The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis has announced the appointment of William M. Rodgers III, Ph.D. as Vice President, effective July 12, 2021. He will also serve as the Director of the bank’s Institute for Economic Equity.

“My personal mission is to empower people and communities with economic thought and analysis,” Rodgers said. “The opportunity to serve as the institute's inaugural director allows me to continue this work with an outstanding team, not only in the Eighth District but across the Federal Reserve System.”

Rodgers added, “I am deeply appreciative of the support that the Heldrich Center has provided since coming to Rutgers in 2004. I look forward to exploring ways that the Institute for Economic Equity and the Heldrich Center can collaborate.”

In order to fulfill his new responsibilities, Rodgers will be taking a leave of absence from his current positions as Professor of Public Policy at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University and Chief Economist at the Heldrich Center.

Carl Van Horn, Ph.D., Professor and Director of the Heldrich Center, commented, “On behalf of my Heldrich Center colleagues, I congratulate Bill on his appointment and am confident that he will make important contributions to advancing economic equity through his research, analysis, and community development work. We look forward to collaborating with Bill.”

Rodgers previously served as Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of Labor and the Edwin L. and Frances L. Associate Professor of Economics at the College of William and Mary. He will continue to serve on Governor Murphy’s Restart and Recovery Commission and Public Bank Implementation Board. He holds a doctorate and Master’s in Economics from Harvard University, a Master’s in Economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and a Bachelor’s in Economics from Dartmouth College.