Clarence Wardell, Ph.D., leads a team at the Gates Foundation 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. 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 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.