Our Staff

Dr. Tameka Porter is a nationally recognized education policy expert with deep experience at the intersection of research, government and practice. Dr. Porter has held senior roles in state and federal agencies, including as Executive Director at the Maryland State Department of Education, and as a consultant with the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Postal Service and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Dr. Porter has led major federally and philanthropically funded research and evaluation projects. Her work focuses on advancing postsecondary access, best practices in assessment and using mixed-methods and participatory approaches to inform policy development.

She is known for building research-practice partnerships that produce actionable results, often in politically complex or under-resourced contexts. Dr. Porter’s work has been featured in The Hill, The Hechinger Report, The Chronicle of Higher Education and Education Week. Dr. Porter holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy from George Mason University, a M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from American University and a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina.

Debbie Yamada is a seasoned congressional and government affairs professional with over two decades of experience in the U.S. House and Senate. For nearly 30 years, she served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Scheduling to U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, managing the Senator’s complex schedule across local, national and international platforms. In this role, she coordinated high-level engagements, oversaw all briefing materials and official communications, and served as a liaison to members of Congress, federal agencies, foreign dignitaries and the military.

Known for her ability to navigate complex institutions and facilitate strategic engagement at the highest levels, she has also led internship and youth programs, including the U.S. Senate Page Program. Debbie holds a B.S. in Human Resources from Virginia Tech.