Amy Liu is Vice President and Director of the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program and the AdelineM. and Alfred I. Johnson Chair in Urban and Metropolitan Policy. Liu is a national expert on cities and metropolitan areas. She translates research insights into action on the ground, and excels at linking local experiences to federal policymaking. As Director of the Metropolitan Policy Program, which Liu co-founded in 1996, she pioneered the program’s signature approach to state and local engagements, which uses rigorous research to inform strategies for economic growth and opportunity.Liu writes frequently about inclusive economic growth, the fortunes of midsized cities and small towns, and the intersection of economic, workforce, and community development policies. She penned an essay that frames ways in which state and local leaders can “Rebuild Better” and achieve a more equitable economic recovery post COVID-19. Liu’s paper “Remaking Economic Development” has catalyzed shifts in economic development toward higher-quality growth, prosperity, and inclusion for all residents. She serves on several boards and councils such as Equal Measure, JUST Capital, Urban Land Institute Washington, University of Illinois System President’s Advisory Council, and more. She holds a degree in Social Policy and Urban Studies from Northwestern University. In 2015, Liu completed the High Impact Leadership Program at Columbia Business School.