Our Staff

Sarah L. Desmarais, PhD, President/CEO

Sarah L. Desmarais, Ph.D. has been the President at Policy Research Associates, Inc. (PRA) since 2022. Before that, she served as the Senior Vice President from 2021 to 2022. She is responsible for the strategic priorities of PRA and oversight of PRA operations. Dr. Desmarais works on issues at the intersection of public health, community safety, and social justice. Her current research is focused on evidence-based practices for reducing detention rates, especially among people with behavioral health needs. She provides technical assistance, evaluation services, and consultation to behavioral health, criminal justice, and intelligence agencies throughout the United States and abroad on problems and solutions for implementation, policy, and practiceContinue Reading

PRA is staffed by approximately 65 employees, all dedicated to serving populations in need. Our staff is composed of individuals with a diverse range of personal and professional experiences who are organized into program areas (with Program Area Directors) that reflect topical and technical areas of expertise.

The PRA Council is composed of representatives from each program area, standing committees, and larger projects who are appointed annually to provide input and advise in the day-to-day implementation of PRA’s values and guiding principles.

Scroll over our pictures to learn more about us!

  • Reset

Samantha Adams

Research Assistant

Lynn Aragona

Administration

Kelly Abbruzzese

Administration

Dan Abreu

Senior Project Associate

Kevin Marquez Arguera

Project Assistant

Shannon Bader

Senior Project Associate

Heather Barnes

Administration

Ben Barrowman

Senior Project Associate

Jasher Blocker Harris

Project Associate

Chantel Boudreau

Project Associate

Edrina Burnette

Research Associate II

Li Chen

Research Assistant

Krystle Cherry

Administration

Lisa Callahan

Senior Project Associate

Violette Cloud

Senior Project Associate

Dan Coladonato

Project Associate

Sarah Desmarais

President

Holley Davis

Administration

Karrah Dillman

Project Assistant

Tish Di Leo

Project Associate

Michelle Espinosa-Clark

Senior Project Associate

Jen Elder

Senior Project Associate

Alisha Fletcher

Project Assistant

Duane France

Senior Project Associate

Michael Foley

Administration

Jessica Haller

Administration

Elan Hope

Vice President

Donald Harris

Senior Project Associate

Pamela Heine

Senior Project Associate

Regi Huerter

Senior Project Associate

Erika Ihara

Project Associate

Abigail Kirkman

Senior Project Associate

Ashley Krider

Senior Project Associate

Marianne Latz

Administration

Bryan LaVigne

Administration

Isolynn Massey

Research Assistant

Kristin Lupfer

Vice President

Lisa Maye

Senior Project Associate

Julie McLafferty

Project Associate

Brianna McMahon

Project Assistant

Andrea Morey

Administration

Brandon Morrissey

Research Assistant

Aaron Motschmann

Project Assistant

Vic Ortiz

Administration

Chan Noether

Vice President

Elianne Paley

Administration

Sara Partyka

Administration

Travis Parker

Vice President

Philip Paty

Project Associate

Stephanie Pidgeon

Administration

Lisa Pellitteri

Program Area Director

Sametra Polkah-Toe

Project Associate

Karla Reeves

Administration

Sam Rogers

Project Assistant

Matthew Robbins

Project Associate

Emily Russell

Project Associate

Ashley Sabatino

Project Assistant

Kristin Sauerbier

Senior Project Associate

Steven Sepowski

Project Assistant

Amanda Starkey

Project Associate

Suzy Sodergren

Senior Project Associate

Melissa Stein

Senior Project Associate

Briela Tollisen

Administration

Richard Van Dorn

Senior Research Associate

Nicole Vincent-Roller

Administration

Dazara Ware

Senior Project Associate

Allison Weber

Intern

Stephanieann Winter

Administration Area

Angela Wright

Senior Project Associate

Samantha Zottola

Senior Research Associate