Cecilia Conrad facts for kids

Cecilia Ann Conrad (born January 4, 1955) is a leader in the world of economics. She is the CEO of Lever for Change, an organization that helps give money to groups working for social change. She is also a senior advisor to the MacArthur Foundation.

Before this, she was a professor of economics at Pomona College. She also helped manage important programs at the MacArthur Foundation, like the MacArthur Fellows Program, which gives grants to very creative people. Cecilia Conrad studied at Wellesley College and Stanford University. Her work often looks at how things like race and gender can affect people's economic lives.

Early Life and Family

Cecilia Conrad was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on January 4, 1955. Her parents were Emmett James Conrad and Eleanor Nelson Conrad. Her father was a surgeon. He was the first African American surgeon to join the staff at St. Paul’s Hospital in Dallas, Texas.

Later, her father was elected to the Texas State Board of Education. He was the first African American to be elected to a city-wide office in Dallas. Cecilia's mother, Eleanor, helped manage his election campaign. Cecilia was their only child.

Her Education Journey

Cecilia Conrad became interested in economics by watching the news. She saw reports about the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, and how money worked between countries.

Her high school math teacher helped her learn more about math. She joined a summer math program where she learned about number theory and matrix algebra.

Conrad graduated from Wellesley College in 1976. She earned a degree in economics. She then went to Stanford University. There, she received her master's and doctorate degrees in 1982. Her studies focused on how people work, how businesses are organized, and how governments use money.

While at Stanford, she was part of a special program at Bell Labs. This program helped more women and minorities get advanced degrees. She also worked as an economist for the Federal Trade Commission. This government group helps make sure businesses are fair.

Cecilia Conrad has also received special honorary doctorates. These are from Claremont Graduate University and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

Wellesley College, Massachusetts. This is where Cecilia Conrad earned her first degree.

Her Career Path

After finishing her studies, Cecilia Conrad taught at Barnard College and Duke University.

In 1995, she joined Pomona College as a professor. She held different important roles there. In 2002, she was named Carnegie Professor of the Year for California. This award recognizes excellent teachers.

From 2004 to 2007, she was the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Pomona. She helped expand a summer research program for students. She also worked to make the college more diverse and welcoming for everyone.

Conrad also served as the interim Dean of Faculty at Scripps College from 2007 to 2009. During this time, she was also the president of the International Association for Feminist Economics (IAFFE). She was also president of the National Economic Association.

In 2009, Conrad returned to Pomona College. She became the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College. She held this role until 2012. For one academic year, she even served as the Acting President of the college.

In 2010, she joined a committee for the National Science Foundation. This committee works on equal opportunities in science and engineering. She became the chair of this committee in 2012.

In 2013, Conrad left Pomona to work for the MacArthur Foundation. There, she managed the MacArthur Fellows program. This program gives large grants to "extraordinarily creative and inspiring individuals." She also managed the 100&Change program, which gives big grants to solve important problems.

Today, Cecilia Conrad is the CEO of Lever for Change. This organization is connected to the MacArthur Foundation. It helps connect money from generous people with groups that are working to make positive social change.

She is also a member of the Board of Trustees for several colleges, including Bryn Mawr College and Muhlenberg College. She helps edit The Review of Black Political Economy and Feminist Economics.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Cecilia Conrad has received many awards for her work:

• 2018: Samuel Z. Westerfield Award from the National Economic Association.
• 2008: Woman of Power Award from the National Urban League.
• 2005: Outstanding Academic Title for her book African Americans in the U.S. Economy.
• 2002: Carnegie Professor of the Year award.
• 2002: Wig Distinguished Professorship Award for Excellence in Teaching from Pomona College.

Some of Her Works

Cecilia Conrad has written books and articles about economics.

Books

• Conrad, Cecilia A (2018). “Feminist Economics: Second Wave, Tidal Wave, or Barely a Ripple?” This chapter is in a book called The Legacy of 2nd Wave Feminism in American Politics.

Research Articles

• Conrad, Cecilia A; Dixson, Adrienne; Sloan Green, Clementine "Tina" (2014). “A Discussion on Gender Equity and Women of Color,” Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies.
• Conrad, Cecilia A (2018). “How to Mobilize Philanthropy to Advance Racial Equity? A Call to Action,” The Review of Black Political Economy.
• Conrad, Cecilia A (August 6, 2019). "Big Grant, Big Learnings,” India Development Review.

Other Appearances

Cecilia Conrad has also shared her ideas in other places:

• Conrad, Cecilia A (September 3, 2014). “The Geography of Genius: New Data About MacArthur Fellows Shows That Creative People Move More,” Time magazine.
• Conrad, Cecilia A (September 16, 2013). “Our Society Discourages Innovation,” an opinion piece in The New York Times.
• Conrad, Cecilia A (September 20, 2013). “Five Myths About the MacArthur ‘Genius Grants’,” The Washington Post.
• Conrad, Cecilia A (September 26, 2017). “Giving Away $100 Million: A Peek behind the Curtain at MacArthur Foundation,” Nonprofit Quarterly.
• Interview with Priss Benbow, a podcast from Stanford Social Innovation Review, April 23, 2019.
• Is there a bubble in the liberal arts college market? (transcription), a speech she gave at Pomona College on September 1, 2009.

See Also

• Feminist economics
• List of feminist economists