Ola Williams

There’s not one policy hurdle that Ola Williams can’t run over.

{mosads}The former Cornell University track team hurdler has sprinted his way onto the Democrats’ House Financial Services Committee staff.

Williams, who describes himself as an old soul with a modern twist, developed his passion for policy while studying abroad in Brussels and later interning for the Congressional Black Caucus.

“I wanted to do policy, but I’m not the biggest wonk in the world,” he said.

As for his interests: “If I had to rank the loves of my life it’d be basketball, philosophy and music — I love Frank Sinatra. When he sings, you can feel what he’s singing about.”

In his free time, Williams shoots hoops and is teaching himself guitar and piano.

His favorite book, however, has raised liberals’ eyebrows: Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged.

— Kevin Cirilli