Oakland, CA — College Futures Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Aneesh Raman to its board of directors. A leader in economic opportunity and workforce transformation, Raman brings significant experience across government, technology, and journalism to the foundation.

“Aneesh has dedicated his career to understanding the conditions necessary to shape economic mobility,” said Eloy Ortiz Oakley, president and CEO of College Futures Foundation. “His expertise in economic and workforce development and public-private partnerships will help advance our mission to ensure all Californians are on a path to prosperity.”

Raman currently serves as LinkedIn’s chief economic opportunity officer, where he partners with leaders across sectors to shape global responses to economic change and the future of work. Prior to LinkedIn, he was a senior economic advisor to Governor Newsom, helping guide the state’s economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Raman also held leadership roles at Facebook, where he focused on the economic impact of the tech industry. Earlier in his career, Raman worked in the Obama Administration as a speechwriter for both President Barack Obama and the Treasury Secretary during a time of historic economic crisis. Before entering public service, he was a CNN journalist, reporting from Southeast Asia and the Middle East, including two years as a war correspondent in Iraq.

“We are truly excited to welcome Aneesh to our board,” said Ashley Swearengin, board chair of College Futures Foundation. “His leadership, extensive experience across sectors, and commitment to expanding economic opportunity will be invaluable as we work to ensure more learners in California from underserved communities can reach their full potential.”

A graduate of Harvard College and a former Fulbright Scholar, Raman also serves on the board of Shanti Bhavan, a nonprofit focused on education for children from economically disadvantaged communities in India. His past leadership roles include serving as a term member at the Council on Foreign Relations and as a member of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library’s New Frontier Award Committee.

“I’m honored to join the board of College Futures Foundation and support its commitment to creating more pathways to economic mobility through postsecondary education,” said Raman. “The future of our state and our economy depends on our ability to help more learners from more places take their skills and talent as far as they can go.”

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Aneesh Raman is LinkedIn’s Chief Economic Opportunity Officer, working with leaders across sectors and around the world to make LinkedIn’s vision of creating economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce a reality in our time. Prior to LinkedIn, Aneesh served as a Senior Economic Advisor for California’s Governor, helping to shape and communicate the economic agenda for one of the world’s largest economies, as well as the state’s response to the global pandemic. Aneesh joined the Governor’s Office after five years in the tech industry, including as Head of Economic Impact at Facebook. From 2009-2013, he held multiple positions in the Obama Administration, including as a speechwriter to President Barack Obama and as speechwriter to the Treasury Secretary amidst a historic economic crisis. Aneesh started his career as a CNN correspondent, first in Southeast Asia and then across the Middle East, where he spent two years as a war correspondent in Iraq. A graduate of Harvard College and a former Fulbright Scholar, Aneesh is a Board member of Shanti Bhavan, an education non-profit that works with children from the most economically disadvantaged communities in India. He is also a former term member at the Council on Foreign Relations and former member of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library’s New Frontier Award Committee.