David J. Socolow

David J. Socolow is Head of Policy at the Social Finance Institute, where he leads initiatives in collaboration with policymakers, researchers, and peer learning communities to build knowledge about outcomes-based policies and practices that expand social and economic mobility. Before joining in 2024, he spent over 30 years in government and the private sector championing education and workforce success. He most recently led New Jersey’s Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, where he created the state’s tuition-free college program and expanded career pathways and financing options for jobseekers. David previously served as New Jersey’s Labor Commissioner, as the state’s Unemployment Insurance Director, and in senior roles on Capitol Hill and at the U.S. Department of Labor, Pinnacle Foods, Inc., and CLASP. He holds a BA from Harvard College and an MPA from Rutgers University.