The Cleveland Council on World Affairs’ Young Professionals Advisory Committee (YPAC) is a body of young professionals who support the work of CCWA in its efforts to engage young professionals and students in our programming. YPAC members do this by providing program feedback and insight to the board and staff of CCWA, leading coordination of young professional events, and serving as community ambassadors for CCWA and its programs.

The members of the inaugural Young Professionals Advisory Committee (YPAC) have been announced for the 2021-2023 term. They are as follows:

Daniel Bollinger | President

Daniel Bollinger is Legal Counsel for The NRP Group LLC. Prior to this, he was an associate attorney at Calfee Halter & Griswold LLP. Daniel also served in the Army National Guard as an intelligence officer from 2005 to 2018, during which he deployed to Afghanistan and Kosovo. Daniel has a Juris Doctor from Cleveland Marshall College of Law and a Bachelor of Political Science and History from Indiana Wesleyan University. When not at work, Daniel enjoys serving on the board of Chamberfest Cleveland.

 

 

Kevin Warman | Vice-President

 

Kevin Warman is a Cleveland-based teacher and works as an instructor for Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development. He served in the America Corps as a teacher in 2017. Kevin has a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Political Science from Baldwin Wallace University. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and travel.

 

Maria Garcia-Olalla | Secretary

Maria Garcia-Olalla is the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director at University Settlement. Prior to this, she worked as a Program Fellow for the Cleveland Council on World Affairs. Maria has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in Global and Foreign Affairs, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Non-Profit Administration. Maria is a dual Spanish and American citizen and is fluent in both Spanish and English. In her free time, Maria enjoys hiking, traveling, photography, and drawing.

 

Hannah Smith | Social Chair

Hannah works as an attorney at Tucker Ellis LLP specializing in white collar criminal defense and business litigation. Before her employment at Tucker Ellis, she served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office in the Criminal Division for over six years. Hannah graduated from Yale University with a BA in Political Science and received her law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. She is an avid moviegoer, trivia lover, and retired soccer player that attempts to keep up by still playing sports.

 

Nathan “Nate” Flauto | Friend-Raising Chair

Nate Flauto is a Leasing Consultant for Peak Campus and is an early career professional with a background in program facilitation and external relations. In 2019 Nate earned his BA in International Relations and Political Science from Kent State University. Nate is passionate about elevating equality and eliminating disparities in his community and is equally passionate about our climate’s wellbeing and outdoor recreation. In his daily life, Nate can be found riding his mountain bike, snowboarding, or seeking out the best of Cleveland’s gastronomy scene.

Pacifique Niyonzima

Originally from Rwanda, Pacifique is currently pursuing Ph.D. in Cultural Foundations at Kent State University, where he works as a Graduate Assistant in the Office of Vice President for Student Affairs. Pacifique has a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration with a concentration in Internationalization and Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Professional Education from Walsh University. When not at work, Pacifique enjoys taking U.S. students to Rwanda and building sister city relationships between the U.S. and communities in Rwanda.

Maryam Assar

Maryam is a law student at Case Western Reserve University, an intern in Cuyahoga County’s Eighth District Court of Appeals, and a deputy chief at Case’s Yemen Accountability Project. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Cleveland State University, Maryam traveled to Iran where she taught English and took advanced Farsi courses. When she isn’t preparing for class, Maryam enjoys learning to paint, listening to podcasts about philosophy, and reading Russian literature.

Sean Delay

 

Sean Delay works in the treasury department of Nordson Corporation. Prior to Nordson he worked in the financial industry with JPMorgan Chase, and he holds a BA in Economics from Ohio State University. When not at work, Sean enjoys reading, movies, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

 

Melanie Mohler

Melanie Mohler is the Wholesale Accounts and Pewter Department Manager at Don Drumm Studios & Gallery. Prior to this, she has lived and worked in Spain as an English Language and Culture Assistant and has interned with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of International and Foreign Language Education in Washington, D.C. Melanie has a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Kent State University. In her free time, Melanie enjoys hiking in the Summit Metro Parks and writing for The Devil Strip.

 

We welcome these young leaders to the YPAC inaugural cohort and look forward to seeing the future impact they have in the community!