AFT-Wisconsin Executive Board Members, Committee Chairs, and Staff

AFT-Wisconsin Executive Board

President: Jon Shelton, Local 6511

I am proud to serve as the elected president of AFT-Wisconsin, a position I’ve held since 2025. I spend every day working with educators and other public employees across the state to build power in our workplaces. I have also served as president of UWGB-United, the faculty and staff union at UW-Green Bay, and four terms as Vice President for higher education of AFT-W. In that capacity, I’ve worked with my colleagues to fight for faculty, staff, and student voice in the UW system; to protect academic freedom; and to make sure all of our students have the resources they need to succeed. I’ve been a professor of democracy and justice studies at UW-Green Bay since 2013, where I’ve taught undergraduate courses on American history, labor unions, and public education. I’ve authored two books, most recently The Education Myth: How Human Capital Trumped Social Democracy, In Green Bay, I’ve served, since 2021, on the city’s first ever equal rights commission. I’m also the proud parent of two great kids in the Green Bay public schools.

Secretary: Natalia Taft, Local 3535

I am an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences and a proud member of AFT-WI. Currently I serve as Secretary of the Executive Board of AFT-WI, and as the Treasurer of AFT Local 3535. I have a passion for my scientific research and teaching, I have also been drawn to service and organizing work since high school. At my University, I have served as department chair, elected to faculty governance groups such as Faculty Rights and University Committee, developed and co-facilitated professional developments around inclusive teaching, and served on a variety of campus working groups over the years. I have also been involved in serving my home city of Racine. I began as a member of the Water and Wastewater Committees. I was then elected alderman from 2019-2023, three of those years were spent as the chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee. Currently, in addition to being President of the Wastewater Commission, I serve on the Racine Library Board. I believe that the most effective way to work for positive change is through relationships that help build community and connection. When I am not working or participating in one of (many) meetings, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two children, spending time outdoors, crocheting, and listening to k-pop (Stray Kids everywhere, all around the world).

Treasurer: David Simmons, Local 6510

I’ve been teaching courses in religion and the humanities at UW-Whitewater for 20 years this spring. While serving as Faculty Senate chair Jon Shelton convinced me that my time and energy would be better spent in the union.

Since 2018, I’ve served as chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, VP of AFT-Wisconsin local #6510 UW-Whitewater United which we formed in 2020, and on the AFT-Wisconsin executive board as Eastern Region VP and currently in my second term as treasurer.

My parents were both college and K-12 educators and I grew up in a union household. My mom negotiated her union’s first contract when I was in high school. My union allows me to live the values I grew up with and organize for power in Wisconsin.

Vice President, Higher Education Council: Neil Kraus, Local 6504

Vice President, PSRP Council: Lynnett Harvey, Local 212

My name is Lynnett Harvey, and I am currently serving my second term as Vice President of the PSRPs for AFT-Wisconsin. I also serve as Vice President of the Paraprofessionals for AFT Local 212 at Milwaukee Area Technical College. I have worked as an Academic Advisor for the past five years and have been at MATC for over 20 years, where I was previously a proud member of AFSCME Local 587. I strongly believe in the power of collective voice to create lasting change, which is why I have been deeply involved in union work and currently serve on the Executive Boards of both AFT Local 212 and AFT-Wisconsin. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, listening to true crime podcasts, and spending time with my dog, Bullseye.

Vice President, State Employee Council: Nate Fiene, Local 4848

My name is Nate Fiene. I’m the Vice President representing the Wisconsin Professional Employee Council (WPEC). I joined AFT-WI because I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself in the workplace. I’ve met some really great people here! In the next few years, I’d like to see us build locals in state buildings and municipalities in all four corners of Wisconsin. When I’m not at work, you can find me hunting, fishing, officiating football and baseball, and spending time with my wonderful fiance, Johanna.

Vice President, WTCS Council: Lisa Conley, Local 212

I am who I am today because of generations of Americans before me who believed that every child, every student, and every worker matters, has real value, and untapped potential to make our communities, this state, and country better for all. As a beneficiary of public support to children, families and students, and a product of Wisconsin’s K-12 and UW Systems (AS through PhD), I know the impact and power of affordable, high-quality, publicly funded education. With lived experiences from Rice Lake to Milwaukee, rural to urban, I have experienced the challenges and seen that there is more that unites than divides us.

As a result, I have dedicated my 30-plus-year Higher Ed teaching career to paying it forward to the next generations, the last 22 years in the Wisconsin Technical College System. From fighting to protect and grow our public-school systems to championing respect for educators and their contributions to building networks for change, I have stood up for students and those who educate them, for those whose work has been devalued, for those whose potential has been ignored, and for those whose voice has been silenced - on local, regional, state- and nation-wide levels. Starting as Carroll College (Waukesha) faculty and culminating as President of AFT Local 212 at MATC (Milwaukee) and as AFT-Wisconsin’s Vice President for Technical Colleges, I act and fight for people, not power. I fight for us. Bound by shared values and a belief in the common good, together we are the solution. Together we are AFT-Wisconsin.

Vice President, Retiree Council: Mike Lussenden

I retired from teaching after 40 years of service in both K-12 and technical college. Serving students in the classroom and colleagues through my union has been meaningful and fruitful. I have served my locals as an organizer and officer. Past state service includes two terms as Treasurer for AFT-Wisconsin. Currently, I serve as President of AFT-Wisconsin Retirees and Vice-President to the AFT-Wisconsin Executive Board for Retirees.

West/Central Regional VP: Angela Bazan, Local 3497

I have been a proud high school public school teacher in Wisconsin since 1998. As a teacher I have found great support in being a proud member of AFT-Wisconsin. Those of us in the classroom all know that teachers' working conditions are students' learning conditions, and my membership in AFT has given me a voice in those decisions. Being a member of AFT-WI has allowed me many opportunities to share my voice with my political leaders, learn from other union colleagues and inspire change within my own union. I was elected the President of the McFarland Federation of Teachers in 2022 and have worked hard to pass an operational referendum to fund our schools, fought for pay increases for our staff and faculty and established board listening sessions for our members. In 2023 I joined the AFT- WI Executive Board where I serve as the Vice-President of K12 education. In this role I am committed to fighting for full and adequate funding for K12 education in the state of Wisconsin and serving on the Advisory Board for the Teacher Apprenticeship Program.

Northern Regional VP: - VACANT

Eastern Regional VP: - VACANT

Vice President, PK-12 Council: - VACANT

Vice President, Graduate Employee Council: Emily Schkeryantz, Local 3220

I am a PhD student at UW Madison in the school of Human Ecology and I have been actively involved in the Teaching Assistants’ Association since I began my program. I had been an elected leader in my union while a masters student and research assistant at Umass Boston, where I experienced the power of having a collective voice in working conditions. Currently, I am Co-President of the Teaching Assistants' Association and serve as Vice President for Graduate Workers on the AFT-Wisconsin executive board. I am also a local delegate to the South Central Federation of Labor. I believe that as workers we know that we need to do our jobs well and its only through our unions that we can win the working conditions we deserve.

Contact Jon Shelton at shelton@aft-wisconsin.org if you are interested in learning more and serving on the board or an AFT-Wisconsin committee.

To contact the Executive Board, send an email here.

Executive Board Position Descriptions

President: president_2019_final.pdf