As Director of Public Opinion Research at Discovery Works Collaborative, Jenna Pedersen helps municipalities, fire districts and other public-sector organizations understand what their communities think—and turn that insight into decisions they can make with confidence. She combines expertise in survey methodology with a collaborative consulting approach, partnering with clients throughout the research process to design meaningful studies, interpret findings and translate them into clear, actionable recommendations.

Jenna's path into research began at Cerner Corporation, where she worked in learning and development. There, she partnered with stakeholders across the organization to identify challenges, improve processes and use data to inform decision-making. That experience sparked a deeper interest in understanding how people form opinions and how organizations can make better decisions by listening to the communities they serve.

She went on to earn her doctorate at Washington University in St. Louis, where she specialized in public opinion, political psychology, survey methodology and quantitative research methods. Throughout her doctoral work, Jenna designed and executed survey-based research studies to better understand the factors shaping community attitudes and decision-making. Her work reinforced her belief that the best decisions begin with listening—and with research that helps leaders act with confidence.

Jenna holds a PhD and MA in American Government and Politics from Washington University in St. Louis and a BA in Political Science from Elon University, where she worked with the Elon University Poll.

Originally from Kansas City, Jenna now lives in the St. Louis area with her husband, Dan, and their three cats. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, playing sand volleyball and experimenting with new recipes. She and Dan also love to travel, exploring new cities and discovering memorable local restaurants.

Jenna's Fun Fact
Jenna has been a lifelong figure skating fan and skated for several years as a child. She watches every competition she can find, follows the sport year-round through podcasts and hopes to get back on the ice someday.