Staff Bios

Dr. Nancy Joyner is a native of New Orleans. She earned her bachelor's degree in sociology with High Honor from Southeastern Louisiana University and received Southeastern's Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1979. Dr. Joyner left Louisiana to earn a Master's degree in international Affairs from Florida State University where she was a university fellow. In 1970-71, Dr. Joyner volunteered for service in Vietnam as a Program Director for the USO outside of Saigon. Upon her return, she was named Outstanding Young Woman of Louisiana.

After completing her doctorate of philosophy degree in government at Florida State University, she was a lobbyist for women's rights, including equal pay for equal work, the Equal Rights Amendment, and Title IX legislation to give equitable treatment to women and men in education sports, and other educational programs.

Laura is originally from Valparaiso, Indiana and was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate with a bachelor of arts degree in communication law and humanities and a master's degree in international commerce and policy from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana. She is an alumna of the spring 2008 Lutheran College Washington Semester and interned with Congressman Peter J. Visclosky while studying in DC. After graduation, Laura stayed at Valparaiso University as the Coordinator of Student Services and Support in the Valparaiso Graduate School where she began her career working with students. As Director of Internships Laura is responsible for placing students with internships, maintaining relationships with employers, organizing events and field trips, housing and class assignments, as well as coordinating other student related activities.

Douglas Stewart was born and raised in Hickory, NC where he attended college at Lenoir-Rhyne College, now known as Lenoir-Rhyne University. Douglas received his bachelor of arts in communication from the liberal art school, and worked for both the Lenoir-Rhynian school paper and the student run television show, AfterHours. Also while attending Lenoir-Rhyne, Douglas participated as the Assistant Women's Soccer coach for two years. He has held a variety of positions including a radio on-air personality, and retail sales manager. After graduation, Douglas headed north to Washington, DC and the LCWS where he has been the Operations Manager since April of 2000.

Douglas is an avid sports fan, who likes to read, cook, and watch movies. Douglas also is involved with charity bicycle rides raising money for the American Diabetes Association, Crohn's Disease, and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. He loves to ride his bike around DC, especially through crowded Georgetown streets, around the monuments, to Mount Vernon, and all around Maryland, Virginia, and the District.