FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: William Lutz 202-785-5100
April 1, 2024
Dr. Kate Bahn Joins Institute for Women’s Policy Research as Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Research
Washington, DC— The Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) today announced the appointment of Dr. Kate Bahn as its new Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Research. Dr. Bahn will join IWPR’s leadership team and be responsible for setting IWPR’s research agenda and overseeing the organization’s team of more than 20 seasoned researchers. Dr. Bahn’s appointment marks a significant milestone for IWPR as the organization continues to drive impactful research and policy solutions to advance gender equity.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kate to IWPR,” said Dr. Jamila K. Taylor, President and CEO of IWPR. “Her exceptional track record of research excellence and advocacy for gender and racial equity make her the ideal leader to advance IWPR’s mission of promoting women’s economic security and opportunity.
Dr. Bahn brings a wealth of research experience to her new role. Prior to joining IWPR, she served as the director of research of WorkRise, a research-to-action network hosted by the Urban Institute. With a focus on translating research into tangible policy solutions, Dr. Bahn has been instrumental in driving meaningful change in the field of labor economics. Her previous roles include serving as the chief economist and the director of labor market policy at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, as well as an economist at the Center for American Progress.
Dr. Bahn’s dedication to advancing gender, race, and ethnicity equity in the labor market is evident in her extensive body of work. Her research encompasses topics such as care work, labor markets, and the intersectionality of gender and race in economic outcomes. Notably, Dr. Bahn has also testified before Congress and is a highly sought-after media spokesperson on these critical issues, amplifying the importance of evidence-based policy solutions in such outlets as Bloomberg, Marketplace, NPR, MSNBC, and AP News.
“I am so excited to join IWPR, founded by one of my intellectual heroes, Dr. Heidi Hartmann, and currently led by Dr. Jamila Taylor, a friend and fellow researcher whose vision and expertise I have admired for years,” said Dr. Kate Bahn. “I look forward to elevating the work of IWPR’s talented researchers to enable policymakers to center the financial security and well-being of women and families, particularly women of color, in the post-COVID economy.”
Dr. Bahn holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hampshire College and earned her Doctor of Philosophy in economics from the New School for Social Research. She also served as the executive vice president and secretary for the International Association for Feminist Economics.
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The Institute for Women’s Policy Research strives to win economic equity for all women and eliminate barriers to their full participation in society. As a leading national think tank, IWPR builds evidence to shape policies that grow women’s power and influence, close inequality gaps, and improve the economic well-being of families.
