CCRC’s Judith Scott-Clayton Appointed Senior Economist at White House Council of Economic Advisers

Judith Scott-Clayton, a professor in the Teachers College Economics and Education Program and a senior research scholar at CCRC, has been appointed to a one-year term as a senior economist at the Council of Economic Advisers, an agency within the Executive Office of the President.

The Council, which has three members and is currently chaired by Dr. Cecilia Rouse, serves the president by providing objective economic analysis to inform policymaking in the executive branch. Scott-Clayton, an expert in financial aid policy and student debt, labor economics, and quantitative methods of policy evaluation, expects to work on a range of economic topics but will bring special expertise on higher education policy.

Scott-Clayton, whose role at the Council begins September 12, said the appointment is an honor and using her skills to support good public policy is a lifelong dream.

“My research has always been motivated by the ultimate goal of improving policy. The opportunity to serve policymakers at the highest level directly as opposed to studying policy from the outside is thrilling to me,” she said.

CCRC Director Tom Brock said Scott-Clayton will be an asset to the Council.

"Higher education is getting increased scrutiny as policymakers consider ways to make it more affordable and better aligned with the needs of students and employers,” he said. “Judy brings to the Council a deep understanding of the issues and a fierce commitment to improving policy and practice."

Scott-Clayton, who will be on leave from Teachers College for the 2022-23 academic year, will be the second faculty member from TC’s Economics and Education Program to take leave to serve the Biden administration. Jordan Matsudaira, a TC professor and CCRC senior research scholar, is currently serving in the Department of Education as its first Chief Economist, having previously served at the Council during the Obama administration.

In addition to her positions at Teachers College, Scott-Clayton is a faculty research fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research.