Roosevelt Institute President and CEO Felicia Wong to Transition to New Role Spearheading Growth of the Roosevelt Society

NEW YORK, NY—After 12 years of leading the Roosevelt Institute as its President and CEO, Felicia Wong announced today that she plans to transition into a new role spearheading the growth of the Roosevelt Society in 2025. Under Felicia’s leadership, Roosevelt has emerged as a driving force behind the rise of progressive economic ideas and shifting the paradigm in the political ecosystem.  

“Serving as Roosevelt’s president and CEO has been and remains the honor and the privilege of a lifetime, and I believe it’s important to create more space for new leaders,” said Felicia Wong, president and CEO of the Roosevelt Institute. “We know that we must rely on a community of bold and visionary leaders to enable our big ideas and make impact, and I am truly thrilled to have the opportunity to focus my efforts on the Roosevelt Society.” 

A program of the Roosevelt Institute, the Roosevelt Society fosters and expands a network of talent who share a vision for an economy and democracy that are more productive and more inclusive. It builds on our work to support progressive leaders for public service and progressive economic policy positions at every career level. In her new position, Wong will continue to leverage the power and success of Roosevelt’s institute staff and fellows, student and alumni network, and political appointments.   

In the last decade, the Roosevelt Institute has led a major reconceptualization of the government’s role and responsibility in shaping a better economy. Following a half-century of dominant neoliberal policies that centered low taxation, deregulation and privatization over the well-being of workers, communities and the environment, the Roosevelt Institute shepherded a counterforce—articulating a clear, coherent and new economic worldview and socializing innovative, inclusive policies backed by powerful leaders to rebalance power in our economy and democracy.

Leading up to the 2016 election, Roosevelt emerged as a far-sighted voice calling on our government to embrace a more prominent role in shaping the economy as a force for good. “Rewriting the Rules of the American Economy” defined the new progressive movement at a time of deep upheaval and uncertainty, and it brought cohesion to disparate policy attempts that often sought to mitigate harm rather than get at the underlying causes of those harms. 

To realize progressive policy change at scale, Roosevelt built an intentional pipeline of diverse leaders in positions to turn policy ideas into action. With Wong at the helm, the Roosevelt Institute has recommended more than 100 people, including 20 Roosevelt staff and board members, to key economic leadership positions ranging from the National Economic Council and Council of Economic Advisors, and Department of the Treasury to the Department of Commerce and Department of Labor. 

In her new role, Wong will build on her work and success leading the Roosevelt Institute and play a key role in bringing to fruition our vision for the Roosevelt Society, which was launched in January.

“With the Roosevelt Society’s launch earlier this year, and given the vision and planning Felicia has put into the program, it is a natural fit for her to transition to this new role,” said Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, Roosevelt Institute Board Chair. “I cannot think of a better place for Felicia to focus her time and energy. Her focus on the Roosevelt Society will deepen our capacity and expand our influence. Felicia’s legacy is something I know my grandmother especially would be proud of.” 

Wong has led dramatic growth at Roosevelt, more than doubling the operating budget over the last 12 years. With these increased resources, Roosevelt has driven a paradigm shift by elevating evidence-backed ideas and socializing them with the people who determine or influence policy priorities—especially policymakers and their staffs, other think tank experts, members of the media, and philanthropic leaders.

Wong will continue actively serving as the Roosevelt Institute’s president and CEO until the Institute names a new leader. A search for a new president and CEO will begin immediately, with Roosevelt aiming to fill the position by early 2025. The board has retained Jessica Barba Brown to lead the search. Brown was instrumental in the search for leadership at Roosevelt ally JPB Foundation. While Roosevelt’s leadership is changing, the organization remains committed to reimagining and shaping a more balanced and more productive, high-care, low-carbon American economy in service of many, not the few. 

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