November 1, 2021
Erin Norman joins SPN as Senior Messaging Strategist
State Policy Network is pleased to announce Erin Norman joined the team as Senior Messaging Strategist. Before starting at SPN, Erin was a Senior Solutions Consultant at Heart + Minds Strategies, a market research company in Reston, Virginia.
Erin graduated from Boston University and has a Master of Public Policy from The College of William & Mary. In addition to working for Heart+Mind, Erin has experience with the Institute for Justice, thepollingcompany, Capital One, and Rockbridge Associates.
In this new role, Erin will work with the Network to spread best practices when it comes to polling and market research, as well as audience building. We sat down with Erin to learn more about what drew her to SPN, what policy she’s most passionate about, and what books have greatly influenced her life.
ERIN: I grew up in the DC Metro area (the elusive native!) and my house always had lively discussions about what was going on in American politics. I can remember holiday dinners as a kid where all the other cousins had run off to play or watch TV and I sat around just listening to the adults talk about current events and government. I have always been interested in public policy but resisted pursuing that path for a long time—largely because of a general distaste for politics and the national discourse around it.
After working in corporate research for a few years, I found a Master of Public Policy program that would let me combine what I had learned about public opinion research on the job and policy and dove in. My first job after graduate school was with the Institute for Justice (IJ), an organization that highlighted the worst abuses of government and how we can fight back against those abuses (while having what felt like an inappropriate amount of fun). After IJ, I worked in the private sector supporting nonprofits and movement organizations until I made the move to SPN.
ERIN: I get little moments of inspiration all the time through my husband and his family and friends. He was born and lived in England until he graduated from university. Talking to that group provides a very unique look at the approach and outlook people in other parts of the world have on government, policy, and the social collective. It is always eye-opening to realize just how special the American way of life is, which reminds me how critical it is that we protect it.
ERIN: I think the crisis in public education that has been playing out over the last 18 months is a massive opportunity. So many parents are now giving up the idea that the schools know best, and there is a lot of potential to expand on that to other areas of government.
ERIN: I worked with SPN as a vendor for about five years before coming on board. When I realized it was time for a change, SPN was the first organization that came to mind. I would always spend way more time on SPN projects than I probably should have because I was so aligned and invested in their goals.
ERIN: Being able to show up to work every day knowing you, and everyone alongside of you, are working for a higher purpose is really motivating and fulfilling.
ERIN: I take a break and find something that lets my brain just wander for a bit—a hard workout, a walk in the woods, or an episode of a light/funny show (Archer is my go-to).
ERIN: Learn from people who have experience but never be afraid to try something new or forge your own path.
ERIN: Listening to everyday people’s stories and frustrations is really helpful for my work. What barriers do people face in their lives and how would they change things to get around them? It’s refreshing because aside from a handful of tribalists, most people just want a world that makes sense and allows them to pursue what is important to them—their concerns are very tangible and reasonable.
ERIN: The most recent Annual Meeting (2021) had so many good moments and they were all related to being able to see people in person. It reinforced how much I love Annual Meeting for the ability to connect with like-minded people working toward the same goal.
ERIN: Education is the issue that is currently closest to my heart. I have two young children, one of whom was set to enter the public school system in the Fall of 2020. The system is failing kids at every turn and for so many people, there are no viable alternatives. There is no question we can do better.
ERIN: I’m either watching my kids play sports, playing board games with my husband and friends, or running on trails in the woods.
ERIN: Most people would probably say running long distances (10+ miles) through the woods is absurd, but it feels perfectly normal to me. I also like to bake which is normal until Christmastime when it gets out of hand—in a typical year I’ll go through about 25 pounds of butter.
ERIN: I read 1984 when I was relatively young, and it left a lasting impression. Up until that point, I don’t think I had really grasped what the world would look like if we lost the freedoms most of us take for granted. That led to a deep appreciation for utopian/dystopian fiction and science-fiction. It’s a window into how people want or fear things to be which says a lot about society and the underlying issues we need to fix.
Generations by Strauss and Howe is one of the key academic-style texts I find myself going back to over and over again. It does a really good job of explaining how people’s views and philosophies are shaped by the macro factors of the world they come of age in. It is such a useful lens to help understand why people believe the things they do.
