ABOUT

Russia has over 15 years of experience in public policy, advocacy, government relations, social impact, and nonprofit management, focusing on public policy and community advocacy. She serves as the Voting Rights & Redistricting Program Manager at California Common Cause.

Russia was previously the Senior Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs at Community Risings [formerly Community Health Councils] in Los Angeles as well as Deputy Secretary for Budget and Finance at the California State Transportation Agency in Sacramento. She has deep policy analysis and policy implementation skills, and worked at the California Legislative Analyst’s Office early in her career, drafting analyses of ballot measures. Russia serves as a national advisor for the University of Southern California Center for Inclusive Democracy and facilitated the Center's training and community learning for underserved communities to participate in local and statewide redistricting processes. She has a passion for racial equity and leveraging her policy experience to increase civic engagement within communities of color.

Russia has a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Southern California and is based in Long Beach.