February 11th, 2025 — Public Agenda welcomes Sarah Bryner as the organization’s newest Director. Bryner’s extensive experience and dedication to advancing democracy and political accountability position her to advance Public Agenda’s mission of building a democracy that works for everyone. As Director, she will manage and execute a portfolio of research-to-action projects.
“Public Agenda is one of the most trusted and respected nonpartisan organizations in the country, and I am honored to join this talented group of researchers,” Bryner said. “I hope to advance the organization’s mission of amplifying the public’s voice on the most critical issues that we face in our democracy.”
Bryner brings a wealth of expertise to her new role. Most recently, she served as Director of Research & Strategy at OpenSecrets, where she led a 14-person research team to drive initiatives focused on democratic accountability. Additionally, as an independent consultant, she partnered with the Brennan Center for Justice to help shape their 2025 democracy agenda. Bryner brings a diverse toolkit of methodological skills and a track record of developing accessible, public-facing research products.
“Sarah has shown a tremendous ability to identify questions that matter to our democracy and answer them in ways that are compelling and comprehensible,” said Andrew Seligsohn, PhD, President of Public Agenda. “She’s a researcher of the first order, and she’s also a skilled communicator. That’s a rare combination, and it’s a perfect fit for Public Agenda’s mission. We’re thrilled to have her join the team.”
Bryner holds a PhD in political science from The Ohio State University and is a leading expert on political corruption and the role of money in American politics. As a trusted commentator on campaign finance and political transparency, she has appeared in outlets such as CNN, Fox News, and Marketplace.
For questions, please contact [email protected].
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Public Agenda is a national research-to-action organization that digs deep into the key challenges facing our democracy to uncover insights and solutions. Founded in 1975 by the social scientist and public opinion research pioneer Dan Yankelovich and former secretary of state Cyrus Vance, we engage with advocates, journalists, policymakers, and the philanthropic community to ensure public voice is heard in conversations that shape our shared future.
