Nancy Belden, Partner

Nancy Belden has conducted hundreds of research projects over three decades, including national public opinion polls, focus groups, and studies of elite audiences. She has authored widely used research on education, women, health, foreign policy, and the environment. Her clients have included many community, professional and educational associations, governments, major corporations, news media and political candidates. In the 1970s, Nancy was active in women's issues and community organizing. She was the public information director for a Planned Parenthood affiliate, the research director for surveys at Hill and Knowlton and an analyst for Hart Research. Nancy is on the board of the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research. She has served three times on the Governing Council and is a past President of the American Association for Public Opinion Research. A native Texan, Nancy is of Mexican ancestry and speaks Spanish. She holds an MA from Georgetown University and a BA from Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia. You can contact Nancy at nancybelden@brspoll.com.

Nancy Belden

John Russonello, Partner

John Russonello has been at BRS since 1988 and has conducted research and developed message strategies for political candidates and many non-profit organizations and associations. As a researcher and writer, he is much sought after for research-based strategic advice, message development, and communications planning. John's research, writing, and consulting have helped organizations involved in environmental, civil rights, education, and other social change to listen to the public and communicate in new ways to advance their goals. Before joining our firm, John had a political consulting practice and was press secretary and speechwriter for House Judiciary Committee Chairman Peter Rodino. He received a BA with honors in political science, from Drew University. John writes Think it Through, a blog in which he analyzes public opinion and politics from the perspective of his three decades of working inside Washington, D.C. and listening to outside of the nation's capital. The result is often critical and unusual commentary. You can contact John at johnrussonello@brspoll.com.

John Russonello

Christina Lien, Senior Director

Christina has been a member of our team since 2007 and works closely with clients in areas such as education, healthcare, and environmental advocacy, designing questionnaires, moderating focus groups, analyzing data, and writing reports. She has chief responsibility for our survey methods. Christina has worked extensively with teachers' unions, helping them adjust to changing political situations and redefining their role for their members. Earlier in her career, Christina directed field operations, oversaw GOTV, and managed campaigns for Dean for America, the Feingold Senate Committee, and other races in Louisiana, Florida, Wisconsin, South Carolina, and New Jersey. Christina received her BA summa cum laude in history and politics in 2002 from Carroll College in Wisconsin, and her MS in survey methodology at the University of Michigan, where she was a Research Associate in the Institute for Social Research. You can contact Christina at christinalien@brspoll.com.

Christina Lien

Stephanie Nelson-Dusek, Research Analyst & Editor

Since joining BRS in 2008, Stephanie has worked on a range of issues, particularly those related to civil liberties, human rights, and education. She participates in all areas of research, including organizing and managing focus groups, designing survey questionnaires and focus group guides, conducting quantitative and qualitative analysis, and writing reports. Stephanie is also in charge of editing all BRS products, from research proposals to final presentations. Prior to joining BRS, Stephanie worked as a Survey Associate for the Science Museum of Minnesota where she conducted one-on-one interviews with museum visitors and wrote reports for exhibit developers. Stephanie has also worked at Fieldwork Minneapolis, coordinating and facilitating focus group research. Stephanie received her BA cum laude from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2003, where she studied Classics and Anthropology. In 2005, Stephanie earned her Master of Arts degree in Social Science from the University of Chicago. You can contact Stephanie at stephanie@brspoll.com.

Stephanie Nelson-Dusek

Melissa Bell, Research Analyst & Field Director

Melissa participates in every area of BRS’ research projects, including working with focus groups, designing survey questionnaires and focus group guides, and quantitative and qualitative analysis. Additionally, as field director, Melissa oversees all telephone and online data collection. Prior to joining BRS, Melissa interned at The Mellman Group while simultaneously pursuing her graduate studies. Melissa earned a BA from Christopher Newport University in 2005 and is currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland where she is completing her dissertation. Her research focuses on public opinion and political psychology with a particular focus on gender attitudes and their political implications. Melissa has taught several undergraduate courses in political science ranging from state and local politics to cultural politics. You can contact Melissa at melissabell@brspoll.com.

Melissa Bell

Emma Freeman, Administrative & Research Assistant

Emma manages the day-to-day operations of BRS and assists other staff members with research and communications projects, including the production of proposals, agreements, survey and focus group instruments, and reports. Before joining BRS, she worked as a Research Assistant in the Tufts University Office of Institutional Research and Evaluation, where she assisted analysts with survey research, as well as the publication of the Tufts University Fact Book. Emma received a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Tufts University, where she graduated magna cum laude in 2011. You can contact Emma at emmafreeman@brspoll.com.

Emma Freeman