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Michelle Barsa
Board Member

Michelle Barsa serves as a principal at Omidyar Network. In this role, she leads work at the intersection of belonging and technology, with a particular focus on generative AI.

Prior to joining Omidyar Network, Michelle was as a program director at Beyond Conflict, where she developed and led initiatives focused on democratic legitimacy and movement building throughout the United States. Michelle has extensive experience working to counter violent extremism, holding senior advisory positions at USAID, the US Department of Homeland Security, and Equal Access International. As a director at the DC-based social impact nonprofit Inclusive Security, she advised on US foreign policy related to women, peace, and security, and trained hundreds of women across Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Libya, and Nigeria to develop policy-focused advocacy strategies. Michelle has also worked to promote equitable labor practices for Latino immigrants. Michelle currently serves as co-chair of the Council of Directors for the Trust for Civic Life.

Michelle received a master’s degree from The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College, where she studied finance and philosophy.

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Doug LinkhartPresident Matt LeighningerVice PresidentDirector, Center for Democracy Innovation Ibrahim BazyanProgram Manager Anna CorningProgram CoordinatorHealthy Democracy Ecosystem Map Kathie HamiltonDirectorOperations and Finance Mike McGrathDirectorResearch and Publications Christine Lopes MetcalfeDirector, Local Democracy Engagementand Managing Director, Local Policy Lab Mikayla TownsendProgram Manager Rebecca TroutSenior Director, Programs and PartnershipsDirector, All-America City Award Nick VlahosManaging DirectorCenter for Democracy Innovation Laura WoodDirector, Local Democracy Strategyand Vice President for Democracy, Local Policy Lab Jillian YoungbloodDirector, Deliberative Democracyand Executive Director, Civic Genius Carolyn LukensmeyerCo-DirectorHealthy Democracy Ecosystem Map Scott WarrenSenior AdvisorCo-Founder, Local Policy Lab Peter ZahnAdvisorCo-Founder, Local Policy Lab Gretchen Armijo, AICP, LEED APSenior FellowFounder & President, Equity Policy Solutions, LLC Rick GarciaSenior FellowRetired Government and Public Policy Expert Joseph Hoereth, PhDSenior FellowDirector of the Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement (IPCE) at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Mike HugginsSenior FellowRetired City Manager Benoy JacobSenior FellowDirector, Community Development Institute, University of Wisconsin - Madison Angela LawsonSenior FellowCouncilwoman, Aurora, CO Lindsay M. MillerAssistant Editor, National Civic ReviewSenior Fellow Kimberly L. NelsonSenior FellowProfessor of public administration and government at the School of Government Larry SchoolerSenior FellowMediator, Facilitator, Public Engagement Consultant, and Educator
Diana Romero CampbellChairCouncil Member, Denver District 4 Mayor Ramiro Garza Jr.Vice ChairMayor, City of Edinburg Adam CarlisleTreasurerVice President of Labor Relations, Southwest Airlines Angela MontezBoard MemberSpecial Counsel, Eversheds Sutherland Ray BarayBoard MemberFormer Chief of Staff, ICMA Michelle BarsaBoard MemberPrincipal, Programs and Policy, Omidyar Network Hon. Mary Ann BorgesonBoard MemberNACo Immediate Past President; Commissioner, Douglas County, NE T.C. BroadnaxBoard MemberCity Manager, City of Austin Charlotte CastilloBoard MemberExecutive Director, Poderistas Maia ComeauBoard MemberPresident Comeau & Company Todd ConnorBoard MemberCEO, Veterans for All Voters Mayor John DaileyBoard MemberMayor John Dailey, City of Tallahassee, FL Johnny DuPreeBoard MemberFormer Mayor, Hattiesburg, MS Mayor Malik D. EvansBoard MemberMayor of Rochester, NY Ayeola FortuneBoard MemberVice President, Impact Programs, United Way Worldwide Mayor Patti GarrettBoard Member (Former Chair)Mayor of Decatur, Georgia Sara GiffordBoard MemberCo-founder and COO, ActiVote Michelle GowdyBoard MemberExecutive Director, Virginia Municipal League Rita McNeil Danish, Esq.Board MemberCEO, Signal Ohio Tony PeytonBoard MemberExecutive Vice President & Chief of Staff, National Center for Families Learning Frederick J. RileyBoard MemberExecutive Director of Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute Monte RoulierBoard MemberPresident & Co-Founder Community Initiatives Inc. Irica SolomonBoard MemberHead of Corporate Citizenship, Government Affairs and Advocacy at Mission Square Mayor Vince WilliamsBoard MemberMayor of Union City, GA Wendy WillisBoard MemberExecutive Director, Deliberative Democracy Consortium

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