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About

Janet Louise Yellen is an American economist with a distinguished career in public service. She served as the 78th United States Secretary of the Treasury from 2021 to 2025 and previously as the Chair of the Federal Reserve from 2014 to 2018. Yellen is the first woman to hold either of these positions. Currently, she is the Eugene E. and Catherine M. Trefethen Professor of Business Administration and Economics at the University of California, Berkeley.

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Career Timeline

1977C$0.3M

Joined Federal Reserve Board

Yellen began her career at the Federal Reserve as an economist. This early experience laid the foundation for her future leadership roles in monetary policy.

1997B$2M+$1.7M

Chair of Council of Economic Advisers

Appointed by President Clinton to lead the CEA, Yellen became a key economic advisor. Her expertise in labor markets and macroeconomics gained national recognition.

2004B$5M+$3M

President of San Francisco Fed

As President of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Yellen gained crucial experience in monetary policy. She was among the first to warn about the housing bubble.

2010A$8M+$3M

Vice Chair of Federal Reserve

Appointed Fed Vice Chair by President Obama, Yellen became second-in-command of U.S. monetary policy. Her leadership during the recovery from the 2008 crisis was widely praised.

2014A$12M+$4M

First Female Fed Chair

Yellen made history as the first woman to chair the Federal Reserve. Her tenure focused on supporting the economic recovery while managing inflation and employment.

2018A$15M+$3M

Completed Fed Chairmanship

After a successful term overseeing the Fed, Yellen returned to academia at UC Berkeley. Her reputation as a skilled central banker was firmly established.

2021A$18M+$3M

First Female Treasury Secretary

Appointed by President Biden, Yellen became the first woman to serve as U.S. Treasury Secretary. She led economic policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2026A$20M+$2M

Prominent Economic Leader and Scholar

Having completed her Treasury term in 2025, Yellen remains one of the most respected economists globally. She is a household name in policy circles and widely recognized for breaking barriers as the first woman to lead both the Fed and Treasury.

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Last updated: February 23, 2026