Clarence Wardell

Clarence Wardell, Ph.D., leads a team that advances innovation and technology development to improve economic outcomes for individuals in the U.S. with low incomes.

Before joining the foundation in 2023, Clarence served in senior positions on the Biden-Harris transition team and in the White House, focusing on policy implementation and advancing equity through the federal government. His roles included Senior Advisor for Policy Implementation and Delivery on the White House Domestic Policy Council and Chief Data and Equity Officer on the American Rescue Plan Team.

Previously, Clarence served in roles at Results for America, CNA Corporation, and the Obama Administration, working to scale up evidence-based solutions to address challenges at the local, state, and federal levels of government. He co-led the White House Police Data Initiative as a Presidential Innovation Fellow and member of the U.S. Digital Service, earning recognition as one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business in 2017.

In 2012, Clarence co-founded tinyGive, a social media–based charitable giving platform that was later acquired by Give Lively.

He has a Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a B.S.E. in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan.