Marie Zemler Wu

Marie Zemler Wu, executive director of Foster America, co-founded the organization in 2016 to transform traditional child welfare approaches into practices that truly meet the needs of all children and families. Building on the success of its flagship fellowship program, Foster America has expanded under Marie’s leadership to develop place-based partnerships with communities and child welfare jurisdictions, positioning the nonprofit organization at the forefront of innovation in the sector.
Marie's career has been dedicated to child welfare reform and social innovation. Her work with leading organizations including the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Center for the Study of Social Policy supported public child welfare agencies in pursuing comprehensive system reforms. Marie developed particular expertise in quality-assurance processes; youth engagement and voice; recruitment/support of foster, adoptive, and relative caregivers; placement stability; and the attainment of legal permanency for children with long stays in foster care.
Marie holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and obtained her bachelor’s degree from Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where she majored in psychology and communication studies. Additionally, her passions for design and storytelling led her to pursue a photography certification from the Boston University Center for Digital Imaging Arts. As an adoptee and a mother of three, Marie is driven by personal and professional ideals that are deeply aligned – all in pursuit of a future where every child and family thrives.