Jeff Harris
The Aspen Institute
jeff.harris@aspeninstitute.org
202.736.3848
Washington, DC, May 9, 2014 —President Obama yesterday nominated Lisa Mensah, executive director of the Aspen Institute Initiative on Financial Security (Aspen IFS), to serve as Undersecretary for Rural Development at the US Department of Agriculture. As Undersecretary to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Ms. Mensah will bring her talents and passion for improving the economic lives of Americans to the USDA’s multi-billion dollar loan, grant, and technical assistance programs.
“I am honored to be nominated. I look forward to serving this Administration, the USDA, and this country,” said Ms. Mensah.
Walter Isaacson, president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, added, “Like everyone at the Aspen Institute, I’m deeply proud of the work Lisa has done at Aspen IFS. Helping assure that everyone has a decent opportunity and reducing wealth inequality are the political and moral imperatives of our time. Lisa has done so much to further these ideals, and we at the Aspen Institute will continue that work. In the meantime, I congratulate Lisa on this new chance to serve. The honor is a testament to her talent, vision, and her work at the Institute.”
Aspen Institute Executive Vice President Elliot Gerson said, “The Institute will continue to build upon the accomplishments and legacy of Aspen IFS which Lisa founded in 2003 to shed light on the financial policies and products that will help more Americans save, invest, and own. The Administration and indeed the nation will be well served by Lisa’s foresight and leadership.”
The work of Aspen IFS will continue as part of the Institute’s broader work on economic opportunity, poverty and community building which includes the acclaimed Financial Security Summit in Aspen in July.