Monisha Som, Director

Monisha Som works on a wide range of issues, including children’s health, ocean conservation and public defense.

At Spitfire, She conducts direct media outreach and policymaker research; develops strategic messaging for clients; coordinates the logistics and materials for numerous Capitol Hill events; and helps craft strategic communications plans. Monisha has had op-eds and letters to the editor published in outlets including the Rhode Island Providence Journal, Bangor Daily News, Grand Forks Herald and The New York Times (online). She oversaw the production of a major report on spending for children’s programs in the federal budget for First Focus and was instrumental in the development strategy and outreach materials around the launch of Vote & Vax as a national vaccination program supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Monisha has crafted talking points for congressional testimony delivered by the Honorable Leon E. Panetta and Admiral James D. Watkins of the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative; produced collateral materials for the health policy concentration at the University of New Mexico’s College of Nursing; and routinely conducts media and competitive analyses to inform strategic decisions for communications planning. Monisha was integral in the research effort for the development of Discovering the Activation Point and is a co-editor of Spitfire Strategies’ newsletter, Spitfire Sparks.

In 2008, while working on ocean policy reform with the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative, Monisha coordinated the release of the 2007 U.S. Ocean Policy Report Card, an assessment of ocean policy reform during the past year. During this project, Monisha organized two briefings on Capitol Hill, a national radio tour and national media outreach, which resulted in coverage in The New York Times, Newsday and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

As part of Spitfire’s training services, Monisha has led trainings on presentation development and provided one-on-one communications assistance to nonprofits participating in communications trainings, including grantees of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Hewlett Foundation Performing Arts Program.

Prior to joining Spitfire Strategies, Monisha worked as a research associate in the antitrust department of the National Economic Research Associates. At NERA, Monisha supported expert testimony of Ph.D. economists concerning pending mergers and acquisitions, economic damages, alleged antitrust violations, and regulatory proceedings.

Previously, Monisha served as an intern at APCO Worldwide, the office of Congressman Joseph Hoeffel and the Eleanor Roosevelt Papers, a project chartered by The George Washington University.

As an undergraduate at The George Washington University, Monisha participated in the Elizabeth J. Somers Women's Leadership Program and NEW Leadership DC, a women's leadership program focused on politics at American University. Monisha received her B.A. in political science with a minor in criminal justice from GW.