democracy center associate

Maryann O’Sullivan

Maryann is a forty year veteran of policy and advocacy work in California and globally. As the founding executive director of Health Access California, she helped spark the modern U.S. movement for universal, comprehensive, affordable health care. As the founding CEO of Preschool California and founding state director of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California, she led a variety of critical statewide advocacy campaigns on children’s rights. Maryann has also led advocacy development projects for the Democracy Center in both South Africa and Ukraine.  An attorney with degrees from San Francisco State University and Hastings Law School, Maryann is an active volunteer with prisoners at San Quentin State Prison. She lives in Berkeley, California.