Economist Who Is Black Named President of TIAA-CREF

Roger W. Ferguson Jr., former vice chair of the Federal Reserve Board, was named president and CEO of TIAA-CREF, the retirement fund for 3.4 million academic and research scientists. The fund has more than $435 billion in assets.

Prior to this appointment, Dr. Ferguson was chair of Swiss Re America Holding Corporation. He joined the Federal Reserve Board in 1997 and was named vice chair in 1999. Ferguson is widely credited as being the guiding force that calmed financial markets and institutions in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.

Ferguson is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School. He also holds a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard and currently sits on the university’s board of overseers.

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