Ruth A. Wooden, President of Public Agenda has announced her intention to retire as of December 31, 2010. The announcement was made at the May 5 meeting of the Public Agenda Board of Directors. Ms. Wooden has served as President since August 2003. The board acknowledged her service with great appreciation and thanked her for her strong commitment to the mission and high quality of Public Agenda’s nonpartisan public opinion research and public engagement programs.
Under her leadership, Public Agenda established its Education Insights unit, led by Executive Vice President Jean Johnson, that strengthened its important work in K-12 and post-secondary education reform efforts. A revitalized Public Engagement Department, led by Chief Operating Officer Will Friedman, was also established during Ms. Wooden’s tenure, leading to the establishment of the Center for Advances in Public Engagement in 2006 and a large body of community-based work.
Ms. Wooden said she would continue to be closely involved with Public Agenda, remaining active in supporting several exciting new initiatives for the organization that build on her legacy.
Ms. Wooden has also been an active leader in the nonprofit sector, currently serving as Chair of the Board of Civic Ventures, as well as a director of Independent Sector, Demos, and The Family Violence Prevention Fund. She is also a former director of CARE, Research! America and the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation.
She began her professional career in marketing at Ralston Purina Company and as an advertising manager at the NW Ayer advertising agency. She moved to the nonprofit sector in 1987 as President of the Advertising Council and was a member of the social marketing public relations practice at Porter Novelli International from 2001-2003. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and has an honorary degree from Northeastern University.
Ms. Wooden and the Board of Directors of Public Agenda have already begun work on a succession planning effort. During the transition, Ruth will remain as President with the support of the capable executive team of Mr. Friedman, Ms. Johnson, and Scott Bittle, Executive Editor of PublicAgenda.org and Director of Public Issues Analysis. The Board expects to announce its succession decision during the fall of 2010.
Public Agenda, an innovative public opinion research and public engagement organization, works to strengthen our democracy's capacity to tackle tough public policy issues. A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, Public Agenda was founded by social scientist and author Daniel Yankelovich and former Secretary of State Cyrus Vance in 1975 to help bridge the gap between leaders and citizens in ways that enable them to work through complex issues together and achieve pragmatic solutions. For more information, visit www.publicagenda.org.
