U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, today announced that new staff will be joining the committee to focus on worker safety and health, higher education and K-12 education policies.

"These talented staffers join our committee at a time when our goal of rebuilding and strengthening America’s middle class is more important than ever," Miller said. "Each of them brings a tremendous level of experience and expertise to the table and I look forward to working with them to make our workplaces safer and healthier and improve educational opportunities for all Americans."

Ajita Talwalker joins the committee as an education policy advisor, focusing on higher education. She recently earned a Masters of Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Prior to graduate school Talwalker served as a policy assistant at The Institute for College Access and Success. She has also served as president of the United States Student Association and as a James H. Dunn Fellow in the Office of the Governor of Illinois. She holds her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Other new staffers include: Richard Miller, senior labor policy advisor specializing in worker safety and health issues; Lillian Pace, policy advisor for the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education; Mike Kruger, online outreach specialist, and Alexandria Ruiz, staff assistant.

Posted 06/22/09 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.