Jonathan Williams and Carlen Finn have been unanimously elected to the board of Public Assets Institute.
A nonpartisan nonprofit in Montpelier, Public Assets Institute is Vermont’s independent research organization on state budget, tax, and economic issues and the source for timely and in-depth state fiscal and policy analysis.
“We are thrilled to announce two additions to the board,” said Board Chair Jared Duval, “Jonathan Williams’ strong background in policy, advocacy, and human services work, and his experience of serving in the legislature will complement the skills and talents of the board. And Carlen Finn’s dedication to Public Assets is decades-long. Her professional and personal commitments to this work are a great benefit to us all.”
Williams attended Boston University, served in the US Peace Corps in the Kingdom of Morocco, and earned a master’s degree in public administration from UVM. In Vermont he has worked as an advocate for Vermont League of Cities and Towns, as a town administrator, a development professional for the Vermont Foodbank, a member in the Vermont House of Representatives, and he currently serves as the Executive Director for Prevent Child Abuse Vermont, a statewide nonprofit dedicated to ensuring every youth in Vermont has a safe and happy childhood.
“I am very pleased to join Public Assets’ board,” said Williams, "I have seen firsthand how essential reliable data, transparency, and public engagement are in crafting effective public policy. Whether working to protect Vermont’s children or ensuring that the state’s municipalities have the tools they need to govern effectively, I share Public Assets' commitment to social, racial, and economic justice."
Carlen Finn
Finn is a founding board member who served, from 2003 to 2024 in the role of Treasurer for most of those 19 years, before taking a 2-year hiatus. She is a long-time child policy advocate and educator. A staff member of Voices for Vermont’s Children for over 30 years, Carlen has served as research director, executive director, and is at present a senior policy associate focused primarily on public education and health equity. Carlen has extensive experience in data and policy analysis, outreach, coalition building and coordination. Carlen has a B.A. from Vermont State University and a post baccalaureate teaching degree from the University of Vermont.
“I am delighted to have rejoined the board,” said Finn, “The work of Public Assets—careful analysis of sound data and thoughtful policy prescriptions that state government can enact—is essential for empowering Vermonters to build a state that works for all of us. Racial, social, and economic justice doesn’t happen by accident, it’s delivered through the hard work and dedication that Public Assets demonstrates.”
More information about Public Assets Institute and reports based on its research and analysis are available on its website www.publicassets.org.
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