Ricardo Rosselló’s Biography
Ricardo Rosselló is a scientist, entrepreneur, author, and former Governor of Puerto Rico, known for his work at the intersection of public policy, innovation, and crisis leadership. With a multidisciplinary background spanning biomedical engineering, economics, and governance, his career has focused on advancing structural reform, scientific progress, and long-term economic development.
Rosselló served as Governor of Puerto Rico from 2017 to 2019, during which he led the island through unprecedented challenges, including a fiscal crisis and the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, among the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history. During his administration, he pursued fiscal stabilization, government reform, and economic recovery initiatives, while overseeing large-scale disaster response and rebuilding efforts and securing significant federal disaster assistance. Nationally, Rossello was elected President of the Council of State Governments and recognized as School Choice Policy Maker of the Year.
In addition to his public service, Rosselló has built a career in science and entrepreneurship. He is currently a partner at Convex Ventures and previously co-founded Prosperous Biopharma, a biotechnology company focused on protein therapeutics and drug delivery systems; was Chief Operating Officer and Chief Visionary Officer at the Regenerative Medicine Institute; and has contributed to research in stem cell engineering, tissue regeneration, and molecular biology.
Rosselló’s academic credentials include a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from the University of Michigan, and postdoctoral research in neurogenetics and stem cell biology at Duke University. He has served as a professor and researcher at multiple institutions, including the University of Puerto Rico and George Mason University, where he teaches on crisis leadership and reform dynamics.
He is also the author of The Reformer’s Dilemma, a book that explores the structural challenges to meaningful reform in modern democracies and advocates the emergence of a “Radical Middle” to address polarization and enable effective governance.
Rosselló frequently speaks on topics including public policy, economic reform, disaster recovery, scientific innovation, and the future of democratic systems. He continues to advocate for Puerto Rico’s political status resolution and statehood with an organization of over 35,000 delegates, while engaging in initiatives focused on entrepreneurship, science, and public leadership.