Cherise Imai
Executive Director
E-mail Cherise
Cherise Imai is the Executive Director of the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools (NAFIS), where she leads efforts to strengthen and protect Impact Aid. She brings nearly 30 years of experience in government and nonprofit leadership, with a career defined by her commitment to public service, advocacy, and educational equity.
Before joining NAFIS, Cherise served for nine years as Executive Director of the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3), where she oversaw implementation of the Compact and worked with states, military leaders, and educators to ensure equitable opportunities for military-connected students. She previously spent 11 years as Military Liaison for the Hawai‘i Department of Education, building strong partnerships between Hawai‘i public schools and Indo-Pacific military commands to support military-impacted schools, students, and families. During this time, she also served on the boards of the Military Impacted Schools Association (MISA) and NAFIS.
Anne O’Brien
Director, Communications & FISEF
E-mail Anne
Anne has led NAFIS communications since 2018, overseeing branding, messaging, and member outreach. She also manages the activities of the Federally Impacted Schools Education Foundation (FISEF). She came to NAFIS from the Learning First Alliance, where she served 10 years, ending her tenure as Deputy Director. She comes at her work from a classroom perspective, beginning her career as a high school science and math teacher before earning a masters in education policy.
Jayson Schimmenti
Director, Policy & Advocacy
E-mail Jayson
Jayson leads NAFIS policy and regulatory work with Congress and the Administration, manages the organization’s grassroots efforts and builds relationships with key stakeholder organizations and coalitions. He brings nearly a decade of experience as a lobbyist and policy staffer on Capitol Hill to this role. He most recently served as D.C. Executive Director for Duane Morris Government Strategies, managing federal policy priorities for various clients. Before that, Jayson worked as a congressional staffer for six years.
Joel Arthur
Manager, Membership & Events
E-mail Joel
Joel manages NAFIS membership recruitment, retention and engagement, and he oversees logistics for NAFIS conferences and other events. With significant experience organizing advocacy-driven events in education and government, he most recently coordinated conferences for minority-owned nonprofits in the museum and transportation industries. Joel has produced events for organizations like the Smithsonian Institution and the Association of African American Museums, focusing on acknowledging legacy and fostering progress.