EMILYs List Announces New Leadership Team

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, is bringing a new leadership team on board to lead the organization’s mission of electing Democratic pro-choice women up and down the ballot. At a time when Republican chaos is impacting every aspect of our country, EMILYs List’s work is more critical than ever. This leadership team will work alongside EMILYs List endorsed candidates to flip key seats at the state and federal level in 2025 and 2026, and implement a long-term strategic plan to recruit and support women candidates to run for office.

Michelle White has been named executive director, Nick Schumaker has been named chief of staff, Adele Hixon-Day has been named chief development officer, Amanda Sherman Baity has been named chief communications officer, Christen Sparago has been named chief digital officer, and Tiernan Donohue has been named chief campaigns officer. They are joining chief administrative officer Denelle Robinson and chief finance officer Callie Fines.

After serving as interim vice president of federal and gubernatorial campaigns, Ben Ray has been named deputy chief campaigns officer of federal & gubernatorial campaigns, and Emily Parés, who has been serving as interim vice president of state and local campaigns, has been named deputy chief campaigns officer of state & local campaigns. 

“I’m thrilled to announce EMILYs List’s new leadership team. EMILYs List works alongside our candidates to deliver game-changing impact in races up and down the ballot, all over the country. This team is full of impressive individuals who bring immense experience and expertise to our work,” said EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler. “Democratic women are at the center of the most important fights in front of us — most critically the fight to take back power and secure our country’s future. Our new team is battle-tested and ready to elect Democratic pro-choice women who will push back against Republican extremism and deliver relief for Americans who are struggling to get ahead.” 

Over 40 years, EMILYs List has raised nearly $950 million to help Democratic women win competitive elections by recruiting and training candidates, supporting and helping build strong campaigns, researching the issues that impact women and families, running one of the most impactful independent expenditure operations for Democrats, and turning out women voters to the polls. Since its founding in 1985, EMILYs List has helped elect 192 women to the House, 29 to the Senate, 20 governors, and over 1,600 women to state and local office.

EMILYs List Leadership Team

Michelle White, Executive Director
Michelle is the executive director where she directly manages the leadership team and oversees the organization’s strategic direction, operations, financial management, and political programs to elect Democratic pro-choice women to office and advance the EMILYs List mission nationwide. She joined EMILYs List as chief of staff with more than 15 years of experience in campaigns, government, and political operations. She previously served as managing principal of a strategic consulting firm advising state and national clients, and as chief of staff to Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak — the youngest in state history. In that role, she led the office through multiple legislative sessions and helped steer Nevada through the challenges of the pandemic and an unprecedented economic recession.

Her career spans leadership roles on major campaigns and in state politics. She was Nevada state director of For Our Future Action Fund in 2018, oversaw political strategy as deputy state director for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, and earlier served as executive director of the Nevada Senate Democratic Caucus. A Campaign Corps alum, Michelle began her career with EMILYs List in 2008, working on Shirley Breeden’s successful state Senate campaign. 

Nick Schumaker, Chief of Staff
Nick is the chief of staff, leading strategic planning and cross-team collaboration to advance the organization’s mission of electing Democratic pro-choice women. With more than a decade of experience in fundraising, political strategy, and organizational leadership, Nick has played key roles in building resources and partnerships to support candidates nationwide. He previously served as interim vice president of development during the 2024 election cycle, and earlier as major gifts director, engaging our community of supporters and raising crucial funds for the organization and our endorsed candidates.

Before joining EMILYs List in 2020, Nick held senior positions for high-profile campaigns and committees, including finance chief of staff for Kamala Harris’s 2020 presidential campaign and deputy major donor director at the Democratic Governors Association. From seeing the EMILYs List impact firsthand on a congressional campaign to working for Hillary Clinton’s groundbreaking 2016 presidential campaign and beyond, Nick brings deep experience and a strong commitment to our mission at this critical time.

Adele Hixon-Day, Chief Development Officer
Adele is the chief development officer, where she leads the fundraising team and develops strategies to secure and sustain the resources needed to support work beyond the current cycle — enabling EMILYs List to plan strategically, deepen its future impact, and build toward an endowment. With over 20 years of leadership in strategic fundraising, Adele is a proven expert in donor engagement and institutional development, with a record of securing transformational gifts and growing financial capacity for globally recognized organizations. Before joining EMILYs List, she served as chief advancement officer at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), where she led the successful completion of a $350 million endowment campaign and oversaw a 30-person advancement team responsible for securing 60% of the museum’s operating budget.

Adele has dedicated her entire career to development, holding roles at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the University of Tennessee Foundation, Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, and the American Lung Association. Adele’s experience spans major gift solicitation, campaign strategy, and the design of large-scale fundraising marketing initiatives. Her expertise and extensive networks will bring a fresh perspective to the EMILYs List team, strengthening donor engagement and driving innovation in our fundraising programs.

Amanda Sherman Baity, Chief Communications Officer
Amanda serves as chief communications officer at EMILYs List, where she leads efforts to amplify the work of the organization and its endorsed candidates across media and targeted audiences. She is a highly skilled communications strategist with over a decade of experience crafting and executing effective messaging for high-stakes political campaigns and national organizations. Most recently, she served as senior communications strategist at the DSCC, where she advised competitive Senate campaigns across two election cycles, developed earned media strategies, and led a battleground accountability program coordinating with campaigns and consultants to drive impactful narratives.

Previously, Amanda was communications director for MJ for Texas, an EMILYs List-endorsed candidate, and held roles at the DCCC, in congressional offices, and on national campaigns. 

Christen Sparago, Chief Digital Officer
Christen Sparago is the chief digital officer at EMILYs List, where they lead digital fundraising, social media, and creative strategy to help elect Democratic pro-choice women up and down the ballot. Before becoming chief digital officer, Christen served as digital fundraising director and then interim vice president of digital, where they oversaw the launch of Friends of the List, a first-of-its-kind membership program centered on community and storytelling. Under their leadership, EMILYs List has expanded its digital reach, strengthened supporter engagement, and raised millions to elect Democratic pro-choice women.

With over a decade of experience in digital campaigning and grassroots engagement, Christen has previously served in senior digital roles at the DCCC and DNC. They are passionate about building innovative, high-performing teams and driving strategic impact across the progressive ecosystem.

Tiernan Donohue, Chief Campaigns Officer 
Tiernan is chief campaigns officer where she oversees the organization’s electoral and political work to elect Democratic pro-choice women up and down the ballot. Tiernan brings extensive experience managing and advising some of the nation’s most competitive Democratic campaigns, from congressional primaries to the closest U.S. Senate race of 2024. An EMILYs List alum — first as an intern and later as federal and gubernatorial finance advisor from 2017 to 2019 — her deep connection to the organization’s mission and candidates has shaped her career. With a strong record of building teams, forging partnerships, and navigating high-stakes races, she is well positioned to help elect more Democratic pro-choice women in this pivotal moment.

Most recently, Tiernan managed Senator Bob Casey’s reelection campaign in Pennsylvania, the closest Senate race and the second-most expensive in 2024. Before that, she served in leadership roles on key battleground Senate races, including as a senior advisor on Mandela Barnes’ Senate race in Wisconsin, campaign manager for Val Arkoosh’s Senate primary in Pennsylvania, and was deputy campaign manager for Mark Kelly’s Senate race in Arizona in 2020. Earlier, she held finance leadership roles on House and governor races for EMILYs List-endorsed candidates across the country.