Kristen Pelachyk is an Analyst at the Mellman Group, a polling and consulting firm whose clients include leading political figures, Fortune 500 companies, and the nation's most important public interest groups. Kristen has conducted qualitative and quantitative research for various political clients in the 2006 Election, including Governor Jennifer Granholm, Congressman Jim Marshall, and the Georgia Democratic Caucus, as well as non-profit organization EMILY’s list.

Prior to joining the Mellman Group, Kristen worked at Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates conducting quantitative message testing and online visual polling for the financial sector. Her primary clients included US federal agencies, emerging banking institutions, and leading insurance providers, as well as US Senators and international heads of state.

Kristen also has experience at the Center for Political Studies at the University of Michigan, where she analyzed campaign advertisements for visual and narrative content. Her quantitative honors thesis entitled “Young Americans’ Online Political Involvement Prior to the 2004 Election: The Link to Offline Political Participation” explored how Generation Y built community ties and retrieved information while online and its consequent effects on political participation. In the past, she interned for Senator Carl Levin of Michigan and volunteered for the Michigan Democratic Party and the Kerry-Edwards ’04 campaign.

Originally from Sterling Heights, Michigan, Kristen graduated from the University of Michigan with a BA in Political Science and Psychology with High Honors, High Distinction. In her spare time, Kristen enjoys drawing and painting and playing tennis.