Emily Dohler Rodas is an Analyst at The Mellman Group. Emily is a researcher and advocate whose work bridges data, policy, and community engagement. She holds a Master’s in Applied Political Analytics and a B.A. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, combining analytical expertise with grassroots organizing experience.

Throughout her career, Emily has remained deeply committed to elevating the voices of underrepresented communities through civic outreach, legislative research focused on Latinx and immigrant populations, and mental health advocacy for underserved youth in Washington, D.C. During her master’s program, she examined how internationally marginalized communities perceive the United States, culminating in a thesis focused on Colombia. This global perspective continues to inform her approach to research and analysis.

Prior to joining The Mellman Group, Emily served as a Research and Analytics Specialist at Working America, the community affiliate of the AFL-CIO. There, she conducted labor-focused research to support worker-centered organizing, advocacy, and electoral campaigns. Her work included survey design, voter and issue analysis, randomized controlled trials, data visualization, and the development of research products that informed strategic decision-making and outreach to working-class communities.

Emily has worked across a range of environments—from county council offices to early childhood classrooms to labor-affiliated organizing spaces—using each opportunity to build inclusive, informed, and data-driven approaches to systemic issues. A bilingual communicator and community organizer, she has helped lead mobilizations against gun violence, registered new voters, and collaborated with organizations such as CASA de Maryland and the Pride Fund to End Gun Violence.

A DMV native, Emily brings a people-centered perspective to her work and is committed to using research to advance meaningful social and political change.