Staff
The staff of The Opportunity Agenda is composed of a diverse group of professionals who, together, bring experience and expertise in the areas of communications, research, policy, advocacy, law, fundraising, and administration.
Ellen Buchman
PresidentEllen Buchman (she/her) was appointed President of The Opportunity Agenda in August 2019, after having served as Vice President for Program Strategy and Impact for the organization. Ellen brings a breadth of knowledge, expertise, experience, and relationships having worked as an organizer, advocate and communicator among leaders at local, state,...
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Patrick Braddick
Director of Finance and OperationsAs Director of Finance and Operations, Patrick (Pat) Braddick (he/him) oversees the finances of The Opportunity Agenda. This includes budgeting, forecasting, revenue activity and payroll planning. Pat brings over 15 years of financial experience with him, including work with not-for-profits organizations. In this role, Pat expects to continue to assist...
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Arnell Calderon
Development Associate for Institutional GivingAs the Development Associate for Institutional Giving, Arnell Calderon (she/her) supports the Institutional Advancement team in foundation research, drafting and submitting grant reports and proposals, record keeping, and database management. Prior to joining TOA, she has professional and academic experience in education, publishing, academic libraries, writing, and transformative justice work....
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Istou Diallo
Executive Assistant, ProgramsAs Executive Assistant, Istou Diallo (she/her) brings her justice-based intersectional background to The Opportunity Agenda where she supports both the Director of Program Management and Impact and the Vice President for Program Strategy and Impact. Prior to this role, Istou worked at Incarceration Nations Network (INN), a global network and...
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Brian Erickson
Digital Communications and Multimedia ManagerBrian Erickson (he/him) brings a firm belief in the power of story to drive narrative change and create political leverage for social change. In his role as the Digital Communications and Multimedia Manager, Brian combines values-based messaging best practices with documentary film and emerging media trends to produce multimedia stories...
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Julie Fisher-Rowe
Director of Narrative and ResearchJulie Fisher-Rowe (she/her) oversees the organization’s strategic framing work, translating communications research and theory into practical messaging strategies for advocates and activists. In this role, she works with groups across the country to identify opportunities to build public support for social justice issues and policies. Through a mix of trainings,...
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Jamela Irvin
Human Resources ManagerAs HR Manager, Jamela Irvin (she/her) is responsible for the overall administration, coordination, and evaluation of the human resources function, and oversees organizational HR systems and the entire employee life cycle. Jamela is an experienced human resources professional with 10 years’ experience in the field. She holds an MBA, is certified...
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Elizabeth Johnsen
Director of Program Management and ImpactA seasoned narrative and communications professional, Elizabeth Johnsen (she/her) is responsible for overseeing implementation of The Opportunity Agenda's ambitious programmatic vision. With extensive experience in project and staff management, Elizabeth works with the VP of Program Strategy and Impact to develop the organization's plan of action, design effective workflow systems,...
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Zeynep Kilik
Executive Assistant, Office of the PresidentAs Executive Assistant, Zeynep Kilik (she/her) supports smooth and efficient operations and communications for the President, and works closely with The Opportunity Agenda’s Board of Directors, staff, contractors, and partners. With a background in global advocacy and nonprofit administration, she has been able to assist in furthering research projects and...
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Tad Kroll
Development Manager, Institutional GivingAs the Development Manager for Institutional Giving, Tad Kroll (he/him) is responsible for researching and writing proposals, updates, reports, and other materials to funders. He works to help create and cultivate mutually satisfying relationships with foundation and individual funders through well-crafted and engaging materials and events. He also works with...
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