Brown economist, education scholar appointed to White House Council of Economic Advisers

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] - The Biden administration has appointed Brown University Associate Professor of Education and Economics Matthew Kraft as a senior economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers, drawing on Kraft's expertise and analysis to inform economic policy.

Kraft joins a group of approximately a dozen senior economists charged with providing the president real-time, objective evidence and analysis to inform the executive branch's economic policy decision making. The role also entails representing the Council of Economic Advisers in interagency meetings and preparing its economic reports, including the annual Economic Report of the President delivered to Congress.

Kraft began the one-year appointment in Washington D.C., on Monday, July 22. While he will be working primarily on issues related to education and children, the position includes advising on a wide range of topics related to domestic and international economic policy, he said.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to serve my country and serve the president, and to contribute both new analyses and my own perspectives on how we can further strengthen the economy, our education systems and the environment," said Kraft, who will be on leave from Brown for the 2024-25 academic year while he serves as a White House adviser.

Kraft is a leading education, public policy and economics researcher who has published more than 40 peer-reviewed articles. His research, which primarily focuses on improving K-12 public schools, has received support from a range of federal agencies and private foundations.

"This role offers a really amazing opportunity to advance my own understanding and experience with policy making at the highest levels," he said. "I think it's critical for researchers to have a better understanding of this so we can design and conduct research that is more likely to be relevant and impactful for shaping and improving society."

He added that he is looking forward to seeing how the experience influences his research and teaching once he returns to Brown, where he has served on the faculty for 11 years.

"Brown's support has made this opportunity possible," said Kraft, who lives in Belmont, Massachusetts. "It's a real honor to take on this new role with the experience I've gained at Brown, both teaching and doing research, in a way that hopefully will make a small contribution towards improving life for the American public."