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. 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. johnrussonello@brspoll.com

John Russonello

Emma White, Senior Director

Emma plays a leadership role in every aspect of BRS’ research projects, from conducting and analyzing surveys and focus groups, writing and editing reports, to moderating focus groups and preparing survey instruments. She has led our work on education, energy and the environment, and immigration. Emma helped develop the language and messages to support continued Great Lakes restoration funding, and to oppose efforts in Ohio to strip collective bargaining rights from teachers and other public employees, among many other projects. She has conducted briefings for Congressional and White House staff, funders, and our clients’ coalition partners. Emma initially joined BRS in 2005 and has recently returned after a time conducting customer satisfaction research for federal agencies at ForeSee in Ann Arbor, MI. Before getting involved in public opinion research, Emma worked on the national political team and as a field organizer for Clean Water Action, and for political campaigns, and served as an Americorps volunteer in the Maryland State Parks. Emma received her BA magna cum laude from Bryn Mawr College. She serves on the board of directors of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. emmawhite@brspoll.com

Emma White

Pilar McKay, Research Analyst & Field Director

Pilar participates in methodological, logistical and operational support for BRS’s projects, and serves as BRS' chief statistical analyst. In her role as field director, she oversees quantitative and qualitative data collection and management for surveys, online bulletin boards, ad testing, focus groups and ethnography. In addition to project management, Pilar designs survey questionnaires, focus group guides and analyzes quantitative and qualitative data. Prior to joining BRS, she worked in advertising research, which included planning social cause campaigns. She earned her BS from Cornell University in Rural Sociology and Applied Economics and Management in 2004. In 2006, she received an MA in Social Research Methodology from the Graduate School of Education and Information Sciences at UCLA, where she is currently a PhD candidate. Pilar has taught research methods at UCLA and Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Pilar McKay

Kate Vasiloff, Associate Analyst

As Associate Analyst, Kate 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. Prior to joining BRS, Kate worked at Media Matters for America as a researcher for Message Matters. While there, Kate conducted research, analyzed polling, and wrote talking points for a daily messaging product. She has also served as a research consultant for Westen Strategies and conducted large-scale research projects for various progressive clients, including an analysis of the Religious Right. Kate interned at the Eleison Group and Larry Sabato’s Center for Politics before graduating from the University of Virginia in 2009 where she double majored in English and Religious Studies. katevasiloff@brspoll.com

Kate Vasiloff

Emma Freeman, Associate Analyst

Emma manages the day-to-day operations of BRS and assists other staff members with research and communications projects, including the writing and editing 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 her BA in International Relations from Tufts University, where she graduated magna cum laude in 2011. emmafreeman@brspoll.com

Emma Freeman