Stephanie Yu, deputy director of the Public Assets Institute in Montpelier, has been named the organization’s next president and executive director. She replaces founder Paul Cillo, who will step down at the end of this year.
A nonpartisan nonprofit founded in 2003, Public Assets Institute is an independent research organization that works to improve the well-being of Vermonters and advance racial, social and economic justice through research, fiscal analysis and public engagement and empowerment.
“We are fortunate to have Steph’s experience and insights to lead Public Assets as the organization enters its third decade,” board chair Steven Gold said. “We’re excited about the prospects for Public Assets and for the state with Steph at the helm and are looking forward to the ideas and projects she advances in collaboration with Public Assets’ excellent staff.”
Yu was hired as a policy analyst at Public Assets in 2015 and became deputy director in 2018. Her work here is informed by fiscal experience in the public and private sectors in multiple states, including stints with AmeriCorps, state budget offices and legislatures. She is a graduate of Harvard University and holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Southern California.