Introduction

Philip N. Jefferson took office as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System on May 23, 2022, to fill an unexpired term ending January 31, 2036. Most recently, Dr. Jefferson was Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of Faculty, and the Paul B. Freeland Professor of Economics at Davidson College. Before then, he served as chair of the Department of Economics at Swarthmore College, where he was the Centennial Professor of Economics. Prior to this position, Dr. Jefferson was an economist at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. His other past roles include being President of the National Economic Association. He also served on the Vassar College Board of Trustees and the Board of Advisors of the Opportunity and Inclusive Growth Institute at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

Key Accomplishments

Jefferson has two published books, “Poverty: A Very Short Introduction” (Oxford University Press, 2018) and “The Oxford Handbook of the Economics of Poverty” (Oxford University Press 2012). He held visiting appointments at the Federal Reserve Bank of New, University of California at Berkeley, and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

Industries and Areas of Expertise

Economics, Poverty

Education

Jefferson received his PhD and Master’s in Economics from the University of Virginia and his Bachelor’s in Economics from Vassar College.