Axel Aubrun, PhD, is a psychological anthropologist who focuses on long-term culture change. He has authored articles in publications ranging from the Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute to Non-Profit Quarterly. Aubrun is a graduate of Amherst College, Oxford University, and the University of California, San Diego, where he spent a year lecturing in cultural anthropology before co-founding Topos.

Isaiah Bailey specializes in education policy, political communication, and race politics. He has served in numerous research roles, including as Survey Research Manager within the Tennessee Department of Education and more recently at the Hub Project. He is a graduate of the University of Richmond (B.A.), and a graduate of the University of Michigan (M.P.P.; M.A.).

Meg Bostrom is a veteran communications strategist with a unique perspective resulting from her rich and varied experiences as communicator, public opinion analyst, advertising agency executive, and political consultant. As co-founder of the Topos Partnership, she has researched public opinion and analyzed communications strategies on a wide range of social issues.

Andrew Brown, PhD is a cultural anthropologist whose research has looked at the interaction between culture, rhetoric and public discourse. His work has included cross-cultural research in the US, Ireland and the former Soviet Union. He has taught at Colby College and the University College Cork.

An Indigenous immigrant from Michoacán, Mexico, Nalleli arrived in the United States at the age of three. Their status as a former undocumented person led to their interest and involvement in several political campaigns where they learned the art of canvassing and the importance of advocacy. They became interested in research when they were selected as a Ronald E. McNair Scholar and developed an award winning research project that addressed voting behavior and political perception among Native American undergraduate students. Nalleli holds a BA in Native American Studies, with a minor in Political Science, from the University of New Mexico and continues to be an outspoken advocate in their community.

Jamila Gilmore, M.Sc., is a sociologist with research background in race, inequality, and liberation movements in the U.S. and Cuba.

Joseph Grady, PhD is a cognitive linguist whose academic research and publications have focused on the role of metaphor in thought and communication. Before founding Topos, Grady taught linguistics at Georgetown University and the University of Maryland, and also spent a number of years as a consultant helping to analyze and develop brand names. He received his PhD from the University of California at Berkeley.

Elaine is an experienced public policy advocate and nonprofit communications expert. She joined Topos in 2022 after several years with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and Dēmos. Before that Elaine served as the Director of the North Carolina Budget and Tax Center, where she led successful campaigns to increase the minimum wage, raise taxes on top-earners, and establish a state Earned Income Tax Credit. Elaine also brings her leadership insights to her role as a Board member of the North Carolina Budget & Tax Center and The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

Julia Offen has a PhD in cultural anthropology, an MA in Sociology and an MFA in English, and has conducted ethnographic research among circus performers in central Europe

Sabine brings more than 15 years of public policy analysis, issue advocacy, applied qualitative research, and program management experience to her current role as Senior Impact Manager. Sabine has worked with state-level advocacy, legal services, and philanthropy supporting organizations to advance people-centered economic and social justice public policies and practices. She holds a MA in Social Science Research from the University of Chicago and a JD from University of California at Berkeley School of Law.

Amy is a research assistant and transcriber for Topos Partnership. She has a BFA in painting with experience in classical realism and mural painting. Her work history includes accounting, tech support and training for both nonprofit and corporate entities such as an open and inclusive church organization, a travel association dedicated to responsible tourism in the Pacific Asia region, and a major cruise line. She is interested in holistic health and healing and is a certified health coach

Sara Tomczuk, PhD is a sociologist who studies interethnic relations and culture. She has conducted fieldwork on Roma-Majority relations in Slovakia and the Czech Republic and has been an instructor at University of Washington and North Seattle College.

Remy Trupin is a creative, strategic and entrepreneurial leader with extensive policy advocacy experience. Remy was the founding executive director of the Washington State Budget & Policy Center, an organization which he led and grew into a national model. He brings strategic insight from working with organizations and coalitions developing and implementing legislative advocacy, communication and ballot campaigns. Remy volunteers board leadership and strategic advice to social service, civic and human rights organizations and is an American Marshall Memorial Fellow.

Margy Waller is a veteran policy advocate and communicator whose past work has included serving as Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution, Senior Advisor on domestic policy in the Clinton-Gore White House, Senior Fellow at the Progressive Policy Institute, and Director of Public Policy at United Way of America.