President at New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) (2022-06 – Present)
Lead New Jersey's premier nonpartisan policy research institution, overseeing strategic direction, operations, fiscal management, and statewide policy engagement across research, communications, and coalition work.
- Lead cross-functional teams across research, communications, development, and operations to align policy priorities, public narrative, fundraising, and organizational strategy.
- Strengthened internal systems, project management, publication workflows, and staff communication practices, improving organizational clarity, accountability, and cross-team coordination.
- Manage a $2M organizational budget and lead institutional fundraising, donor engagement, sponsorships, and foundation partnerships to support long-term organizational sustainability.
- Cultivate and steward relationships with foundations, major donors, policymakers, and philanthropic partners; lead funder strategy, grant development, and donor engagement aligned with organizational priorities and long-term systems change goals.
- Convened funders, advocates, policymakers, and academic partners through statewide strategy tables and high-profile events, including a 150-person summit with Princeton University and a foundation luncheon with more than 10 funders.
- Advise legislative leaders, state agencies, and coalition partners on budget and taxation, economic security, workforce, health care, immigrant rights, education, climate justice, and more.
- Engage directly with New Jersey's Governor's Office, legislative leadership, Treasury, DHS, DOL, DOH, and other agencies on policy data, systems issues, and implementation; provide rapid, implementation-focused research and recommendations used in legislative negotiations, state budget planning, and revenue forecasting.
- Serve as a trusted public policy voice and spokesperson; deliver briefings, testimony, and strategic memos informing New Jersey's policy development and political landscape.
- Oversee For the Many, NJPP's 30+-organization statewide budget advocacy coalition, helping secure major legislative wins including the Corporate Transit Fee, which generates $1B annually for NJ Transit, and mansion tax reform.
- Strengthen statewide coalitions and maintain authentic partnerships with academic institutions, philanthropy, national networks, community organizations, and labor groups to support actionable policy design and long-term systems change.
- Advanced policy wins including stronger tax credits for working families, expanded reproductive and children's health care access, and strengthened immigrant protections by aligning research, coalition strategy, lived experience, and lawmaker relationships.
Research Director at New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) (2019-09 – 2022-05)
- Designed and led NJPP's annual research agenda across tax, budget, safety net, education, health, immigration, and labor; produced policy reports, cost estimates, and briefing memos used by lawmakers, agency staff, and statewide coalitions.
- Oversaw research workflows and quality control, ensuring accuracy and relevance for policymakers, funders, and coalition partners.
- Built trusted relationships with state agencies, national policy networks, philanthropy, and local coalitions to identify emerging policy gaps and inform NJPP's strategic direction.
Senior Researcher at Community Labor United (CLU) (2018-04 – 2019-09)
Led research strategy and coalition management for revenue, labor, transit, environmental justice, and economic justice campaigns centering Black and Brown communities; developed multi-year campaign research strategies including policy goals, narrative frameworks, and structural reform proposals.
- Conducted corporate research to support campaign strategy and accountability work; built and sustained relationships with labor unions, community organizations, government agencies, and national partners including EPI, ITEP, and the National Employment Law Project.
- Supported funder engagement by bringing research findings and campaign updates to grant meetings on behalf of the organization.
- Created popular education curricula on wealth inequality, tax justice, and corporate accountability for community and labor partners.
- Represented CLU in funder relations meetings and activities.
Senior Policy Analyst at Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center (2014-06 – 2018-04)
- Served as lead researcher on three successful statewide campaigns that helped secure earned sick time, paid family and medical leave, and a $15 minimum wage in Massachusetts; produced policy analysis, advocacy materials, and trainings for grassroots and labor partners.
- Led the organization's state budget work, managing development and publication of Budget Monitors and supporting staff throughout the annual budget cycle; produced state budget analyses using Census, BLS, and administrative data with a focus on economic development and human services.
- Provided technical and analytic support to legislators, coalitions, grassroots organizations, and philanthropic partners through reports, presentations, and strategic partnerships; supported funder engagement by presenting research and campaign updates in grant meetings; served on the Policy Advisory Committee of the State Priorities Partnership.
Research & Policy Consultant at City of Somerville, MA
Advised the Mayor and senior staff on systems design, service delivery, and family engagement strategies; which led to the creation of a new city department and led cross-agency coordination efforts.
Research Roles at Brandeis University & UMass-Boston
Conducted quantitative, qualitative, and GIS research on economic mobility, asset building, gender, conflict, and human rights; supervised research staff and maintained data and research operations.
Graduate Fellow at Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy (GMA Foundations)
Evaluated grantmaking effectiveness and presented strategic recommendations to foundation leadership to inform future funding strategies.
Program & Operations Leadership at Massachusetts Board of Real Estate Appraisers
Led statewide education and certification programs in coordination with regulatory bodies; lobbied on behalf of appraisers' rights; supported government affairs and lobbying efforts on real estate appraisal licensing, regulation, and statutory changes; ensured compliance with state appraisal laws, advised member on licensing requirements; and oversaw operations, data systems, and revenue-generating programming for a 600-member association.
Child Support Specialist at Massachusetts Department of Revenue
Managed child support enforcement cases; conducted investigations, ensured legal compliance, advised families, and served as a Spanish-language translator.
