Roger Ferguson
Chief executive officer, economist and lawyer Roger W. Ferguson, Jr. was born on October 28, 1951 in Washington, D.C. to Roger Ferguson, Sr. and Alberta Elizabeth Lawson Ferguson. After graduating from Sidwell Friends School, he received his B.S. degree in economics from Harvard University in 1973. Ferguson served as a Frank Knox Fellow at Pembroke College, before receiving his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1979, and his Ph.D. degree in economics from Harvard University in 1981.
Ferguson worked as an attorney for the law firm of Davis Polk & Wardell, LLP in New York before joining McKinsey & Company Inc. in 1984, where he served as an associate director of research and information systems; and later, as partner. In 1997, Ferguson was appointed to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, becoming the third African American in history to serve on the Federal Reserve Board. In 1999, Ferguson was appointed to serve as vice chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, the first African American to serve in that role. Ferguson served as chairman of the Group of Ten Working Party of Financial Sector Consolidation, chairman of the Committee on the Global Financial System (CGFS), and the chairman of the Financial Stability Forum (FSF) during his tenure as vice chairman. In 2006, Ferguson resigned as vice chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors; and, in 2008, he joined the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association – College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF) as chief executive officer and president. He also served as economic advisor to President Barack Obama, initially as a member of the President-elect’s Transition Economic Advisory Board and subsequently as a member of the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board.
Ferguson has received the Distinguished Service Award from the Bond Market Association, the William F. Butler Memorial Award from the New York Association for Business Economics, the Renaissance Award from the Abyssinian Development Corporation, and the Frederick Heldering Global Leadership Award from the Global Interdependence Center. He also holds honorary doctorate degrees from Lincoln College, Webster University, Michigan State University, Washington and Jefferson College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. In 2009, Ferguson received The “Visionary Award” from the Council for Economic Education and the “Good Scout Award” from the Greater New York Boy Scout Council.
Ferguson is married to former United States Securities and Exchange Commission Commissioner Annette Nazareth. They have two children.
Roger W. Ferguson, Jr. was interviewed by the The HistoryMakers on July 30, 2012 and October 16, 2019.
A2012.118
Male
7/30/2012
10/16/2019
Ferguson
W.
Sidwell Friends School
Harvard University
Harvard Law School
Charles E. Young Elementary School
River Terrace Elementary School
Jefferson Middle School Academy
Roger
Washington
FER03
Spring
District of Columbia
Vermont

New York
10/28/1951
New York
USA
French Fries
Chief executive officer, economist and lawyer Roger W. Ferguson Jr. (1951- ) served as vice chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors before joining the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association - College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF) as president and chief executive officer.
McKinsey and Company
Davis, Polk & Wardell, LLP
United States Federal Reserve System
Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association
Swiss Re America Holding Corporation
International Flavors and Fragrances
Blue
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626903">Tape: 1 Slating of Roger Ferguson's interview</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626904">Tape: 1 Roger Ferguson lists his favorites</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626905">Tape: 1 Roger Ferguson describes his mother's family background</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626906">Tape: 1 Roger Ferguson describes his father's family background</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626907">Tape: 1 Roger Ferguson talks about his paternal step grandfather</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626908">Tape: 1 Roger Ferguson describes his father's athletic talents</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626909">Tape: 1 Roger Ferguson describes his father's career</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626910">Tape: 1 Roger Ferguson describes his father's interest in finance</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626911">Tape: 1 Roger Ferguson describes his siblings and how his parents met</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626912">Tape: 1 Roger Ferguson describes the sights, sounds and smells of his childhood</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626913">Tape: 1 Roger Ferguson describes his neighborhood in Washington, D.C.</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626914">Tape: 1 Roger Ferguson remembers Charles Young Elementary School in Washington, D.C.</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626915">Tape: 2 Roger Ferguson recalls River Terrace Elementary School in Washington, D.C.</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626916">Tape: 2 Roger Ferguson recalls his childhood pastimes</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626917">Tape: 2 Roger Ferguson describes segregation in Washington, D.C.</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626918">Tape: 2 Roger Ferguson remembers Jefferson Junior High School in Washington, D.C.</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626919">Tape: 2 Roger Ferguson recalls his early interest in the Federal Reserve System</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626920">Tape: 2 Roger Ferguson recalls enrolling at the Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C.</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626921">Tape: 2 Roger Ferguson describes his social life at the Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C.</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626922">Tape: 2 Roger Ferguson recalls his decision to attend Harvard University</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626923">Tape: 3 Roger Ferguson recalls the racial tension at the Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C.</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626924">Tape: 3 Roger Ferguson describes his work study job at Harvard University</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626925">Tape: 3 Roger Ferguson recalls his activism at Harvard University</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626926">Tape: 3 Roger Ferguson recalls his economics research in Chile</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626927">Tape: 3 Roger Ferguson remembers his graduation from Harvard University</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626928">Tape: 3 Roger Ferguson recalls his fellowship in Cambridge, England</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626929">Tape: 3 Roger Ferguson recalls his decision to pursue law and economics</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626930">Tape: 3 Roger Ferguson recalls his dual graduate degree program at Harvard University</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626931">Tape: 4 Roger Ferguson describes his parents' influence on his self esteem</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626932">Tape: 4 Roger Ferguson talks about his decision to pursue dual graduate degrees</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626933">Tape: 4 Roger Ferguson remembers working at the law firm of Davis Polk and Wardwell</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626934">Tape: 4 Roger Ferguson recalls meeting his wife</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626935">Tape: 4 Roger Ferguson recalls working at McKinsey and Company</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626936">Tape: 4 Roger Ferguson talks about balancing his career and family</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626937">Tape: 4 Roger Ferguson recalls how he came to work for the Federal Reserve System</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626938">Tape: 4 Roger Ferguson remembers joining the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626939">Tape: 5 Roger Ferguson recalls becoming vice chairman of the Federal Reserve System</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626940">Tape: 5 Roger Ferguson remembers serving as vice chairman of the Federal Reserve System</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626941">Tape: 5 Roger Ferguson remembers the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626942">Tape: 5 Roger Ferguson recalls his decision to leave the Federal Reserve System</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626943">Tape: 5 Roger Ferguson recalls serving as the president and CEO of TIAA-CREFF</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626944">Tape: 5 Roger Ferguson describes his hopes and concerns for his children</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626945">Tape: 5 Roger Ferguson describes his concerns for the African American community</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626946">Tape: 5 Roger Ferguson reflects upon his legacy at TIAA-CREF</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/626947">Tape: 5 Roger Ferguson describes his plans for the future</a>
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