National Convening Program Books 2015 YEO National Convening Program Book | Page 74

YEO Bios
degree in international relations at Creighton University. Leahy serves as a captain in the U.S. Army
Reserve and is currently assigned to U.S. Strategic Command. In his spare time he enjoys hockey,
tennis, and traveling.

Matthew Lesser

State Representative
Middletown, Connecticut
State Representative Matt Lesser is vice chairman of the Government
Administration and Elections Committee. First elected at the age of
25 as the state’s youngest legislator, Lesser successfully fought to
professionalize Connecticut’s elections laws following the disputed 2010
gubernatorial election. Lesser is working with Governor Malloy and the
secretary of state on pro-voter priorities: making voter intimidation and
harassment a felony, allowing election-day and online voter registrat ion, and amending the state
constitution to allow early voting and expanded access to absentee ballots. In addition to his work on
election issues, Lesser serves on the Energy & Technology, Education and Public Health Committees.

Henry Lo

School Board Member
Monterey Park, California
Henry Lo has been a school board member for the Garvey Elementary
School District since 2003. During his 12 years on the board of education,
he has served as its president three times. He co-founded the Garvey
Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raised over $70,000
in mini-grants for district teachers and strengthened relations between
the Garvey School District and local area cities, community colleges,
water districts, and businesses. A believer of building collaborative partnerships, Lo has worked with
other public agencies to provide reclaimed water for district playing fields and jointly operate two
community gyms. He is also an elected delegate to his county political party and has been a member
for the past nine years. Lo is passionate about civil rights, social justice, education, the environment,
transportation, and civic engagement. A graduate of Colby College in Maine, Lo received his B.A. in
government and East Asian studies.
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Sonia Lopez

Community College Board Trustee
South Gate, California
Board Trustee Sonia Lopez was elected to the Compton Community
College District Board of Trustees in November 2013. She is a legislative
staff member for California State Senator Holly Mitchell, where she focuses
on issues pertaining to higher education. Lopez sits on the advisory
board for LAtinas and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation RBI Advisory