Our Team

Maria A. Pallante is President and CEO of the Association of American Publishers and a recognized authority on copyright law.  With her talented team, she leads the U.S. publishing industry on matters of public policy, advancing solutions that drive human empowerment, scientific progress, and a vibrant creative economy.  Her areas of focus include protections for publishers and authors, online markets, freedom of expression, international trade, public-private collaborations, and diverse and sustainable business models.

From 2011 to 2016, Maria served as Register of Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright Office where she led an extremely active period of statutory and regulatory analysis.  She advised and helped commence the first comprehensive review of the Copyright Act by the Congress in decades, testifying on complex issues of law and technology; highlighting the centrality of authors to the public interest; and conducting rulemakings and roundtables about existing and emerging legal questions.  She represented the United States on treaty and diplomatic delegations involving intellectual property.

Under Maria’s leadership, the Copyright Office published several key studies that documented and advanced the law, on issues such as the making available right under U.S. law; music licensing; small copyright claims; and digitization, orphan works, and collective licensing, as well as a public index of fair use opinions.  She also led public proceedings to modernize the records, technology, and regulations of the agency itself, to better serve the fast-moving licensing transactions of the digital marketplace.  Notably, Maria produced a complete overhaul of the authoritative Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, making it widely available for the first time as a living digital publication for courts, lawyers, and examiners.  She established the competitive Barbara A. Ringer Honors Fellowship and the Abraham L. Kaminstein Scholar in Residence.

Maria is a former Trustee of the Copyright Society and a recipient of the DC Bar’s Champion of Intellectual Property Award.  She has delivered numerous distinguished copyright lectures, including the Horace S. Manges Lecture at Columbia; the David Nelson Lectures at Berkeley; the Christopher Meyer Memorial Lecture at George Washington University; the Roger L. Shidler Lecture at Washington University; the Robert W. Kastenmeier Lecture at the University of Wisconsin; and the Copyright Society’s Brace Memorial Lecture. She currently serves on the American Bar Association’s Copyright Task Force and is a member of the George Mason University’s Center for Intellectual Property x Innovation Policy (C-IP²) Advisory Board.

Earlier in her career, Maria served for eight years as in-house counsel with the Guggenheim Museums and Foundation, New York, where she advised on governance, publishing, and exhibitions and directed the global licensing and branding program for the institution’s famous name, buildings, and collections.  She began her career in private practice and as a staff attorney with the Authors Guild.  She is a graduate of the George Washington University Law School.

The U.S. publishing industry serves hundreds of millions of readers a year by investing in and delivering a vast variety of literature and information in both print and digital formats.  These offerings include many of the most innovative services and important works of authorship in the world, including award-winning fiction, children’s literature, political commentary, biography and history books, scientific research, textbooks, learning platforms, study tools, professional content, and research analytics.

Currently Reading:

“Permanent Record”

by Edward Snowden

Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.

Sarah Crozier is the Senior Director of Communications for the Association of American Publishers. In this role, Sarah works closely with the Senior Vice President of Communications to develop strategic initiatives across AAP’s policy portfolio to further the organization’s mission of advancing the policy and creative interests of the U.S. publishing industry.

Prior to joining AAP, Sarah was the Communications Director for Main Street Alliance, on the forefront of the small business COVID-19 response. She also previously worked with the National Cooperative Business Association, leading communications for their $250 million international development portfolio across 26 countries. Sarah has also worked in newsrooms such as GlobalPost and WBUR, Boston’s NPR station, as well as with the Center for Defending the Freedoms of Journalists in Amman, Jordan.

Sarah holds a BS in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University and an MA from the University of Denver.

With more than 25 years in the education industry, Kelly’s prior roles include the Director of Education Policy and Government Affairs at Discovery Communications and senior policy analyst for the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Kelly has also served as an educational consultant for The Vanguard Group and held positions at various institutions of higher and K-12 education, including Boston University, SUNY Empire State College in New York and the Dalton School in New York City.

Kelly L. Denson is Vice President of Education Policy and Programs for the Association of American Publishers. In this role, Kelly advises AAP members on state and federal education initiatives that impact the American publishing industry, advocating for clear policies that reflect and advance the important contributions of education publishers. These include digital materials personalized to the individual learning needs of the student and high-quality content accessible to and affordable for every student. Kelly also serves as a key advisor to the academic community, leading joint publisher-academia events and other public outreach that promotes the critical partnership between the publishing and education communities.

Kelly holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Biological Basis of Behavior from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s in education degree from Harvard University.

Currently Reading:

The Upper Room Daily Devotional

Terrence Hart serves as General Counsel for the Association of American Publishers (AAP). He joined AAP from the U.S. Copyright Office, where he served as Assistant General Counsel.  He previously served as Vice President of Legal Policy at the Copyright Alliance for six years.  A 2010 graduate of Chicago-Kent College of Law, he has been an adjunct professor at the Antonin Scalia Law School and is the founder and author of the well-regarded Copyhype, which the American Bar Association recognized as one of the top 100 legal blogs in the United States.

Shelley Husband is the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at the Association of American Publishers.

Prior to joining AAP, Shelley served as Staff Director and General Counsel for the House Committee on the Judiciary from 2013 to 2019, where she spearheaded hundreds of bills addressing copyrights, patents, technology, and antitrust issues, and managed a forty-person team across multiple subcommittees and offices. As top policy, political, and legal advisor to the Chair and committee members, she routinely met with senior government officials and industry representatives. From 2002-2012, Shelley served as Chief of Staff for Congressman Bob Goodlatte.

Among numerous other projects and achievements during her career, Shelley helped launch the bicameral, bipartisan, Congressional International Anti-Piracy Caucus, which was chaired by Mr. Goodlatte and then-Senator Joseph R. Biden, and she directed a comprehensive, bipartisan review of our nation’s copyright laws which culminated in historic reforms being signed into law.

Bridget Lafferty serves as Special Assistant to the President and CEO at the Association of American Publishers. In this role, she supports AAP’s leadership agenda through a variety of special projects and administrative responsibilities.

Prior to joining AAP, Bridget worked in local and state government in Pennsylvania, including several years as Deputy Chief of Staff for the House Appropriations Committee where she worked closely with the Chairman and members of the committee to develop and advance their public policy goals. Among other responsibilities, Bridget managed the 2021 Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission process and functions of the House Government Oversight Committee, and directed the funding strategy for state grants, including multiple large economic development programs.

Bridget holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from Villanova University as well as Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Chestnut Hill College.

Carl Maxwell is the Vice President of Public Policy at the Association of American Publishers.  In this role, he works to ensure a robust US professional and scholarly publications system and heads the environmental stewardship program.

Prior to joining AAP, Carl worked for nearly two decades at the American Chemical Society as a Manager of Advocacy on scientific policy as well as sustainability issues.  During his tenure at ACS he was involved in a number of legislative victories, including passage of American COMPETES I & II, “CHIPS+Science” Act, and the Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act. Carl started his career on Capitol Hill, working for both Democratic and Republican members of Congress, including Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and former Rep. Jim Turner (D-TX).

Carl is a graduate of Bates College, Lewiston, ME, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.

Karen McInnis is Chief Financial Officer for the Association of American Publishers. In this role, Karen will continue to supervise and implement AAP’s budgeting, auditing, and reporting processes, while playing yet a greater role in strategy, execution, and growth across the organization. In recent years, Karen has been instrumental to transforming the organization’s financial performance, including by reducing the cost structure, modernizing the accounting systems, updating critical policies and procedures, and providing wise advice and support to the CEO and Board officers.  

A veteran of the finance and managerial sector, Karen began her professional career at AOL Time Warner where she held financial management roles at Time, Fortune and Money magazines. Karen has also worked at The Topps Company where she managed real estate, facilities and corporate overhead financial reporting, and digital advertising firm Undertone where she implemented “best practice” accounting, payroll, and benefits policies and operating procedures with a focus on organizational transformation and change management.

Karen graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics and from St. John’s University with a Master of Arts in Government and Politics. She is also certified as both a Nonprofit Accounting Professional and a (Retirement) Plan Sponsor professional. In her home state of New York, Karen is an elected official, currently serving as the President of the City Council of Long Beach.

Currently Reading:

‘Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators”

by Ronan Farrow

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

John McKay is the Senior Vice President of Communications for the Association of American Publishers. In this role, John leads communications and works closely with AAP’s staff, membership, and partner organizations to refine the communications portfolio and further AAP’s mission of advancing the policy and creative interests of the U.S. publishing industry.

Prior to joining AAP, John was Executive Officer for Marketing, Communications and Branding at New York State’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, where he served as a liaison to the Governor’s Office, advised the Chairman, and oversaw major communications and marketing initiatives, public service announcements, and app development.

Previously he served as Vice President, Corporate Communications for NBCUniversal and as Vice President, Communication for Sony Music Entertainment.

John holds a BA from the Pennsylvania State University.

Currently Reading:

“Aeneid Book VI: A New Verse Translation”

translated by Seamus Heaney

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Lui Simpson is Senior Vice President, Global Policy for the Association of American Publishers (AAP). In this role, she directs the association’s engagement with the U.S. and foreign governments on copyright, technology, and international trade policy issues, provides analysis and guidance for the association and members on a variety of policy initiatives, and manages the association’s content protection programs in key Asian markets. Lui also serves as AAP’s representative to several domestic and international industry coalitions in pursuing shared policy concerns.

Prior to joining AAP, Lui was Senior Counsel for Intellectual Property Policy at the Entertainment Software Association, where she was responsible for developing and guiding the video game industry association’s work in the areas of copyright and international trade policy. Additionally, Lui has also worked as a consultant to a USAID-funded development project in the Philippines and as a litigator.

Lui holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law and a Master of Laws degree in International and Comparative Law from Temple University Beasley School of Law. She is admitted to the New York State Bar.

Currently Reading:

“Genghis: Birth of An Empire”

by Conn Iggulden

Publisher: Bantam

Matthew Stratton is Deputy General Counsel at the Association of American Publishers. In this role, Matt supports the organization’s internal and external legal needs, including litigation, public policy, and compliance matters.

Prior to joining AAP, Matt served as Associate General Counsel for Elsevier, an international science and healthcare publisher with principal offices in New York, London, and Amsterdam, where from 2011 he managed on a global basis copyright and commercial litigation matters, anti-piracy enforcement strategies, and internal compliance projects, programs, and investigations. He also represented Elsevier’s interests at AAP, the International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers (STM), and the UK Publishers Association, where he served as Chair of the Anti-Piracy Working Group.

Matt began his career as a litigation associate in the New York office of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP. He holds a law degree from the Fordham University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa.

Syreeta Swann is Chief Operating Officer at the Association of American Publishers. In this role, Syreeta supervises and manages key contracts, facilities, IT and software, awards administration, and programs, while elevating statistics products, partnerships and sponsorships, certain external affairs, and member services. Since joining AAP in 2017, Syreeta has improved everything she has touched or been asked to troubleshoot, including office and lease management, website presentation and commerce, membership administration, the Annual General Meeting, DEI internships, and Board and member communications.

Before joining the AAP, Syreeta served for 15 years at the United States Copyright Office where she was special assistant to the head of the agency and contributed to a wide range of programs, legislative policies, and the administration of the copyright laws. Syreeta is experienced in communications, Congressional relations, strategic planning, and project management.

Syreeta earned her BA from Oberlin College as a double major in Sociology and Law and her MA in Strategic Communication from American University. She also earned a certification in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace from University of South Florida.  In her home state of Maryland, Syreeta serves on the Boards of KidsPeace and the Howard County Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management as Communications Chair.

Jonathan M. Walker (he/him) is a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) executive committed to inclusive excellence and justice. As Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Jonathan works with AAP’s members, industry partners, and government leaders to coordinate and improve critical information, facilitate best practices, educate stakeholders, and scale success.

Prior to joining AAP, Jonathan spent nearly 15 years as a higher education administrator, working in academic and student affairs at both public and private research institutions as well as Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He most recently served as the Senior Assistant Dean for Student Services, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs. The throughline of Jonathan’s career is centered around issues of access and equity and fostering inclusive spaces, particularly for minoritized communities.

Jonathan Walker holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Fayetteville State University, a Master of Science, College Student Personnel from Arkansas Tech University, and is currently pursuing the degree of Doctor of Education, Human and Organizational Learning at George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development.