Meet your 2026 Statewide Officers

New leaders. New energy. A critical moment for our union. 

MAPE members have elected a new statewide leadership team, and they are stepping into office at a pivotal time for public servants, organized labor and Minnesota workers. 

From threats to collective bargaining rights at the federal level to major state elections on the horizon, the challenges facing public-sector unions are significant. But so are the opportunities. As MAPE prepares for a crucial round of contract negotiations, supports Macalester employees in securing a first contract and works to strengthen membership across the state, three newly elected officers are ready to help lead the charge. 

What unites them is a commitment to member engagement, strong contracts, workplace protections and building a more powerful union. What they bring are diverse experiences in organizing, negotiations, communications and advocacy. 

Get to know your statewide officers. 

Nicole Juan 
Statewide President 

For newly elected MAPE Statewide President Nicole Juan, the mission is clear: MAPE must be ready to meet the moment. 

"This is a critical time for unions, for state service, and for public service in general," Juan said. "It's important that MAPE steps up to lead with courage and integrity through our organizing and political campaigns and at the bargaining table." 

Over the next year, Juan's priorities include electing labor-friendly legislators, preparing MAPE for contract bargaining with the State, supporting Macalester’s bargaining and strengthening MAPE's membership statewide. One of her first goals is simple but essential: connecting directly with members. "I want to be present and meet our members where they are at. I want to build collaborative leadership by listening, and work with our member leaders across MAPE to turn what we learn into action," she said. 

Juan points out that many of the issues most important to MAPE members – from bargaining rights to pension protections and agency funding – are ultimately decided at the Capitol. 

"State statute governs our rights to form a union," she said. "Our ability to negotiate on terms and conditions of our employment, access to retirement benefits including our pensions and how we fund state agencies all depend on decisions made by the Legislature. We need elected leaders who value organized labor, the public good and who trust public servants." 

Juan began her state career at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) in 2015 before moving to the Department of Human Services (DHS) in 2017. She currently serves as the legislative coordinator at DHS and most recently chaired MAPE's Political Council. 

Away from work and union activities, Juan enjoys reading, gardening, camping and hiking. She and her partner, Ian, live in Minneapolis with their two dogs Maeby and Murphy. An avid explorer of Minnesota's state parks, she's steadily working her way through the State Park Passport and Hiking Clubs. 

“I was in Hermantown door knocking this past weekend and took the opportunity to visit Savanna Portage State Park. I believe that it is imperative we make space for joy in our work – one way I do that is by pairing door knocking in Greater Minnesota with spending time in nature and appreciating our many State Parks and Trails,” she said.  

Maureen Dunaway 
Statewide Vice President 

As MAPE's new Statewide Vice President, Maureen Dunaway is focused on preparation, solidarity and making sure members have the support they need in the workplace. 

Her campaign emphasized strengthening processes under both the Americans with Disabilities Act and MAPE's Respectful Workplace Policy. Just as important, she says, is ensuring the union is ready for whatever comes next at the bargaining table. 

"Working on negotiations, you learn how important being strike-ready is," Dunaway said. As statewide vice president, she also serves as MAPE's statewide strike captain, helping coordinate the planning and logistics necessary should members ever need to take that step. 

"Hopefully, we won't have to strike," she said. "But we need to be ready, have communication systems in place and have people prepared. I want to foster everyone working well together." 

Dunaway also highlighted the connection between public services and the professionals who provide them. "We have clean water because of colleagues working at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). Our communities are safer because of members at the Department of Corrections, and we're healthier because of professionals at MDH," she said. "State MMB negotiators need to understand how important that work is." 

A 16-year veteran of the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), Dunaway serves as an unemployment insurance operations analyst. Her union involvement began with a healthy dose of uncertainty. "I initially thought the union was 'those guys’ and I just went to meetings to listen to them” she joked. "Then I became a steward, and it escalated from there." 

Since then, she has served as Region 5 Steward Director, Region 5 Negotiator, DEED Meet and Confer Chair and Speaker of the Meet and Confer Chairs. 

At home in St. Paul, Dunaway shares space with her two cats, Jasper and Bernadette, who she says are "loud, so they're not always the best roommates." Her son, Will, lives in Minneapolis and has attended MAPE rallies since he was a teenager. 

When she's not working or organizing, Dunaway sings with Calliope Women's Chorus, one of the nation's oldest feminist choruses. She's also interested in finding musically inclined MAPE members who might help bring a little more joy – and noise – to rallies and union events. 

Kaity Taylor 
Statewide Secretary and Interim Statewide Treasurer 

For Statewide Secretary Kaity Taylor, strong communication is the foundation of a strong union. 

Taylor said she decided to run after seeing divisions emerge among members after a very challenging 2025 contract negotiations and wanting to help refocus attention on the challenges workers face together. "I wanted to help members be better unified and see that the fight is not within the union, but with our bosses," she said. "I want to do what I can to shift that focus back to where it belongs." 

As statewide secretary, Taylor sees herself as both a record keeper and a bridge between members and elected leaders. She believes clear, transparent communication and accessible decision-making are critical to member engagement. "The secretary's role is to maintain accurate records and make sure members can understand how decisions are made and participate in those decisions," she said. 

Taylor currently works as a policy specialist at MPCA and has served as MPCA Meet and Confer Chair. She says those experiences have prepared her to ensure transparency, accountability and member involvement. 

Building coalitions is a skill she's developed throughout her life. Growing up in a union family, Taylor saw firsthand the value of public service and collective action. Her father worked for the State of Wisconsin and her mother worked at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. 

Her passion for labor activism deepened “during Wisconsin's Act 10 battle and former Governor Walker’s union busting tirade. When I saw Wisconsin state workers' rights stripped away without their say, I was fired up," she said. "That's when I caught the union bug." 

Taylor and her husband, Luke, live in St. Paul with their tabby cat, Milo. When they're not working on their fixer upper home renovation project, they enjoy gardening, cooking, biking and exploring local restaurants.   

As MAPE looks ahead to bargaining, elections and membership growth, these three leaders are united by a common goal: building a stronger, more engaged union that is prepared to advocate for members, and the services Minnesotans depend on every day.