ABOUT

Executive Director

Jenny Kraska

Jenny grew up in Prior Lake, Minn., a suburb of Minneapolis. She attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., where she graduated with a double major in Catholic studies and theology with a minor in Latin. She continued her graduate studies at St. Thomas where she earned her Doctor of Law degree and a master’s degree in Catholic studies.

Jenny worked as a research attorney before moving to Colorado. In 2007, Jenny became the executive director of the Colorado Catholic Conference.

Jenny has served as president of the National Association of State Catholic Conference Directors, a consulter to several United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ committees and a board member of Catholic Rural Life.

Deputy Director

Garrett O’Day

Garrett O’Day joined the Maryland Catholic Conference in 2013 and has served as deputy director since 2018. A New York native, he graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in political science from the State University of New York at Binghamton. He went on to earn a law degree from California Western School of Law in San Diego.

Before joining the MCC, Garrett practiced law at a multidisciplinary New York law firm. He is admitted to the Maryland, New York and the District of Columbia bars, as well as the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States.

He serves on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Federal Assistance Advisory Commission and the Maryland State Early Childhood Advisory Council, and is vice president of the Maryland Council for American Private Education. He has served as a Catholic school board chair and as an adjunct professor of education law.

Associate Director, Respect Life Advocacy

Diane Arias

Diane Arias joined the Maryland Catholic Conference in 2024 and currently serves as the Associate Director, Respect Life Advocacy.

A Colorado native, she graduated with a B.A. in allied health chemistry and a B.S. in cellular molecular biology from Adams State University in 2020. She also earned an M.B.A. with an emphasis in health administration from Adams State in 2022.

Before joining the MCC, Diane was a customer care representative with the Colorado FAMLI (Family and Medical Leave Insurance) program. She previously worked as an admissions counselor and transfer student coordinator for Adams State University.

Diane currently serves in the Army National Guard. She enjoys being active in parish life, serving as a lector and assisting with elementary faith formation.

Associate Director, Social and Economic Justice

Michelle Zelaya

Michelle Zelaya, associate director for social and economic justice, was an intern with the Maryland Catholic Conference before later joining the staff.

Born in New York and raised in Maryland, she has been active in her home parish in Prince George’s County since her youth, having been an altar server and a volunteer with other ministries. A first-generation college student, she graduated from Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md., with an undergraduate degree in philosophy, politics and economics, as well as a B.S. in cybersecurity.

As a student, Michelle was involved in programs such as Women in Law, club soccer and the Student Organization of Latinos. She also took advantage of unique opportunities, such as representing her school at a missionary retreat in Chicago focused on the dignity of life.

In 2024, she was awarded a competitive Civitas Dei Summer Fellowship, cosponsored by the Institute for Human Ecology at The Catholic University of America and the Thomistic Institute at the Dominican House of Studies, to study the topic “Can War Be Just?”

As a proud Salvadoran, Michelle cherishes her culture and spending her free time with friends and family.

Operations Manager

Derek Curnow