Rachel Johnson​

​Rachel Cotter Johnson is director of economic analysis at American Progress. Prior to joining American Progress, Johnson held roles involving economic analysis, program administration, and policy development and implementation. She entered federal service as a Presidential Management Fellow and worked at the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Administration for Children and Families. Her work focused on workforce and labor market outcomes; family economic security; and the design, implementation, and evaluation of public programs. She contributed to regulatory and budget development and supported implementation of major federal legislation, including the American Rescue Plan Act and the Fiscal Responsibility Act. She also worked as a nonpartisan analyst in the Minnesota Senate. Earlier in her career, she conducted research at Child Trends and has consulted on policy and evaluation projects, including with the World Bank. She began her career working directly with children and families in community-based programs. Johnson holds a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago and a B.A. from Carleton College. She is originally from Minneapolis.​