Christina H. Paxson, president of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, was elected chair of the board of directors of the Association of American Universities.
Founded in 1900, the Association of American Universities is composed of 65 of America’s leading research universities dedicated to transforming lives through education, research, and innovation. AAU member universities collectively help shape policy for higher education, science, and innovation; promote best practices in undergraduate and graduate education; and strengthen the contributions of leading research universities to American society. The 65 member institutions receive about three fifths of all federal research grant funds.
“This is a moment of significant disruption in higher education, and engagement with federal lawmakers and policymakers regarding the impact of research, education, and scholarship is increasing in critical importance,” Dr. Paxson said. “I look forward to working to further the ability of research institutions to drive discovery that finds cures, saves lives, and fuels innovation that drives economic growth across the country.”
Dr. Paxson has served as Brown University’s nineteenth president and a professor of economics and public policy since July 1, 2012. Previously, she was dean of the Princeton School of International and Public Affairs and a professor of economics and public affairs at Princeton University. Dr. Paxson joined the faculty at Princeton in 1986 and was promoted to full professor in 1997. Her research focuses on health, economic development, and public policy.
President Paxson became a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2017 and has previously served as vice chair of the AAU board. She has served as vice president of the American Economic Association, is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and is vice chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s board of directors.
Dr. Paxson is a graduate of Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. She earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in economics from Columbia University.