Heather Boushey, a former White House economist, has been appointed as a Professor of Practice at the Stuart Weitzman School of Design.
In her new role, Boushey will examine opportunities for how economic policy can help steer the energy transition. Her appointment comes at a time when the intersection between climate and economic growth are under increasing scrutiny.
“I’m looking forward to continuing my career here at the Kleinman Center—moving research and policy forward on topics essential to a sustainable energy transition, which itself is a critical component of a healthy economy,” Boushey said to Penn Almanac.
Before arriving at Penn, Boushey served as a member of President Biden’s Council of Economic Advisers and was chief economist for the White House’s Investing in America cabinet. She played a central role in shaping and implementing the administration’s industrial policy agenda.
Her past ventures include co-founding the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, where she examined the relationship between inequality and economic performance. She has worked at think tanks like the Center for American Progress and the Economic Policy Institute, among others.
Boushey is regarded as a leader in her industry, and according to The New York Times, is “at the forefront of a generation of economists rethinking their discipline.”
According to Sanya Carley, faculty director at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, Boushey’s experience in the D.C. policy arena will add depth to the center’s research and public impact.
Carley also praised her commitment to “a fair economy for all.”
Dean of the School of Design Frederick Steiner echoed Carley’s sentiments, noting that Boushey joins “a community of scholars who also care deeply about the energy transition.”
Boushey’s academic credentials include a BA from Hampshire College and a PhD in Economics from The New School for Social Research. Prior to joining faculty at Penn, she completed a senior fellowship at the Reimagining the Economy project at the Harvard Kennedy School.
