelection campaign for County Legislator Sarah Anker in 2021, and is a member of the university's undergraduate History Club and the Stony Brook chapter of Phi Alpha Theta. Outside school and politics, he enjoys watching Netflix, listening to Spotify, and taking long walks.
Peter Levy - Field Director
Peter Levy is a junior at Binghamton studying political science. For the last three years, he has worked with his local county legislator and fellow Syoset High School alumni, Josh Lafazan helping him get re-elected twice in a highly competitive electoral district. In doing so, he gained extensive experience working in electorally competitive areas where constituent responsiveness and strengthening local electoral allies are ever so important. In between elections, he worked in his government, drafting policy proposals for Lafazan to present to the county legislature. Finally, last year I was selected to be a senior fellow on his congressional campaign, using my experience in the field to help guide interns. Beyond Lafazan, he has had a lifelong passion for electoral politics and, in particular, field strategy. Peter is honored to take up the role of CDNY’s next Field Director and continue the work of CDNY in keeping New York blue for generations to come!
Nayise Gonzalez - Communications Director
Nayise Gonzalez (she/her), our Communications Director, contributes to CDNY as a senior from SUNY New Paltz. She majors in Political Science with a minor in Environmental Studies. Throughout college, she has received many awards and scholarships for her academic performance and abilities. During the Spring 2023 school semester, she participated in the New York State Assembly Intern Program where she was able to intern for two members in Albany until the end of the legislative session. She also has experience working on campaigns through her work for a State Assembly candidate last year. Nayise has been a member of Kappa Delta Phi N.A.S for over a year where she has been able to grow as an active member of her school community and build leadership skills within the sorority. She has a passion for many issues and has found herself drawn to the world of politics to speak out regarding the problems and discussions important to her community.
Shashank Shamshabad - Political Director
Shashank Shamshabad is a 3rd-year student at New York University and is deeply passionate about politics, youth involvement, and community advocacy. Shashank is currently majoring in Economics/Liberal Studies at NYU College of Arts and Sciences and minoring in Business Studies at NYU Stern and American Sign Language from NYU Steinhardt. He has recently become the College and University Liaison for the Manhattan Young Democrats while organizing youth involvement in various local/federal campaigns. Shashank is also interning at the US Senate and will join Congressman Daniel Goldman’s Office in Washington DC this summer. With his vast knowledge, involvement, and network in NY politics and experience ranging from local to federal levels in both campaign and government work, Shashank hopes to use his skills as political director to continue encouraging young people to get involved in the democratic process!
Selwa Khan - Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Director
Selwa Khan is a Junior at UAlbany where she’s majoring in political science and sociology. Selwa is the current secretary for the UAlbany College Democrats as well as the caucus coordinator and immigrant caucus chair for College Democrats of America. Selwa has a long history in New York politics, she’s worked as a NYWFP Field Organizer and has spent this past legislative session as a legislative intern for Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz. Selwa is a brother of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity Inc. and a UAlbany Student Association Senator. Selwa is a dancer, a Sagittarius, and incredibly excited to continue her journey in CDNY!
Griffin Hughland - Development Director
Griffin Hughland (he/him) is a sophomore at Columbia University double majoring in Political Science and Economics. Griffin serves as Lead Organizer for the Columbia University College Democrats where he organizes one campaign trip and one lobbying trip to D.C. during each of his elected terms. Originally from Wisconsin, he has worked in Madison as a legislative intern to State Senate Minority Leader Melissa Agard (State Senate District 16) during the 2023 legislative session. Additionally, he spent the 2023 summer as a legal intern to Dodge County District Attorney Andrea Will. Hailing from a conservative, Midwest farm town, Griffin holds deep democratic convictions but is also unafraid to reach across the aisle. Coming from an LGBTQ+ household, he has an unrelenting scope for equity and is passionate about affordable housing and workforce development for people with disabilities.
Eliza Brown - Finance Director
Eliza Brown is a senior Mathematics Major at St. Lawrence University. She grew up in Coastal Maine and is now based in Boston, MA and Canton, NY. Eliza is President and Treasurer of SLU Democrats and a member of The League of Women Voters NYS. She is also a member of the Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Strategic Planning Committee at St. Lawrence. Eliza is a current SLU Fellow doing research in experimental mathematics. In her free time, she enjoys reading, art, yoga, and chess. Eliza is passionate about democracy and is thrilled to be supporting CDNY in her role as Finance Director!
Timothy Martinson - Membership Director
Timothy Martinson is a senior at Binghamton University majoring in political science. He serves as Vice President of his campus's College Democrats chapter. Tim is from Long Island and has helped with various campaigns in the past. He also has an interest in political history. In his free time, he usually enjoys playing video games and learning new things in his free time. He also hosts a public affairs radio show at his campus's radio station and writes for his campus's political magazine.
Alexander Timothy - Programs Director
Alexander Timothy is a Political Science and Writing Major at SUNY Fredonia. A native of Cattaraugus County, Alex grew up in rural America and graduated high school in 2021, before moving to Fredonia. Alex is involved alongside Chief of Staff Michael Williams with the Chautauqua County Democrats and serves as Communications Director on the Fredonia chapter of CDNY. He also serves as Editor In Chief and co-founded the Litmora Literary Magazine.
Michael Williams - Chief of Staff
Michael Williams is a Junior Political Science major at SUNY Fredonia and grew up in Cortland, NY. Michael has been a Democrat now for 3 years and has interned for many different campaigns, most notably for Sarah Klee Hood and Nina Turner, looking to stop dark money in Democratic primaries. On campus, Michael is an intramural athlete, an actor, and a staff writer for The Leader at Fredonia.