Malaria Policy Center Staff
Mark Green | Managing Director
Mark Green joined the Malaria Policy Center after his tenure as United States Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania. As Ambassador, Mark worked tirelessly to create lasting relationships with the government and people of Tanzania to create economic growth and fight disease like malaria.
Prior to serving as ambassador, Mark served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was a member of the House Judiciary and International Relations Committees, and served as an Assistant Majority Whip.
While in Congress, Mark was a leader in designing tough laws aimed at protecting children and families. Mark authored the "Two Strikes, You're Out Child Protection Act," which dramatically enhanced federal penalties for child molesters. He also wrote legislation reauthorizing and expanding the Violence Against Women Act. He co-led the floor debate on the "Faith-Based Initiative" – a groundbreaking plan to bring the community of faith back into the national fight against poverty and social crises – and co-founded the bipartisan Faith-Based Caucus.
As a member of the International Relations Committee, Mark played a leading role in crafting the Millennium Challenge Act, America's historic commitment to invest in developing nations that are pursuing political and economic reforms. He played an important role in crafting the Global Access to HIV/AIDS Prevention, Awareness and Treatment Act of 2001, and the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act.
Mark's interest in Africa goes back some years. In 1987-88, he and his wife, served as secondary school teachers in Kenya through WorldTeach Project, a development organization based at the Phillips Brooks House of Harvard University. During this time, they traveled extensively in East Africa, including western Tanzania. Ambassador Green has also spent time in Southern Africa and West Africa.
Mark is very much a Wisconsin product. He attended the University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire and received his law degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Wendy Taylor | Senior Vice President for Global Advocacy
Wendy Taylor leads the Policy Center's Global Advocacy efforts, creating partnerships with other organizations and coordinating international outreach.
Before joining the Malaria Policy Center, Taylor founded Bio Ventures for Global Health which aimed to engage the biopharmaceutical industry in support of developing medicines for neglected diseases. Taylor developed a policy and advocacy agenda centered on the need for new market incentives to stimulate industry investment in global health research and development.
Taylor also served as Director of Regulatory Affairs and Bioethics for the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) where she negotiated the third reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) and developed the organization's global health initiatives. Taylor brings to the Policy Center, extensive experience in the executive and legislative branches of the US government, including the Office of Management and Budget, where she oversaw FDA regulatory activities, and the work of the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means.
Taylor received a Master of Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a B.A. from Duke University.
Jonathan Shradar | Communications Director
Jonathan Shradar joined the Malaria Policy Center as its Communications Director as a passionate advocate and strategic communicator dedicated to pairing traditional and new media outreach for increased exposure and effectiveness in the fight against malaria.
Previously Jonathan was Press Secretary of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, serving as the chief spokesperson for the agency and senior communications advisor to the Administrator during a period of significant governmental action and increasing public interaction on environmental issues. While at the EPA, Jonathan led efforts to create the first agency-wide blog and advocated for the use of new technologies to enhance the agency's communications capabilities.
Prior to EPA Jonathan highlighted renewable energy and energy efficiency as a spokesman at the U.S Department of Energy and dodged bullets and bombs while a Global Outreach Officer for the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
Jonathan also brings the Policy Center experience in local and national campaigns, media and non-profit public affairs. He holds a degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and continues to pursue his political science graduate degree at the University of Toledo (Ohio).
Ben Brophy | Communications and Policy Associate
Ben Brophy works as the Communications and Policy Associate for the Malaria Policy Center. He conducts research in order to support both the Policy Center's advocacy and communications outreach. Additionally, Ben broadens the Policy Center's network in global health and development in order to strengthen the community's efforts in the fight against malaria. Finally, Ben supports the Policy Center's new media outreach and contributes to the Policy Center's messaging overall.
Before joining the Policy Center, Ben earned his bachelor's degree in Political Science and History at Loyola College in Maryland. He then went on to attend graduate school at American University where he earned his master's degree in Comparative Politics.
Ben also worked for Representative Rush Holt's Washington office where he gained experience in legislative affairs. Specifically, he focused on issues concerning foreign aid and international relations.
Nicole Vernon | Operations Manager
Nicole works as the Operations Manager for the Malaria Policy Center where she assists in the planning, prioritizing and executing of day-to-day and long-term activities. She also provides research and analytic support as well as advocacy strategy based on her decade-plus experience working on Capitol Hill.
Before joining the Policy Center, Nicole served as Deputy Chief of Staff to former Senator Norm Coleman of Minnesota, where she managed the staff and operations of the office as well as provided counsel on all policy, political and communications matters.
Nicole's government background also includes the executive branch, where she was Chief of Staff to the Office for Victims of Crime, a division of the U.S. Department of Justice. While at OVC, she oversaw the disbursement of over $625 million from the Crime Victims Fund, as well as worked on special projects ranging from the International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program, National Crime Victims Rights Week activities, and programmatic efforts to assist trafficking victims.
Prior to that, she held several positions on Capitol Hill, including Chief of Staff to former Representative Mark Green and Executive Assistant to former Representative Scott Klug, both of Wisconsin.
Nicole brings a wealth of strategic knowledge, as well as organizational strength, to the Policy Center. She earned her bachelor's degree in Political Science and English at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.