Drea Braxmeier is a communications professional with nearly 20 years working in the nonprofit and agency settings. She specializes in media relations, thought leadership, and executive positioning. 

Prior to her work at the Milken Institute, Braxmeier spent four years at Edelman, one of the world's leading public relations (PR) agencies. She worked with numerous Fortune 100 clients, helping to elevate brand positioning, build consumer trust, and navigate crisis issues. She worked across industries including health care, agriculture, finance, and consumer packaged goods. She led executive positioning efforts for companies such as John Deere, Butterball, Foot Locker, and more.

Braxmeier also spent more than seven years with DKC, a boutique PR firm, where she specialized in health care and wellness. There, she worked closely with clients including New York University (NYU) Langone Health and New York Road Runners/NYC Marathon. She began her career in the nonprofit space at Children's Health Fund, New York Road Runners, and the American Junior Golf Association.

Braxmeier earned her master of public health from NYU and her BS from the University of South Carolina. She currently lives in Maryland with her husband and two active sons.