Emily Barson is a Senior Advisor at Public Private Strategies. Emily has spent two decades on the front lines of political, governmental, and non-profit efforts. She has built coalitions and political movements that deliver meaningful results, working with states and other stakeholders and creating a reputation as someone who gets things done.

Emily was the founding Executive Director of United States of Care, a non-profit organization working to ensure that everyone can access quality, affordable health care. She took the organization from a lofty vision and concept paper, to a nationally-recognized player in the health care coverage and access space at the state and federal levels.

Emily also served for eight years at the Department of Health and Human Services during the Obama Administration, most recently as Director of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA). In that role, she led the Department’s interactions with state, local, and tribal governments and external stakeholders, giving those groups a voice in decision-making and facilitating effective partnerships to further the Department’s priorities. She also led HHS regional operations, worked with dozens of local coalitions across the country for ACA outreach and enrollment, and oversaw key intergovernmental functions.

Following her time in the administration, Emily was a senior advisor to Get America Covered, a national campaign to help people get covered and stay covered in the Health Insurance Marketplace. Earlier in her career, Emily worked on numerous political campaigns, including the New Hampshire presidential primary, Congressional campaigns in Pennsylvania and Florida, and for President Obama’s campaign in 2008, as well as two stints at the Democratic National Committee. 

Emily holds a degree in Political Communications from the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs and an executive certificate in Leading Change in Government from the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. Emily lives on Capitol Hill with her husband and two sons.