Greater Washington Research at Brookings Staff

Martha Ross, Deputy Director

Martha Ross focuses on a range of issues, primarily those affecting low-income residents and families in Washington, DC and the metropolitan region, including access to health care and workforce development. As part of the Medical Homes DC project, she works closely with the DC Primary Care Association and provides research support for the project’s efforts to improve the medical safety net in Washington, DC. She has completed extensive research on policy and program options to improve education and training opportunities for low-income, less-skilled District residents. Prior to joining Brookings, Ms. Ross was a Presidential Management Fellow in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she focused on welfare policy. She has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration and a bachelor’s degree from Colorado College.

Brooke DeRenzis, Research Analyst

Brooke DeRenzis is a research analyst with Greater Washington Research at Brookings. Her research focuses on a range of issues affecting the Washington, D.C. area, including antipoverty policies, education, and socio-demographic trend analysis. Before joining Brookings, Brooke served as an intern at the Mayor’s Office of the City of Detroit and conducted research on state economic development policies at the University of Michigan’s Center on Local, State, and Urban Policy. She holds a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and a bachelor’s degree from Sarah Lawrence College.