Our Staff - Bureau of Governmental Research

Please select a photo below for the contact information of each BGR staff member.

Rebecca Mowbray

President & CEO / Samuel Zemurray Chair in Research Leadership

Stephen Stuart

Senior Vice President & Research Director

Heather Sweeney

Director of Development

Megan McNeill

Director of Communications & Engagement

Derek Landrum

Business and Operations Manager

Susie Dudis

Senior Research Analyst

Paul Rioux

Senior Research Analyst

Natanael Pabon-Trinidad

Research Analyst

Taya Fontenette

Research Assistant

Gigi Hendrickson

Research Assistant

President & CEO / Samuel Zemurray Chair in Research Leadership

Rebecca Mowbray

Becky joined the Bureau of Governmental Research (BGR) as President, CEO and Samuel Zemurray Chair in Research Leadership in January 2022. Her tenure at BGR builds on her career as a journalist, communications specialist, and program evaluator with additional training in internal audit and fraud prevention. She also served as Assistant Inspector General for Inspections & Evaluations at the City of New Orleans Office of Inspector General and Deputy Commissioner for Public Affairs at the Louisiana Department of Insurance.

As a journalist, she wrote for The Times-Picayune, Houston Chronicle, Los Angeles Times and other publications. Becky earned master’s degrees from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University after majoring in political science at Skidmore College. After grad school, she served as a Henry Luce Scholar in Southeast Asia teaching journalism and working at an English-language newspaper. She previously worked as an English teacher in then-Czechoslovakia immediately after the Cold War.

In her free time, Becky can be found biking on the Mississippi River levee, paddling the kayak she built on waterways along the Gulf Coast, or enjoying music at local festivals.

Contact:

rmowbray@bgr.org

(504) 717-6394

Senior Vice President & Research Director

Stephen Stuart

Stephen graduated with a Bachelor of Accountancy from Loyola University New Orleans in 1998. His career took him into journalism, where he worked as a reporter for New Orleans CityBusiness newspaper covering oil and gas, real estate, economic development, and local government issues. He joined BGR in 2002 as a research analyst. He studied for and passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam in 2010. (He is not a licensed CPA.) Stephen continued his research career at BGR and became research director in 2017.

Outside of BGR, Stephen enjoys volunteering with several organizations to advance their missions. Locally, he has served the members of OnPath Federal Credit Union (formerly ASI Federal Credit Union) as board treasurer since 2013. He also leads the Genealogical Research Society of New Orleans as its current president, helping his dad on the side with the family history. Nationally, Stephen is board secretary for the Governmental Research Association, a national group of BGR’s research peers. And since 2013, he has provided input on accounting rules for state and local governments developed by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.

Contact:

sstuart@bgr.org

(504) 525-1668

Director of Development

Heather Sweeney

Heather joined the Bureau of Governmental Research (BGR) in April 2025 as the Director of Development. She has two decades of experience in fundraising and philanthropy and came to BGR after 16 years at Second Harvest Food Bank. Heather has a BA from Connecticut College and a master’s degree from The Ohio State University.

Heather is on the board of the New Orleans Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and in 2025, is serving as Program Committee Chair coordinating AFP’s monthly professional development programming.

In her free time, Heather can be found paddleboarding on Bayou St. John or sailing on Lake Pontchartrain.

Contact:

hsweeney@bgr.org

(504) 525-1734

Director of Communications & Engagement

Megan McNeill

Megan McNeill joined BGR as Director of Communications & Engagement in January 2026, supporting the organization’s storytelling, branding, media relations, and broader communications efforts.

She brings 15 years of experience in marketing and communications, including previous work with The Domain Companies, and has volunteered with local organizations including Innocence & Justice Louisiana.

Megan is excited to help share BGR’s research with the community she’s proud to call home, and is always ready to swap book or restaurant recommendations.

Contact:

mmcneill@bgr.org

(504) 539-8020

Business and Operations Manager

Derek Landrum

Derek has a background in youth development and program management. He served as a 4-H Agent with the LSU AgCenter, overseeing the youth development program in Orleans Parish from 2017 to 2021 and in Plaquemines Parish from 2021 to 2024. Derek holds a bachelor’s degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from Tulane University and a master’s degree in agricultural and extension education from Louisiana State University.

Derek is a natural problem solver with excellent technical skills. As Business and Operations Manager, he is eager to leverage his extensive experience and educational background to streamline BGR’s office processes and contribute to the organization’s success.

Derek is a native of Jefferson Parish and was an Eagle Scout growing up.

Contact:

dlandrum@bgr.org

(504) 525-4152 (main)

(504) 525-1720 (direct)

Senior Research Analyst

Susie Dudis

Susie received a MS and Ph.D in International Development from Tulane University and a BA in Economics from Pomona College. Before joining BGR in 2017, she worked for education organizations in New Orleans and India and as a research assistant on a U.S. Department of Labor grant in West Africa.

Susie likes to spend her free time outside – exploring new places or appreciating familiar ones.

Contact:

sdudis@bgr.org

(504) 525-1865

Senior Research Analyst

Paul Rioux

Paul received a BA in Math and Philosophy from St. Olaf College in Minnesota and an MA in American Studies from Purdue University. Before joining BGR in 2012, he worked for 17 years as a newspaper reporter covering government, including 12 years at The Times-Picayune.

In his free time, Paul enjoys cycling, home improvement projects, reading and “cooking” (i.e. trying new things in his air fryer).

Contact:

prioux@bgr.org

(504) 525-1690

Research Analyst

Natanael Pabon-Trinidad

Nate holds dual bachelor’s degrees in economics and political science, along with a Master of Public Administration, all from Louisiana State University (LSU). Prior to his full-time role, Nate interned at BGR during summer 2023, gaining valuable insights and experience. He was the first BGR intern to write an On the Ballot report.

Originally from Puerto Rico and now a long-time resident of Jefferson Parish, Nate has demonstrated a deep interest in local public policy. His research portfolio includes internships and assistantships with LSU, PFM Group, and the Louisiana Department of Health. His work spans various areas, including climate and energy policy, as well as fiscal and budgetary policy.

Always proud of his Dominican heritage, you can usually find him listening (and occasionally dancing) to merengue, bachata, and salsa. He is also a big college football fan and often roots for his alma mater, the LSU Tigers, and the Tulane Green Wave.

Contact:

npabon@bgr.org

(504) 525-1727

Research Assistant

Taya Fontenette

Taya Fontenette earned a B.S. in Environmental Science and Political Science from Northeastern University and returned to pursue her Master of Public Administration with a Graduate Certificate in Public Policy Analysis. Her professional experience focuses on environmental research and data-informed public policy analysis. Taya enjoys exploring new research topics and discovering running trails throughout the city. She joined BGR as a Research Assistant in January 2026 as part of BGR’s internship program.

Research Assistant

Gigi Hendrickson

Gigi is in her third year at Tulane University working toward a B.A. in Political Economy. Before joining BGR, Gigi worked as the Mentorship Program Coordinator for Ellevate Louisiana. Her professional experience has strengthened her passion for policy work, and she’s looking forward to building the foundation of her policy research skills with BGR. She joined BGR as a Research Assistant in January 2026 as part of BGR’s internship program.