Afton Branche

Afton Branche joined the Drum Major Institute as an immigration researcher in February 2009. Her work focuses on federal, state, and local immigration policy. In particular, her research examines the shared economic interests of immigrants and the American middle class. Her report, “The Next Economic Imperative: Counting Undocumented Immigrants in the 2010 Census,” has been highlighted in The American Prospect, Newsday, and The New Republic and her writing has appeared in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Open Left. Prior to joining DMI, Afton worked with Cause & Affect, a Los Angeles-based media consulting firm, specializing in social action campaigns. Afton graduated from Georgetown University with a BS in foreign service in 2008. She majored in culture and politics with a focus on international development, and received a certificate in African studies. While in Washington, D.C., Afton worked with Vital Voices Global Partnership, focusing on global women's leadership initiatives and grant management.