Self-Governance 2050 is a joint initiative of New America and the Foundation for American Innovation. Meet the team leading the project.
Hollie Russon Gilman
Hollie Russon Gilman is a Senior Fellow in New America’s Political Reform program, where she works on participatory governance, civic engagement, and democratic innovation. She is the author of Democracy Reinvented and co-author of Civic Power, and previously served as an advisor on open government and innovation in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Soren Dayton
Soren Dayton is Director of American Governance Policy at the Foundation for American Innovation, where he leads work on strengthening American governing institutions. He has spent two decades at the intersection of politics and policy, previously directing governance initiatives at the Niskanen Center and Protect Democracy, and has testified before Congress on improving government effectiveness.
Mark Schmitt
Mark Schmitt is Senior Director of the Political Reform program at New America and an expert on political reform, budget and tax policy, and U.S. social policy. He previously served as executive editor of The American Prospect and as policy director to Senator Bill Bradley.
Maresa Strano
Maresa Strano is Deputy Director of the Political Reform program at New America, working on electoral reform and state and local governance. She has written for Vox, Washington Monthly, and Democracy Journal, and teaches at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management.
Sarah Jacob
Sarah Jacob is a Senior Research Associate in New America’s Political Reform program, focusing on civic engagement, participatory governance, and civic assemblies. She previously worked on the National Democratic Institute’s Democracy and Technology team.
Alessandro DeMarchi
Alessandro DeMarchi is a Program Manager on the American Governance team at the Foundation for American Innovation. He holds a BS in international politics and government from Bocconi University and an MS in global studies from Lund University.
Zachey Kliger
Zachey Kliger is the Program Manager for Self-Governance 2050. He holds an MPA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, previously spent four years at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and writes about technology and democracy as a staff writer for The Renovator.