Approval voting is a simple, yet novel, approach to bridging the ideological divide that threatens our democracy. By giving voters a more powerful ballot on which they can pick all the candidates they like, we are working with our partners to strengthen the power of a vote, and reinforce faith in our electoral system. Our movement aims to find out where we agree, and in it there is room for people of all backgrounds.  

At The Center for Election Science, we strongly believe that the board of directors should reflect the movement. That’s why we’re so excited to announce the addition of four new members to our Board of Directors who further solidify this body as a reflection of those we aim to serve – everyone. Along with a passion for better democracy, our new members bring further academic heft, community leadership, real political experience, and philanthropic expertise to our team. Meet our new members below.

Jennifer Doleac

Jennifer Doleac is an Associate Professor of Economics at Texas A&M University and a Senior Fellow at the Niskanen Center. She is the Director of the Justice Tech Lab, Co-Director of the Criminal Justice Expert Panel, and host of the Probable Causation podcast. 

Professor Doleac is a leading expert on the economics of crime and discrimination, and a vocal proponent of using rigorous research to inform policy. Her research addresses topics such as DNA databases, prosecutorial reform, risk assessment algorithms, and the unintended consequences of “ban the box” policies.

Professor Doleac holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Stanford University and a B.A. in Economics and Mathematics from Williams College.   

“Approval voting is a meaningful reform that is getting real traction on the ground. It gives me hope that we can find a way out of the current, politically-polarized mess that we’re in.”

LaShana Lewis

LaShana’s leadership to empower all Americans through work and education has been recognized by business and civic leaders across the nation. She began working with computers when she asked her East St. Louis high school teacher to help her learn to code. Later, after being written off solely because she didn’t have a degree, she discovered LaunchCode, which helped her find a position at Mastercard as a Software Engineer.

In a speech given by President Barack Obama, she became known as a national success story. LaShana has since founded L.M. Lewis Consulting which helps corporations and nonprofits with technology, governance, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

As Board Chair of the Show Me Integrity Education Fund, LaShana has helped create policy and educate the community on approval voting and ethics to re-unite America. As Chair of the Downtown Neighborhood Association and Secretary of the Downtown CID, she helps revitalize downtown St. Louis.

“We need to bridge our political divide in America and change the tone of our politics. Activating people and giving them a louder voice is part of that process. Approval voting is a mechanism that empowers individual voices, while shining a light on community consensus.”

Justine Metz

Justine Metz is a strategic marketing and product management executive with more than 30 years leadership in consumer packaged goods and financial services.

Justine is President of Sapientia Strategic Consulting, her own consulting company that focuses on projects that serve a social purpose. Her recent projects include the Colorado Manufacturer’s COVID Task Force, and Colorado Inclusive Economy where she serves as interim CEO.

Prior to transitioning in 2020 to the purposeful stage of her career, Ms. Metz was Executive Vice President for Prosper, a peer-to-peer marketplace lender where she was held accountable for growth.

“Voting is a fundamental underpinning for equity and justice.  CES’ work directly affects efforts to create a more fair and just world and this is what matters most to me.”

Kristine Reeves

Kristine Reeves is the first elected official to join the CES board. In 2016 she was the first African American woman elected to the Washington House in 18 years and the only woman in the legislature with children under the age of 5. In 2020, a vote-split left her in third place in a congressional primary. More than any of us, she knows what approval voting means to candidates.

Kristine’s journey has included serving as an elected state representative and Director of Economic Development in the Commerce Department. Her life is a testimony to the value of public education and the critical investment of public-school educators in transforming her life and helping her break the cycle of poverty. In the legislature she has been a champion for education, families, and opportunity. Her leadership helped lead to groundbreaking reforms in paid-leave for workers, long-term healthcare, environmental justice, and more.

“Choose-one voting necessitates divisive politics. I have seen it firsthand as a candidate and representative. Approval voting is a simple solution that will change the way our campaigns operate.” 

We’re thrilled to have these new professional perspectives to our team. Please join us in welcoming them to the CES family!