The Distinguished Fellows Program supports the Psaros Center as a thought leader and convener on topical issues where financial policy meets financial markets.
Rostin Behnam served as the chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission after serving as both acting chairman and a commissioner from 2017 through 2025.
As chairman of the agency, Commissioner Behnam focused on transitioning the CFTC from the rule-writing era that dominated the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act to an agency that moves in lockstep within its mandate to address the issues presented by the rapidly evolving derivatives markets. With technology as a predominant driver of change, he has worked to implement rules and dedicate resources to enhance risk management and resilience, strengthen customer protections, promote efficiency and innovation, improve reporting and data policy, and promote international comity.
Lael Brainard is an internationally recognized policymaker and economist who formerly served as director of the White House National Economic Council. Previously, she was the vice chair and member of the Federal Reserve Board and under secretary of the U.S. Department of Treasury, where she received the Alexander Hamilton Award.
Patrick McHenry served 10 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives as the congressman for North Carolina’s 10th Congressional District. McHenry was a member of the House Financial Services Committee, including serving as its lead Republican member and chairman from 2018 to 2024. McHenry drove a robust legislative agenda focused on cryptocurrency, capital formation, artificial intelligence, fintech, data privacy, and corporate governance issues, among other topics.
