Lael Brainard

Lael Brainard took office as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in June 2014 to fill an unexpired term ending January 31, 2026. Prior to her appointment to the Board, Dr. Brainard served as undersecretary of the US Department of Treasury from 2010 to 2013 and counselor to the secretary of the Treasury in 2009. From 2001 to 2008, she was vice president and the founding director of the Global Economy and Development Program at the Brookings Institution. Dr. Brainard also previously served as deputy national economic adviser for President Clinton. From 1990 to 1996, she was assistant and associate professor of applied economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management. Dr. Brainard received a BA with university honors from Wesleyan University in 1983. She received an MS and a PhD in economics in 1989 from Harvard University, where she was awarded a National Science Foundation Fellowship. She is also the recipient of a White House Fellowship. Nominated in March, 2009 by Obama to be Undersecretary of the Treasury for International Affairs. Held the positions of Vice President and Director of Global Economy and Development and Bernard L. Schwartz Chair in International Economics at Brookings. Also the Director of the All Brookings Initiative on Competitiveness. Formerly White House Deputy National Economic Adviser and Associate Professor at MIT, she focuses on competitiveness, trade, international economics, U.S. foreign assistance and global poverty.