Deanna Ross is the Director of Workforce Development Policy at the Progressive Policy Institute. In this role, Deanna focuses primarily on analyzing and developing policy solutions that address issues pertaining to the workforce development pipeline and how the Democratic party can best win back the working class.
Prior to joining PPI, Deanna served as the Legislative Director of Labor and Economic Development in the State-Federals Relations Program at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). In this role, she engaged the federal government on numerous workforce, housing, trade, and economic development issues, on the behalf of all state legislatures across the United States. Her role there centered on building relationships with Members of Congress, the Biden-Harris administration, state-level policymakers, and other workforce and economic development stakeholder groups. She also focused on legislative research, writing, and analysis.
Prior to joining NCSL, she served as an Associate at Venn Strategies, where she conducted legislative research, organized Congressional fly-ins and events, and provided logistical support for the firm. Deanna also previously worked for former Representative Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ-01).
Deanna holds a Bachelor of Science in political science and international affairs from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.