The Century Foundation’s legacy is rich. It includes policy victories that have changed lives, such as the New Deal and the Marshall Plan, as well as helping to save Social Security from privatization and defend the Affordable Care Act.
But no moment in TCF’s 106-year history has been as consequential as this.
Since January, TCF has welcomed eleven remarkable new senior fellows from the Biden administration—national leaders who were on the frontlines of winning progress during the last four years, and who have chosen TCF as their home to defend progress in the year ahead. Check them out below.
Welcoming TCF’s Newest Fellows
Economy and Jobs
Julie Su served as acting U.S. secretary of labor from March 2023, leading efforts to make the Biden administration the most pro-worker, pro-union administration in history. Julie was instrumental to many historic achievements for working people, including passage and implementation of the infrastructure law and landmark labor agreements for health care workers, flight attendants, autoworkers, and other unions. A pioneering civil and workers rights advocate and MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient, Julie’s work has helped lead a renaissance in the labor movement and bring public support for unions to its highest point since 1965.
Lauren McFerran is the former chair of the National Labor Relations Board, the federal government’s first line of defense to protect the rights of employees, encourage collective bargaining, and curtail nefarious business practices. Prior to the NLRB, Lauren served the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) as deputy staff director to Chairman Tom Harkin and previously as senior labor counsel to Senator Ted Kennedy.
Rachel West served as special assistant to President Biden for labor and workers at the White House Domestic Policy Council, where she led efforts to strengthen workers’ pay and overtime protections, advance health and safety protections, and strengthen workplace rights. Prior to that, Rachel was senior advisor to Senator Michael Bennet, where she led legislative efforts on tax policy—including the expanded refundable Child Tax Credit—and previously as senior economic policy advisor for the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor.
Health Care
Chiquita Brooks-LaSure joins TCF after serving as administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the Biden administration. One of the nation’s preeminent health care leaders, Chiquita’s accomplishments include more than 100 million people enrolled in Affordable Care Act or Medicaid coverage, achieving the lowest uninsured rate in U.S. history; implementing a $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare enrollees and successfully negotiating lower prescription drug prices; and improving maternal health outcomes.
Carole Johnson was the administrator of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), leading a critical federal agency that provides primary care to more than 30 million people in high-need communities. As administrator, Carole helped make primary care more available, better integrated mental health and substance use services, grew school-based health services, and made unprecedented investments to train the next generation of health care providers. She joined HRSA from the White House COVID-19 Response Team and previously led New Jersey’s Department of Human Services, the state’s largest agency.
Women’s Economic Justice
Gayle Goldin served as deputy director of the Women’s Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor, providing executive leadership to the only federal agency mandated by Congress to focus on the needs of working women. A former Rhode Island state senator, she represented the Women’s Bureau domestically and internationally while managing a portfolio of policy issues, including paid leave, sick time, child care, gender-based violence and harassment, and gender equity.
Dr. Ruth Friedman is the former director of the Office of Child Care at the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Appointed during the pandemic, she leveraged more than $50 billion in supplemental child care funding to help keep programs open and lower child care costs for families. She brings more than twenty-five years of experience in child and family policy, including leading the early learning agenda on behalf of Representative George Miller and the House Education and Labor Committee.
Higher Education
Viviann Anguiano was director of education in the White House Domestic Policy Council (DPC) in the Biden administration, leading the higher education portfolio. She has worked in government and advocacy roles to advance educational opportunities for nearly fifteen years, having previously served as deputy director of education and senior policy advisor for the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee under Senators Bernie Sanders and Patty Murray. During her Senate tenure, she led legislative efforts to improve college access, affordability, and equity.
K-12
Kayla Patrick was senior policy advisor in the U.S. Department of Education, where she was the Biden administration’s primary policy and political lead for a $40 billion K–12 grant portfolio. During her tenure, Kayla led several landmark initiatives, including launching the first-ever Fostering Diverse Schools Program to promote equitable and inclusive education. She also directed the implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, overseeing $2 billion in investments to enhance student well-being, safety, and support.
Loredana Valtierra was senior policy advisor in the U.S. Department of Education, where she led multiple K–12 budget and policy priorities for the Biden administration. Prior to her appointment, Loredana co-led the K–12 and juvenile justice agenda for the House Committee on Education and Labor under Chairman Bobby Scott as education policy counsel. Before federal service, Loredana promoted equitable school policy for girls of color and represented pregnant and parenting students at the National Women’s Law Center.
Communications
Jeremy Edwards joins TCF from the White House, where he served as an official spokesman and assistant press secretary for the Biden administration. He brings an extensive communications background, having previously worked as press secretary and deputy director of public affairs at FEMA and deputy press secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce. A proud Syracuse native, Jeremy has also held roles as the press secretary for the Biden for President campaign in Georgia, deputy spokesperson at the U.S. Department of Justice, and director of communications for former Congressman Bobby Rush (D-IL).
These eleven hires will join TCF for full-time, one-year fellowships, coming after a decade of rapid growth under the leadership of Mark Zuckerman, who will be stepping down as president after helping Century more than triple in size during his tenure.
It’s safe to say: despite tremendously challenging times, the future of TCF has never been brighter.
ICYMI: TCF Just Hired 11 All-Stars from the Biden Administration
The Century Foundation’s legacy is rich. It includes policy victories that have changed lives, such as the New Deal and the Marshall Plan, as well as helping to save Social Security from privatization and defend the Affordable Care Act.
But no moment in TCF’s 106-year history has been as consequential as this.
Since January, TCF has welcomed eleven remarkable new senior fellows from the Biden administration—national leaders who were on the frontlines of winning progress during the last four years, and who have chosen TCF as their home to defend progress in the year ahead. Check them out below.
Welcoming TCF’s Newest Fellows
Economy and Jobs
Julie Su served as acting U.S. secretary of labor from March 2023, leading efforts to make the Biden administration the most pro-worker, pro-union administration in history. Julie was instrumental to many historic achievements for working people, including passage and implementation of the infrastructure law and landmark labor agreements for health care workers, flight attendants, autoworkers, and other unions. A pioneering civil and workers rights advocate and MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient, Julie’s work has helped lead a renaissance in the labor movement and bring public support for unions to its highest point since 1965.
Rachel West served as special assistant to President Biden for labor and workers at the White House Domestic Policy Council, where she led efforts to strengthen workers’ pay and overtime protections, advance health and safety protections, and strengthen workplace rights. Prior to that, Rachel was senior advisor to Senator Michael Bennet, where she led legislative efforts on tax policy—including the expanded refundable Child Tax Credit—and previously as senior economic policy advisor for the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor.
Health Care
Chiquita Brooks-LaSure joins TCF after serving as administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the Biden administration. One of the nation’s preeminent health care leaders, Chiquita’s accomplishments include more than 100 million people enrolled in Affordable Care Act or Medicaid coverage, achieving the lowest uninsured rate in U.S. history; implementing a $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare enrollees and successfully negotiating lower prescription drug prices; and improving maternal health outcomes.
Carole Johnson was the administrator of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), leading a critical federal agency that provides primary care to more than 30 million people in high-need communities. As administrator, Carole helped make primary care more available, better integrated mental health and substance use services, grew school-based health services, and made unprecedented investments to train the next generation of health care providers. She joined HRSA from the White House COVID-19 Response Team and previously led New Jersey’s Department of Human Services, the state’s largest agency.
Women’s Economic Justice
Higher Education
K-12
Communications
These eleven hires will join TCF for full-time, one-year fellowships, coming after a decade of rapid growth under the leadership of Mark Zuckerman, who will be stepping down as president after helping Century more than triple in size during his tenure.
It’s safe to say: despite tremendously challenging times, the future of TCF has never been brighter.