About Us
Founded in 2020 by Martina Smith, Ariel Research Partners (Ariel) is a small, full-service boutique public opinion research firm—and the only Black woman-owned firm of its kind in the Washington, D.C. Metro area. Ariel combines the expertise and capacity of a large research firm with the personal attention and tailored service of a focused, nimble team.
Ariel operates as a collective model—also the only one of its kind in the D.C. Area—assembling senior-level researchers and subject-matter experts on a project-by-project basis. This ensures every client benefits from deep, project-specific expertise tailored to their goals.
Our projects are executed by experienced and skilled social and data scientists and market research analysts, specializing in complex, multi-method research across academic, community, public policy, market research, social impact, and civic engagement fields. We design instruments from simple to complex for both surveys and qualitative research, execute across methodologies, and deliver real-world analyses.
We are committed to providing high-quality, cost-competitive, and actionable insights through rigorous and transparent methodologies—helping our clients make informed decisions and achieve meaningful outcomes.
Hello
Martina is an award-winning researcher and research manager with over two decades of experience, driven by a deep love for research and an appreciation for its power to inform critical decisions. She approaches her work with respect for the research process, understanding both its potential and its limitations.
Martina’s career began in academic research, exploring the displacement of Black public housing residents in mixed-income developments as well as examining the societal deference afforded to Black women. Her community-based projects include evaluating the efforts of Black residents in a historically Black Chicago neighborhood to combat gentrification. Martina has also led policy research for the Department of Labor, contributing valuable insights to shape public policy.
Before founding Ariel Research Partners, Martina managed a 14-person qualitative market research team, overseeing projects in both education (K-12 and Higher Ed) and corporate (B2B and B2C) sectors. A native of Chicago, Martina holds a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude and departmental honors, and a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy in sociology from the University of Chicago.
