Statesmen Academy Leadership

STATESMEN ACADEMY LEADERSHIP TEAM

CRAIG DeROCHE

President & CEO

Craig DeRoche leads the nation’s largest alliance of Christian organizations that mobilize social conservatives to advance biblical values through civic engagement. Family Policy Alliance (FPA) hosts the network of 40 state family policy councils that employ over 400 employees, raise over $60 million annually and engage more than 50,000 churches every year. Family Policy Alliance Foundation is host to the Statesmen Academy, School Board Academy and Christians Engaged Academy—premier training programs for state legislators, school board members and citizens, respectively. FPAF’s annual Social Conservative Policy Conference (“SoConCon”) convenes the most influential social conservative policy and thought leaders in America.

In 2024, Craig and Bunni Pounds led the merger of FPA with Christians Engaged in an effort to mobilize more Christians to vote in every election. In that year’s election, FPA and CE mobilized over 850,000 voters for the first time and sent over 33 million emails and texts into the seven swing states to drive up Christian voter turnout.

At FPA, Craig has helped lead civil rights policy campaigns that have disrupted the global discussion on sex, gender, life, religion and parenting. Save Girls Sports was launched in 2017 to ensure fairness for girls’ and women’s sports, Help Not Harm in 2019 to protect kids from transgender surgeries and drugs, AfterRoe in 2021 and Let Parents Parent in 2023.

He was elected Speaker of the House in Michigan in 2004 at age 34. Craig is also a former president of Chuck Colson’s Justice Fellowship, having been hired by Chuck himself. Craig is in recovery from alcohol addiction and speaks to this personally in his published memoir, Highly Functional, detailing his fall into and triumph over addiction through surrender to Jesus Christ.

Craig is a frequent speaker and author and is regarded as a leading voice in American faith-based public policy. He has been published in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Fox News, Christianity Today, and dozens of other leading news agencies. He is also the author of the Christian small group study guide and book Outrageous Justice. In 2016, Craig was featured in the Academy Award-nominated documentary 13th.

AMANDA BANKS

Sr. Vice President

Amanda Banks is senior vice president at Family Policy Alliance and Family Policy Alliance Foundation. Under her leadership, the ministry hosts education and training programs for elected officials and engaged citizens including the Statesmen Academy for state legislators, the School Board Academy for school board members, and Christians Engaged Academy for citizens. Banks also directs the largest annual gathering of social conservative leaders, the Social Conservative Policy Conference, or “SoConCon."

Prior to joining the Family Policy Alliance team in 2019, Amanda’s career included policy analysis and advocacy at Focus on the Family, public relations at the American Red Cross and Grace College & Seminary, and elected office as an Indiana State Senator. During her legislative service, Amanda received the American Legion Distinguished Public Service Award and the Daniel Award for Excellence in Pro-Life Public Policy. She was also awarded the state’s highest honor, The Sagamore of the Wabash, by then-Gov. Mike Pence.

A native Hoosier, Banks is a public affairs graduate of Indiana University. She and her husband, US Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) reside in northeastern Indiana. Together, their most important work is raising three daughters.

ANDREA ROSS

Events Producer

Andrea joined Family Policy Alliance Foundation in 2021 as events coordinator and has served as events producer since 2024. She has worked in the events industry for more than a decade. Formerly, Andrea worked for Emeril Lagasse Restaurants and has experience in sales, catering, and conventions.

Andrea holds a degree in Ornamental Horticulture with an emphasis in Floral Design. Her passions are spending time with her husband Everett and raising their daughter. They enjoy cooking, traveling, and doing anything outdoors with their three dogs.

SEE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS