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WASHINGTON, DC, January 5, 2024 – The trustees of the Urban Institute have elected two new members to its board: Rosie Allen-Herring, president and chief executive officer of United Way of the National Capital Area, and Ruth Marcus, associate editor and columnist at the Washington Post. Both will begin their terms immediately.

“These new trustees join Urban at a pivotal moment for the country, in which we’re undergoing rapid technological change, uneven economic opportunity, and eroding trust in one another,” said Jamie Gorelick, Urban’s board chair. “The wisdom and experience of these new trustees will help guide Urban’s effort to deliver facts that inspire solutions to achieve inclusive growth and shared prosperity.”

“Our new trustees are thought leaders in their respective fields who are committed to Urban’s mission to drive impact by equipping changemakers with evidence and solutions,” said Sarah Rosen Wartell, Urban’s president. “They join an incredible group of trustees whose insights help to broaden Urban’s reach and increase its impact."

A full list of Urban Institute trustees can be found here.

BACKGROUND

Rosie Allen-Herring currently serves as the president and chief executive officer of United Way of the National Capital Area (United Way NCA), where she leads the team in its work to reduce disparities in health, education, and economic opportunity and to improve outcomes for individuals and families in the community. An international expert in corporate finance, strategic leadership, public and private partnerships, corporate philanthropy, and business strategy, Allen-Herring previously brought her expertise and business acumen to Fannie Mae by serving in various executive roles. Currently, she serves on the board of directors for MedStar Health Inc., the Greater Washington Partnership, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, WesBanco (NASDAQ), United Way Worldwide, the Economic Club of Washington, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Allen-Herring earned a BA in economics from Howard University and an MBA from Strayer University; she is also a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management Program.

Ruth Marcus is an associate editor and columnist for the Washington Post. Marcus has been with the newspaper since 1984. She joined the national staff in 1986, covering campaign finance, the Justice Department, the Supreme Court, and the White House. From 1999 to 2002, she served as deputy national editor, supervising reporters who covered money and politics, Congress, the Supreme Court, and other national issues. She joined the editorial board in 2003 and began writing a regular column in 2006. A graduate of Yale College and Harvard Law School, she was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 2007. From 2016 to 2022, she was deputy editorial page editor, overseeing signed opinion content. 

About the Urban Institute

The Urban Institute is a nonprofit research organization that provides data and evidence to help advance upward mobility and equity. We are a trusted source for changemakers who seek to strengthen decisionmaking, create inclusive economic growth, and improve the well-being of families and communities. For more than 50 years, Urban has delivered facts that inspire solutions—and this remains our charge today.