NEW ORLEANS - District "C" City Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer is proud to announce the following individuals as part of her office staff: Andrew Sullivan, Chief of Staff; Alison Poort, Legislative Director; Mary Cunningham, Director of Constituent Services; Travis Chase, Director of Special Projects; and Tiffaney Bradley, Communications Director.

Chief of Staff Andrew Sullivan, a native of Minneapolis, graduated from Yale University in 2005 with a B.A. in History. With more than 10 years of experience working as an educator, he spent the majority of his career as a teacher at Langston Hughes Academy in New Orleans, where he was eventually named Assistant Principal. After his tenure in education, Sullivan decided to further his own by obtaining a Master's Degree in Education Policy and Management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Following graduation, he moved to Denver as a part of the Urban Leaders Fellowship, working on policy issues related to workforce development.

Before taking on his most recent role with Councilmember Palmer, Sullivan worked as the Education Policy Director for the Mayor's Office of Children's Affairs in Denver, where he oversaw a wide range of projects related to the Mayor's education agenda, including the Birth to 8 Roadmap, recruiting and retaining educators of color, and improving access to post-secondary pathways for Denver students.

Director of Special Projects Travis Chase is a proud graduate of St. Augustine High School who went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree from Dillard University with a dual degree in International Business and Japanese Studies. He has more than 15 years of experience in higher education and community development having worked at Dillard and Xavier Universities in New Orleans, Southern University in Baton Rouge, and Pepperdine University in California. Prior to working in higher education, Chase taught English in Japan for two years as part of a Japanese exchange teaching program. He is the grandson of legendary New Orleans chef Leah Chase of Dooky Chase Restaurant.

Director of Constituent Services Mary Cunningham attended graduate school in New Orleans 25 years ago and has called the city home ever since. She took her first position in city government as Director of Constituent Services for former New Orleans City Councilmember James Carter. Following her tenure with Councilmember Carter, she was invited by Kristin Gisleson Palmer to work for District "C" from 2010 to 2014.

After eight years serving the New Orleans City Council, Cunningham accepted a position as Management Development Analyst with the Civil Service Department. She later re-joined the City Council as part of the District "A" team with former Councilmember Susan Guidry. Upon completion of Guidry's term in 2018, she happily accepted the position of Constituent Services Director reuniting with the District "C" Office and Councilmember Palmer.  

Legislative Director Alison Poort is a native to the New Orleans area (Slidell) and a graduate of Louisiana State University, University of Texas School of Social Work, and Georgetown University Law Center. Prior to joining the District "C" office, Poort served former Councilmember Susan Guidry on juvenile justice, budget matters, and special projects. She has also worked in both state and federal government, primarily on education and housing issues.

Communications Director Tiffaney Bradley comes from an extensive background in broadcast journalism. No stranger to New Orleans, she graduated from Dillard University and returned to the city a few years later as a reporter for WDSU, covering important issues such as the devastating BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico and Hurricane Issac.

Through her 10-year broadcast career, Bradley brings valuable communications experience to the District "C" staff. Having worked as a reporter and anchor at television stations in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana, she is very excited to return home to the Crescent City to share Councilmember Palmer's work and service with District "C" residents.

(from left to right) Mary Cunningham, Tiffaney Bradley, Andrew Sullivan, Alison Poort, Travis Chase

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Contact:

Tiffaney Bradley
Communications Director
Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer, District 'C'
Tiffaney.bradley@nola.gov
(504) 658-1034