Christina Paxson

Christina Hull Paxson (born February 6, 1960) is an American economist and public health expert serving as the 19th president of Brown University. Previously, she was the Hughes Rogers Professor of Economics & Public Affairs at Princeton University as well as the dean of Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.[1][2]

Christina Paxson
19th President of Brown University
Assumed office
July 1, 2012
Preceded byRuth Simmons
Personal details
Born
Christina Hull Paxson

(1960-02-06) February 6, 1960
Children2
EducationSwarthmore College (BA)
Columbia University (MA, PhD)

In March 2012, Paxson was selected as the 19th president of Brown University. She officially succeeded Ruth Simmons on July 1, 2012, and was inaugurated on October 27, 2012.[3][4]

Early life and education

After spending her childhood in Forest Hills, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Paxson received her B.A. from Swarthmore College in 1982, where she majored in economics and minored in English and philosophy as a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.[5][6]

Originally a graduate student at Columbia University's Business School, Paxson transferred to Columbia's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, receiving her M.A. and Ph.D. in economics, in 1985 and 1987, respectively, with a focus on labor.[1][7] Paxson was advised by Joseph Altonji and her dissertation involved analyzing the effects of consumer interest rates on the consumer credit market.[7] Paxson is married to Ari Gabinet and has two children, Nicholas and Benjamin.[8] Raised a Quaker, she converted to her husband's Jewish faith.[9]

Career

In 2000, she founded the Center for Health and Wellbeing at Princeton, an interdisciplinary research center based in the Woodrow Wilson School. She served as the chair of Princeton's Economics Department in academic year 2008–09. She was also the founding director of an NIA Center for the Economics and Demography of Aging at Princeton.[1] During her time at Princeton, Paxson also served as a visiting professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.[10]

Paxson's most recent research focuses on the impact of childhood health and circumstances on economic and health outcomes over the lifecourse; the impact of the AIDS crisis on children's health and education in Africa; and the long run consequences of Hurricane Katrina on the mental and physical health of vulnerable populations. Paxson has been a Senior Editor of The Future of Children, an interdisciplinary journal that works to build a bridge between cutting edge social science research and the policy community.

Brown University
Christina Paxson at Brown
Paxson presided over Brown's 250th anniversary celebration in 2014
Honoring Richard I. Gouse '68, primary donor of the Richard Gouse Field at Brown Stadium, in 2021

As President of Brown University, Paxson has focused on a set of strategic goals announced in 2014; among these institutional priorities are data science, the creative arts, and brain science.[11] Under Paxson's leadership, the University has established a School of Public Health as well as numerous centers and institutes including the Brown Arts Institute, the Brown Institute for Translational Science, the Data Science Initiative, and the Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship.

For three consecutive years under her leadership, Brown students and graduates have earned the most Fulbright Scholarships of all U.S. Universities.[12]

She has also sustained undergraduate financial aid as the fastest growing area of Brown's budget by increasing scholarships for low-income families and eliminating loans from University-awarded financial aid packages, as part of The Brown Promise, in addition to Brown's Pathways to Diversity and Inclusion action plan.[12][13]

Paxson has overseen a considerable expansion of Brown's academic, performing arts, and residential facilities. Expansion of Brown's physical footprint under Paxson's leadership has been controversial, at times spurring criticism from community organizations and preservation groups.[14][15][16][17]

In 2019, she told the University that she would not honor a student-sponsored referendum calling for Brown to divest from companies that engage in human rights abuses in Palestine, and said that it would not be possible to make the details of the University's investments available to the public.[18][19] She has been a member of the Kol Emet congregation, a Jewish Reconstructionist synagogue, committed to the growth of a spiritually and intellectually engaging Judaism.[20][21][22]

A Fall 2021 poll conducted by The Brown Daily Herald found that 47.1% of surveyed students "strongly" or "somewhat" disapproved of Paxson's leadership while 32.8% "strongly" or "somewhat" approved.[23] The publication's Fall 2017 poll placed Paxson's approval rating at 61.9%.[24][25]

Other Activities

In 2013, Paxson wrote a New Republic op-ed, arguing for ongoing relevance of the humanities from an economist's perspective.[26]

Paxson has also maintained numerous institutional affiliations: in addition to being a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, she was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2017.[27][28] The previous year, she became a member of the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. After serving as its deputy chair, she became the chair of its board of directors in 2021.[29][30][31] In 2018, Paxson received an honorary doctorate from Williams College.[32]

In wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Paxson penned a New York Times op-ed and appeared on CNN, outlining her views on the importance of reopening colleges safely in the fall of 2020.[33][34] On June 4, 2020, Paxson testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, during a hearing entitled "COVID-19: Going Back to College Safely."[35]

Selected publications
  • "Stature and Status: Height, Ability, and Labor Market Outcomes" (with Anne Case), Journal of Political Economy, 116(3): 499–532, June 2008.
  • "Racial Disparities in Childhood Asthma in the US: Evidence from the National Health Interview Survey, 1997–2003" (with Marla McDaniel and Jane Waldfogel), Pediatrics 117(5): e868-e877, May 2006.
  • "Orphans in Africa: Parental Death, Poverty and School Enrollment" (with Anne Case and Joseph Ableidinger), Demography 41(3), pp. 483–508, August 2004.
  • "Economic Status and Health in Childhood: The Origins of the Gradient" (with Anne Case and Darren Lubotsky), American Economic Review 92(5), December 2002.
  • "Economies of Scale, Household Size, and the Demand for Food" (with Angus Deaton), Journal of Political Economy 106(5): 897–930, October 1998.
  • "Intertemporal Choice and Inequality" (with Angus Deaton), Journal of Political Economy 102(3): 437–467, 1994.
  • "Consumption and Income Seasonality in Thailand," Journal of Political Economy 101(1): 39–72, February 1993.
  • "Using Weather Variability to Estimate the Response of Savings to Transitory Income in Thailand," American Economic Review 82(1), March 1992.
  • "Causes and Consequences of Early Life Health" (with Anne Case) Demography 47(1): S65-S85, March 2010.
  • "The Long Reach of Childhood Health and Circumstance: Evidence from the Whitehall II Study" (with Anne Case), Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society 121(554): F183-F204, 2008.
  • "The Impact of the AIDS Pandemic on Health Services in Africa: Evidence from Demographic and Health Surveys" (With Anne Case), Demography 48(2): 675–697, May 2009.
  • "Making Sense of the Labor Market Height Premium: Evidence From the British Household Panel Survey" (With Anne Case and Mahnaz Islam), Economics Letters 102(3): 174–176, March 2008.
  • "The Income Gradient in Children's Health: A Comment on Currie, Shields and Wheatley Price" (With Anne Case & Diana Lee), Journal of Health Economics 27(3), 801–807, October 2007
  • "Socioeconomic Status and Health in Childhood: A Comment on Chen, Martin and Matthews" (With Anne Case & Tom Vogl), Social Science & Medicine, 189-214
  • "From Cradle to Grave? The Lasting Impact of Childhood Health and Circumstance" (With Anne Case & Angela Fertig), Journal of Health Economics 24(2), 365-389.

References
  1. "Biography – Office of the President". Brown University. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  2. Lewin, Tamar (March 2, 2012). "Christina Hull Paxson Chosen as President of Brown". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  3. "The Inauguration of Christina Hull Paxson". Brown University. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  4. "Economist Christina Hull Paxson elected 19th president of Brown University". Brown University. March 2, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  5. "President Christina H. Paxson | Office of the President | Brown University". www.brown.edu. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  6. Thornton, Lucy Feldman,Sahil Luthra,Kat (March 5, 2012). "'People person' leaves mark on Princeton". Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved January 23, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. "Who is Christina Paxson?". www.brownalumnimagazine.com. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  8. "Who is Christina Paxson?". www.brownalumnimagazine.com. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  9. "Why I Am a Jew". www.brownalumnimagazine.com. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  10. "NBER Bulletin on Aging and Health". www.nber.org. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  11. "Brain science at forefront of Brown scholarship priorities". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  12. "President Christina H. Paxson | Office of the President | Brown University". www.brown.edu. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  13. "President Christina Hull Paxson | Office of the President | Brown University". www.brown.edu. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  14. Gagosz, Alexa (June 1, 2021). "On Providence's East Side, a battle brews between Brown University and longtime residents - The Boston Globe". Boston Globe. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  15. Journal, William Morgan Special to The. "Brown's ERC is a cutting-edge facility". The Providence Journal. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  16. "Demolition remains ongoing on Brook Street dorm site". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  17. "$31.6 million gift will help fund performing arts center, strategic priorities for Brown". Brown University. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  18. "Letter from President Paxson: Responding to divestment referendum vote". Brown University. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  19. Bandler, Aaron (March 22, 2019). "Brown University President Rejects Anti-Israel Student Vote". Jewish Journal. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  20. "Congregation Kol Emet". Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  21. "Masks" (PDF). www.kolemet.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  22. "Promises" (PDF). www.kolemet.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  23. "The Herald's Fall 2021 Poll". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  24. "Herald Fall 2017 Poll Results and Methodology". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  25. "Spring 2019 Herald poll results". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  26. "The Economic Case for Saving the Humanities". New Republic. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  27. "Brown's president named to American Academy of Arts and Sciences". Brown University. April 11, 2017. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  28. "Membership Roster". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  29. Boston, Federal Reserve Bank of (January 2017). "Christina Hull Paxson - Federal Reserve Bank of Boston". Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  30. Goldberg, Daniel (January 22, 2019). "Paxson named deputy chair of Boston Fed". Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  31. Boston, Federal Reserve Bank of (January 1, 2017). "Christina Hull Paxson". Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  32. "Williams College awards honorary degree to President Paxson". Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  33. Paxson, Christina (April 26, 2020). "Opinion | College Campuses Must Reopen in the Fall. Here's How We Do It". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  34. Meg Wagner; Mike Hayes; Elise Hammond; Veronica Rocha (April 28, 2020). "Schools might not recover if they don't reopen in the fall, university president says". CNN. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  35. "Paxson tells U.S. Senate stakes are high as universities seek to safely reopen". Brown University. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
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