ISTA WELCOMES NEW DIRECTORS
10/28/2025

This month, ISTA welcomes two new directors. 

Louis Townsend

ISTA’s Chief Financial Officers & Director of Operations is Louis Townsend. Townsend comes to ISTA with a wealth of experience in finance and an extensive background in non-profits specializing in strategic planning. He has worked for several organizations in the past including TurnAround Inc., AT&T, Crothall Healthcare, Our Hospice of South Central Indiana and more, where has has provided exceptional leadership, team building, process improvement, project management and problem-solving skills. 

Deidre Rasheed

ISTA's Director of Government, Community, Racial and Social Justice is Deidre Rasheed. Rasheed is a nationally recognized political strategist with more than 20 years of experience. She executes excellence on every level of the political spectrum — holding coveted positions on national campaigns, acting as a senior staff member for a congressional office, a former chief of staff to a Houston City Council member, and most notably was designated as one of the nation’s top 100 field organizers for her work with the Obama Coalition. 

Rasheed is a decorated Gulf War Veteran, who spent her service studying military intelligence. Her time in military intelligence afforded her with a unique understanding of foreign policy and international relations in regions ranging from Pakistan to Central America. Deidre not only has extensive on-air radio experience, but she is also a published author.

She has received her J.D. from Thurgood Marshall School of Law, a Master’s degree in Political Strategy from the University of St. Thomas, and a Bachelor’s degree in Justice Studies from Grand Canyon University.