San Francisco Federal Reserve CEO Mary Daly to deliver 2019 Commencement

Mary C. Daly, president and CEO of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank, will deliver the 2019 Commencement Address at Syracuse University graduation ceremonies on May 12. Daly earned a doctorate in economics from SU’s Maxwell School in 1994 and will receive an honorary degree at Commencement exercises.

Daly oversees the largest of the Federal Reserve’s 12 districts by population size. She took the position last October, succeeding John Williams. She joined the San Francisco Fed in 1996 and worked for 22 years as a research economist before becoming president.

Daly dropped out of high school at age 15 to work, and she was living independently only a year later. After completing a GED, she earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas in 1985 and her master’s degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1987.

Daly is a vocal advocate for increasing diversity in economics and strengthening routes for women and minorities to enter the profession. She appeared on an episode of NPR’s All Things Considered in January to discuss how her role at the Fed is changing its perception as an “old boys club.”

Graduation ceremonies at SU will take place from May 8-12. Tickets are not required for convocation or Commencement.