Vance Aloupis, Executive Director, graduated from the University of Miami in 2005 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and from the University of Miami School of Law in 2008. As an undergraduate, Vance served as both the Student Body President and Student Trustee on the UM Board of Trustees. He was a founder of the Miami-based voter registration drive “Get Out the Vote” as well as the founding director of Miami’s St. Jude Philanthropy “Up ‘til Dawn”. As a law student, Vance has helped lead one of the largest charitable organizations on campus, fostering reading and writing skills in local area schools, while also being awarded membership into the prestigious Bar and Gavel Honor Society. Vance has also earned the Judge Peter Palermo Fellowship for his work in the Center for Ethics-Street Law program. Through this program, Vance has had the opportunity to teach at a local juvenile detention center on a weekly basis. During his summers, Vance was awarded a H.O.P.E. Fellowship and worked as a legal advocate for homeless clients at Legal Services of Greater Miami. In the private sector, Vance has also had the opportunity to serve as a summer associate in the Maine-based firm Rudman-Winchell, practicing several areas such as contracts, trust and estates and workers compensation. Outside of school, Vance has studied Mandarin in Beijing, China and interned on Capitol Hill for Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME). He currently resides with his wife in Miami, Florida.

Harout Samra, Director of Political Affairs, is a Miami native who has been active in Florida youth politics for nearly a decade. He earned a Bachelor's degree, cum laude, in Economics and Political Science from the University of Miami in 2004. During his undergraduate years, he co-founded a statewide political organization, the Florida College Republicans, and ultimately served as Co-Chairman. During the summer of 2003, Harout worked as an intern in the United States House of Representatives in the office of Congressman Mark Foley. After graduation, Harout decided to forego graduate studies in Economics and instead worked in real estate sales and management in the South Florida area. In May 2008 he earned a Masters in Business Administration, concentrating in Finance, from the University of Miami Graduate School of Business Administration. In May 2009, he will compete a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law. While at the Law School, he performed extensive published research on antitrust and international arbitration. During that time he served as Executive Editor of the Inter-American Law Review and Editor-in-Chief of the Res Ipsa Loquitur. Also, he has worked at the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice in Washington, DC. Over the years, Harout has been involved in countless local, statewide and federal political campaigns. In 2006 he helped co-found StrongParty.org, a Political Action Committee, serving as Treasurer. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of StrongParty.org.

Robert S. Nuzum, Director of Academic Affairs, was born in Radford, Virginia and raised in Venice, Florida. He has been active in political affairs for over a decade, having been involved in local and national politics. From 1999 to 2001 he served on the City of Venice Youth Advisory Board and in 2003 he worked as assistant to former Venice City Manager George N. Hunt. Robert has also volunteered as an election observer and has campaigned on several candidates’ grassroots efforts. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from the College of William and Mary, and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law in May of 2008. While in Law School he served as Editor-in-Chief of the University of Miami Inter-American Law Review, as a research assistant for Professor Cynthia Drew, and as a teaching assistant for Professor Stephen I. Vladeck (now at American University Washington College of Law).

Armando Gutierrez Jr. was born on September 11, 1981, in Miami, Florida, and grew up in Miami Beach, Florida. He has always been interested in the conception and operation of a business. His first involvement was in 1999 when at age 17 he became the chief technology officer of a chain of online grocery stores. After two years of developing a solid foundation for the companies, he partnered with a friend and launched and Internet Media Company which was a instant success in servicing just under 100 clients in its first year. After he completed his undergraduate education, Gutierrez founded the Gutierrez Group, LLC., a diversified investment company.

Mike Pieciak is a native of Brattleboro, Vermont and has been active in politics from an early age. In eighth grade Mike served as the executive page to then Governor Howard Dean and through the years has been very active in campaigns for local and statewide races in Vermont. Mike attended Union College were he earned an honors degree in Political Science and authored an honors thesis entitled "A Return To Normalcy: Presidential Power in a Post September 11 World." During college Mike interned in Washington D.C. for the Senate Judiciary Committee with Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and worked for the New York State Division of the Budget for the executive office of Governor George Pataki. Mike currently attends the University of Miami Law School and will serve as the Editor-in-Chief of the Miami Law Review for the 2008-2009 academic year. Mike volunteered at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts serving as an access control supervisor and will return to the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado to serve as a Vermont district level delegate. Mike will be spending the upcoming summer in New York City at the law firm of Skadden, Arpes, Slate, Meagher & Flom.