Caroline Banaszak serves as the Deputy Editor of the The Ripon Forum and Deputy Director of Communications of The Ripon Society. Before joining the staff of The Ripon Society, Caroline served as a Legislative Assistant and the Deputy Director of Communications to the former chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, U.S. Representative Fred Upton (R-MI).

As Upton’s Legislative Assistant, Caroline was responsible for managing a portfolio of key issues, including education, transportation, and postal reform. As Deputy Director of Communications, Caroline served as Upton’s principal media spokesperson. She was also responsible for writing his press releases, columns, and weekly e-newsletter, and managing his website and social media.

Caroline got her start with Upton as a field representative on his final congressional campaign in Michigan. A native of Grand Rapids, Caroline is a graduate of Kalamazoo College. She received her Bachelor of Arts in both Political Science and International Area Studies, with a focus on Western Europe.

She also holds a minor in Spanish from Kalamazoo, which she completed by spending six months abroad in Cáceres, Spain.