Rani N. Woods
Executive Director
Boston University 2008

Rani N. Woods, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, is majoring in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations. In addition to being the President of the BU College Democrats, she is also the Eastern Regional Director of the College Democrats of Massachusetts.

Rani recently returned from London where she was an intern to Member of Parliament Mark Hedrick who was the Personal Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett. She spent the summer interning at the public relations/political consulting firm Cerrell Associates in her native Los Angeles. Rani previously interned with the communications department of People for the American Way in Washington DC as well as with Los Angeles Office of U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer. Additionally, Rani has worked in advertising for a European institute that promotes transatlantic dialogue in the city of Boston.

She has been involved with numerous student organizations including: The Daily Free Press (Campus News Reporter), the WTBU (International News Reporter), the World Affairs Forum (President) and the Student Union (Political Consortia Representative). Rani is currently in her second year of Arabic language training. In her spare time, she enjoys kayaking and sailing on the Charles.

She can be contacted at .

David Sokolove
Director of Operations
Boston University 2008

Newton, Mass native and political science major David Sokolove cut his campaign teeth organizing New Hampshire for John Kerry in 2004. David was an early supporter of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, serving first as a precinct captain and later as a Ward coordinator for the Fenway, Back Bay and Beacon Hill neighborhoods of Boston. David was also heavily involved in organizing Boston’s South End neighborhood for Susan Passoni’s 2007 campaign for the Boston City Council, which came within 3% of the vote of an incredible upset in one of Boston’s most conservative areas.

A member of Boston University’s class of 2008, David looks forward to being a part of the exciting presidential race that’s unfolding this year. In addition to his campaign experience, David has completed internships with US Representative Barney Frank, D-Newton, and Massachusetts State Senator Cynthia Stone Creem, D-Newton. He is a three-year, active member of the Boston Ward 5 Democratic Committee.

The political issues that David is most passionate about are environmental policy, social and economic justice, and public education and transportation. When not being active in politics, David enjoys being involved at his congregation, the First Unitarian Society of Newton, as well as traveling, reading and writing, journalism, running, hiking, and being outdoors.

He can be contacted at .

Lenora Deslandes
Director of Finance
Boston University 2009

Lenora Deslandes is a junior pursuing a major in Environmental Policy and Analysis at the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a native hailing from Somerville Ma, but hopes that her future career will take her around the world. Lenora is currently helping to start a group called “Be the Change” which will spread information about environmental issues and sustainability to students on campus. She is also part of the BU Waste Reduction Team and succeeded in bringing more effective recycling to the College of General Studies last year. Lenora has a large range of interests outside of environmental issues. She was publicist of World Affairs Forum for the last two years, last year she traveled to Peru and studied the Inca, and she was recently certified as a Medical Interpreter in English/Portuguese. Lenora currently works as a Sailing Instructor and in her spare time she enjoys riding her bike around Boston, reading, traveling, hanging out with friends and watching "The Office".

She can be contacted at .

Eileen Hynes
Director of Communications
Boston University 2008

A senior broadcast journalism major at Boston University, Eileen has experience working in television, print, radio and new media.

Last summer she worked as a staff writer for The Telegraph, an award-winning newspaper based in her hometown of Nashua, NH. In addition to reporting on a variety of stories, including interviewing John Edwards, John McCain and Rudy Giuliani at their respective campaign events, Eileen also produced video packages and web casts for the paper’s online content.

While abroad in London earlier this year, Eileen interned for etv, a digital multimedia production company and created content for a popular daily entertainment show broadcast on the 3 Mobile cell phone network.

At BU, she’s involved with BUTV10, the student-run television station, working as senior story producer for Inside Boston, a news magazine program as well as business manager for Terrier Nation, the BU-centered sports show.
Eileen also enjoys cheering on the Red Sox and the Patriots, and planning her ultimate backpacking trip across Europe.

She can be contacted at .

Mike Vastola
Field Director
Tufts University 2010

Mike is a Political Science and Electrical/Computer Engineering Double Major at Tufts University from Rockville Centre, NY. He currently serves as the Communications Director for College Democrats of Massachusetts, as well as the Communications Director of the Tufts Democrats.

When he isn't lamenting having two insanely different majors, doing work for them, or helping out the Dems, Mike works at The Tufts Daily, and enjoys watching and making movies, traveling and community service. Mike may very well have law school in his future.

He can be contacted at .

Melissa is a junior history major and Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies minor at Boston College. She serves as the President of College Democrats of Massachusetts as well as the Chair of College Democrats of America's Faith Caucus.

When not updating the CDM website, Melissa enjoys working on campaigns, running marathons, reading, volunteering with BC's Campus School, playing the piano, and scouring the East Coast in search of decent barbeque. In the future, Melissa hopes to run for public office in her native Kansas.

She can be contacted at .

Brian Gwozdz
Massachusetts Alliance of College Republicans Liaison
Boston College 2009

Brian is a junior economics major and Russian minor at Boston College. Elected in April as the Chairman of the Massachusetts Alliance of College Republicans, he has since transferred from the University of Massachusetts
Amherst to Boston College and, as such, strives for the MACR to maintain an active presence at College Republican clubs in all areas of the Commonwealth.

Aside from the MACR, Brian has also become active with the Massachusetts Federation of Young Republicans and enjoys running, ultimate Frisbee, and learning new languages. After graduation, he intends to pursue graduate
study in economics.

He can be contacted at .