Skye Perryman is the president and CEO of Democracy Forward. She grew up in Waco, Texas, and is a proud product of K-12 public education. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics and philosophy, magna cum laude, from Baylor University. In 2025, Perryman was named to the Time 100 list of the year’s most influential people.
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By Paul Raushenbush
I have had the privilege of knowing Skye Perryman for decades; in fact, she is family. From our first encounter, I have admired the principled, unshakable moral center of her life that only has grown more powerful, out of which flows all of her current work as the President of Democracy Forward.
Few saw as early and clearly as Skye the gathering of the storm now breaking upon us. Nobody prepared the way Skye prepared to meet the challenges she and those she has assembled have met. Nobody has been more instrumental in ensuring our democracy has held up thus far.
Courage is the synonym for Skye Perryman. Oh, there are other words — intelligent, strategic, and inspired — but courage assumes all those traits while unfurling the flag, understanding the risks, and then saying what must be said and doing what must be done.
The Latin root of Courage is cor, which means “heart.” For all of her legal expertise and brilliance, at Skye’s core is her heart, her spirit, her faith, and her love for the world and for our nation that animates her life and makes her among the most impressive people I have ever known.
If you are a praying person, join me in thanking God for Skye Perryman.
—Paul Raushenbush is the president and CEO of Interfaith Alliance.
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