Rebecca Blank, 1955-2023
University of Minnesota economics alumna Rebecca Blank passed away on February 17, 2023. We send our condolences to her family, as well as the many colleagues and students who mourn her passing. Throughout her remarkable career, Blank served as economist, researcher, professor, university leader, and policy advisor.
After graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor's in Economics in 1976, Blank earned a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She held faculty positions at Northwestern University, Princeton University, and MIT; served as dean at the University of Michigan; and most recently was chancellor of the University of Wisconsin - Madison. She advised three U.S. presidents on economic policy.
Blank was highly regarded as a labor economist. In 2021, the American Economic Association named her a Distinguished Fellow in recognition of her contributions to the field.
In 2008, the University of Minnesota honored Blank with the Outstanding Achievement Award, the highest recognition conferred on alumni.
We join with many at the University of Wisconsin and beyond in honoring Rebecca Blank's legacy.
