European Union

Nikki Garza is the manager of Development Systems and Strategy in GMF’s Washington, DC, office. She is a nonprofit leader and operations professional with over six years of experience spanning organizational leadership, development operations, and program coordination. She founded and managed an independent nonprofit for three years before specializing in development systems management and cross-functional operations for international organizations. Her public service work began at the American Red Cross, where she specialized in case work for Service to Armed Forces. She also served with AmeriCorps, supporting Hurricane Harvey disaster recovery efforts. 

Garza volunteers at Doorways, an organization supporting families and children affected by sexual and domestic violence. She holds a master’s degree in ethics, peace, and human rights from the American University School of International Service and a bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology from the University of Houston. 

Laurențiu Pleșca is a Bucharest-based program officer and a political analyst and researcher focusing on EU enlargement, European security, Russian influence in the Black Sea region, Moldova, hybrid threats, and countering disinformation. He co-manages a project on electoral integrity in the Eastern Partnership region. 

Pleșca’s commentary has appeared on France24, Deutsche Welle, BBC, Radio France Internationale, TVP (Polish television), El Pais, Radio Free Europe, and other international and regional outlets. He holds a PhD from the University of Bucharest’s Doctoral School of Political Science, where he also earned a master's degree in international relations and European studies, and a bachelor’s degree.