National Academy of Sciences Elects Katharine Abraham as Member

The National Academy of Sciences elected Distinguished University Professor Katharine Abraham among its newest cadre of 120 members and 30 international members. The honorees were recognized for their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.

Abraham is a professor in the Department of Economics and in the Joint Program in Survey Methodology, and is also affiliated with the Maryland Population Research Center.

“I am truly honored to have been elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences. The Academy has a well-earned reputation for providing independent and objective analysis and advice to the nation. I hope to be able to contribute to that work,” Abraham said.

Two other UMD faculty members were honored: Distinguished University Professor Edward Ott of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Physics, and Distinguished University Professor Richard J. Walker of the Department of Geology. 

Abraham’s research focuses on topics including the contingent workforce, work and retirement decisions of older Americans, labor market adjustment over the business cycle, unemployment and job vacancies, and the measurement of economic activity.

“Katharine has made seminal contributions to our understanding of key issues in labor economics, economic measurement, macroeconomics, and survey methodology,” said Professor Judith Hellerstein, chair of the Department of Economics. “In addition to her path-breaking research, few if any economists in the world have done more in recent years than Katharine to build bridges between academic economic research and the practical work of economic measurement and policymaking.”

Among many accolades, Abraham is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Distinguished Fellow of the American Economic Association, and an elected Fellow of the American Statistical Association and of the Society of Labor Economists.

She is a past President of the Society of Labor Economists and current Chair of the Conference on Research in Income and Wealth. She also serves as an advisor to the Congressional Budget Office, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. 

In 2016, former President Barack Obama appointed Abraham to chair the bipartisan Commission on Evidence-based Policymaking. From 2011 to 2013, she was a member of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, and from 1993 to 2001, she served as commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Abraham earned her Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University in 1982 and a B.S. in economics from Iowa State University in 1976.

“Professor Abraham’s work leads to a better understanding of many critical topics including unemployment,” said Interim Dean Wayne McIntosh. “Her research, teaching and public service have been transformative. Our community is proud of this fitting milestone in her career.”

Published on Wed, May 4, 2022 - 9:34AM