Ruth Wooden became President of Public Agenda, a nationally and internationally recognized non-profit research and education organization founded in 1975 by social scientist and author Daniel Yankelovich and former Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, in 2003.

Prior to her appointment at Public Agenda, Ms. Wooden was Executive Vice President-Senior Counselor at the international public relations firm of Porter Novelli, where she led the Advertising and Cause-Related Marketing Practice. From 1987 to 1999, she was President of The Advertising Council, the nation’s leading producer of public service announcements. She presently serves as Chair of the Board of Civic Ventures and is a board member of Independent Sector and Research!America.

Ms. Wooden attended Lawrence University in Appleton, WI, and she received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and History from the University of Minnesota. In 1994, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from Northeastern University.