Xavier de Souza Briggs
Ford Foundation
Xavier de Souza Briggs is an award-winning author, commentator, educator and researcher, as well as an experienced manager and policy adviser. He is Vice President for Economic Opportunity and Assets at the Ford Foundation and a faculty member (on leave) at the Department of Urban Studies + Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is former head of DUSP’s Housing, Community and Economic Development Group and associated head of department. His current research focuses on inclusive economic growth and how rapidly changing societies can thrive with increased ethnic diversity. Xav was appointed by President Obama to serve as Associate Director of the Office of Management and Budget in the White House. He has also consulted on strategy to leading national and international organizations, such as The World Bank and Rockefeller Foundation, and has been an expert witness in civil rights litigation.