OK Policy announces new staff and expanded leadership team

We’re excited to announce the addition of Sabine Brown and Jessica Vazquez to the Oklahoma Policy Institute staff.

Sabine joins as our new Outreach & Advocacy Coordinator and as our primary staff person coordinating the grassroots Together Oklahoma coalition. Sabine grew up in Germany in the family of a U.S. service member but has called Oklahoma home since 1998. Before joining OK Policy, she served as the Oklahoma Chapter Leader for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa. Sabine earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Health Science from the University of Oklahoma and was a physician assistant prior to discovering advocacy work. She lives in Bixby with her husband, Eric, and their two children.

Jessica Vazquez has joined OK Policy as a Communications Associate. Born in Tamaulipas, Mexico, she immigrated to Oklahoma with her family at a young age and obtained a B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy from Oklahoma City University as a Clara Luper Scholar.

Prior to joining OK Policy, Jessica worked as an Inbound and Digital Marketing Specialist for an OKC-based firm. She is an alumnus of both the National Education for Women (N.E.W.) Leadership Institute (2013) and Summer Policy Institute (2015). In addition to her role at OK Policy, Jessica serves as the volunteer Director of Communications for Dream Act Oklahoma, a community organization dedicated to advocating and empowering immigrant youth in the state.

“As we prepare to celebrate OK Policy’s 10th anniversary, the continuing growth of this organization is thanks to Oklahomans’ strong support for our mission of providing trustworthy information and advancing fair and responsible public policies,” said David Blatt, OK Policy’s Executive Director. “Sabine and Jessica bring numerous talents in grassroots organizing, graphic design, and more that will increase our impact on policy debates and decisions in Oklahoma.”

This new addition brings OK Policy’s staff to nine full-time and two half-time employees. Sabine replaces KJ McKee, who stepped down to run for public office, while Jessica’s position is new to the organization.

Along with the addition of new staff, OK Policy has restructured and expanded its leadership team. Bailey Perkins and Carly Putnam have joined the leadership team, with Bailey as Outreach & Legislative Director and Carly as Policy Director. The previous Policy Director, Gene Perry, is now serving as Strategy & Communications Director.

“With these changes, OK Policy is well-positioned to achieve even greater influence on the policies of our state,” said Blatt.

OK Policy is an independent, non-partisan based think-tank that promotes adequate, fair, and fiscally responsible funding of public services and expanded opportunity for all Oklahomans through research and advocacy.