Isabel V. Sawhill is a senior fellow in Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution. She serves as director of the Budgeting for National Priorities project and co-director of the Center on Children and Families. She holds the Cabot Family Chair. She served as Vice President and Director of the Economic Studies program from 2003 to 2006. Prior to joining Brookings, Dr. Sawhill was a senior fellow at The Urban Institute. She also served as an associate director at the Office of Management and Budget from 1993 to 1995, where her responsibilities included all of the human resource programs of the federal government, accounting for one third of the federal budget. In addition, she has authored or edited numerous books and articles, including the recently published volume, Creating an Opportunity Society, co-authored by Ron Haskins. Her research has spanned a wide array of economic and social issues, including fiscal policy, economic growth, poverty and inequality, welfare reform, the well-being of children, and changes in the family. Dr. Sawhill helped to found, and now serves as President of the board of, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. She attended Wellesley College and received her Ph.D. from New York University in 1968.

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