Sarah Rosen Wartell


Sarah Rosen Wartell is a public policy executive and housing markets expert who serves as president of the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan social and economic policy research institute in Washington D.C.
In 2012, Sarah Rosen Wartell became the third president of the Urban Institute since it was founded in 1968. Urban is an economic and social science research and policy organization whose more than 450 researchers, experts, and other staff believe in the power of evidence to improve lives and strengthen communities. During her tenure, Urban has articulated its strategy to “elevate the debate” by bringing more of its insights from research to federal, state, and local government and practice; becoming a leader in research communications and data visualization; and undertaking an ambitious program of business systems and technology modernization.
Previously, Wartell was deputy assistant to the president for economic policy and deputy director of the National Economic Council. At the US Department of Housing and Urban Development from 1993 to 1998, she advised the federal housing commissioner on housing finance, mortgage markets, and consumer protection. Later, she was a consultant to the bipartisan Millennial Housing Commission.
After government service, Wartell was the founding chief operating officer and then executive vice president of the Center for American Progress. Before her tenure in government, she practiced law with the Washington, DC, firm Arnold & Porter.
Wartell serves on the board of Enterprise Community Partners and on Bank of America’s National Community Advisory Council. She previously served on the boards of the Center for Law and Social Policy, the Low Income Investment Fund, the Center for Urban Science and Progress at New York University, and the Corporation for Enterprise Development. Her areas of expertise include community development, consumer finance, asset building, and housing finance.
Wartell has an AB degree with honors in urban affairs from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. She has a JD degree from Yale Law School.

Education

Wartell attended Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and Yale Law School.

Career

Urban Institute

Wartell became the third president of the Urban Institute In February 2012, succeeding former president Robert D. Reischauer. Urban is an economic and social science research and policy organization whose more than 450 researchers, experts, and other staff believe in the power of evidence to improve lives and strengthen communities.
During her tenure, the Urban Institute has articulated its strategy to “elevate the debate” by bringing more of its insights from research to federal, state, and local government and practice; becoming a leader in research communications and data visualization; and undertaking an ambitious program of business systems and technology modernization.

Center for American Progress

Wartell co-founded the Center for American Progress, a progressive public policy and research organization. She served as its first chief operating officer and general counsel and later, as executive vice president. Her work focused on the economy and housing markets, and she directed the Mortgage Finance Working Group and "Doing What Works" government performance program.

Clinton administration

Wartell was President Bill Clinton's deputy assistant for economic policy and the deputy director of his National Economic Council. In the White House from 1998 to 2000, she led over a dozen interagency working groups, negotiated legislation, and managed administration policymaking in housing and community development, financial markets and banking, insurance, consumer protection, pensions, tort reform, and other areas.

Housing and Urban Development

From 1993 to 1998, Wartell was a Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Federal Housing Administration in the Department of Housing and Urban Development, advising the federal housing commissioner on housing finance, mortgage markets, and consumer protection.
Wartell practiced law with the Washington, D.C., firm of Arnold & Porter, was a visiting scholar and adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center, and was a consultant to the bipartisan Millennial Housing Commission.
Wartell serves on the board of Enterprise Community Partners and on Bank of America’s National Community Advisory Council. She previously served on the boards of the Center for Law and Social Policy, the Low Income Investment Fund, the Center for Urban Science and Progress at New York University, and the Corporation for Enterprise Development.