Rohit Acharya

Nonresident Fellow – Brookings Metro

Rohit Acharya is a nonresident fellow at Brookings Metro. Acharya is an expert at using applied data science to generate new insights into the challenges found in U.S. cities. His research focuses on reducing poverty without displacement, enhancing public safety and health outcomes, improving education, and building wealth among low-income populations.

Acharya is also a founding partner at Common Good Labs, a research organization that designs actionable solutions to improve communities. Common Good Labs uses data science tools—including geospatial modeling, machine learning algorithms, and network analyses—to empower leaders in foundations, nonprofit organizations, and government. He previously worked as the co-founder and chief data scientist of First Access and in portfolio management at Bridgewater Associates.

In Pittsburgh, Acharya serves as the board treasurer of the Environmental Charter School, a public K12 school with a curriculum focused on eco-literacy, and is a board member of New Sun Rising, a community development nonprofit.

Acharya holds a B.A. in applied mathematics from Harvard University and is a chartered financial analys

Zeke Hernandez

Max and Bernice Garchik Family Presidential Associate Professor at the Wharton School

The Max and Bernice Garchik Family Presidential Associate Professor at the Wharton School and the author of the critically acclaimed book The Truth About Immigration: Why Successful Societies Welcome Newcomers. His pioneering research linking immigration to investment and economic growth has won multiple prizes, including an unprecedented three emerging scholar awards from the top academic associations in his field. Zeke is one of the highest-rated teachers at Wharton, one of Poets & Quants world's best 40 under 40 business professors, and one of the youngest recipients of a presidential professorship at the University of Pennsylvania. He loves his family, soccer, and meeting people from all over the world.

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