Andrew Sperling is director of federal legislative advocacy for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. In this position, he leads NAMI’s legislative advocacy initiatives in Congress and before federal agencies, and works on issues affecting the mental health community with a focus on improving the lives of people with severe mental illnesses. Since 1994, Sperling has also served as co-chair of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Housing Task Force. Prior to joining NAMI, he was deputy director of government relations for the National Community Mental Healthcare Council and a legislative assistant for former US representative Dick Swett. Sperling earned his law degree from the Franklin Pierce Law Center.