Dr.
      Michael S. McPherson
Economist; Foundation executive; Educator
      Area
                                Social and Behavioral Sciences
                            Specialty
                                Education
                            Elected
                                    2014
                    Economist whose expertise focuses on the interplay between education and economics. Sought to improve education by finding ways to align the search for new knowledge with the practical challenges of effecting positive change, and led the Spencer Foundation in support of projects addressing the purposes and values of education, education and social opportunity, and organizational learning in schools, school systems, and higher education institutions. Served as president of Macalester College (1996-2003) and was professor of economics, chairman of the Economics Department, and dean of faculty at Williams College. Coauthor or editor of several books, including College Access: Opportunity or Privilege? (2006), Keeping College Affordable (1991), and Economic Analysis, Moral Philosophy, and Public Policy (2006). Founding coeditor of the journal Economics and Philosophy. Former fellow of the Institute for Advanced Study and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
      Last Updated
    Âé¶¹´«Ã½AV Involvement
Projects
Publications
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            Fall 2019
        
    The Human Factor: The Promise & Limits of Online Education
                Authors
                Sandy Baum and Michael S. McPherson
            
            
    
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    Fall 2019
      Improving Teaching: Strengthening the College Learning Experience
                Editors
                Sandy Baum and Michael S. McPherson
            
            
    
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            Fall 2019
        
    Improving Teaching: Strengthening the College Learning Experience
                Authors
                Sandy Baum and Michael S. McPherson
            
            
    
Events
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    Higher Education Forum 2024
                Featuring
                Sandy Baum, Gilda A. Barabino, Michael Bennett, David Campbell, Shirley M. Collado, Katherine J. Cramer, Michael M. Crow, Sean M. Decatur, David DeSwert, Alain-Philippe Durand, Susan M. Dynarski, Adam F. Falk, Kaye G. Husbands Fealing, L. Kealoha Fox, Joan T.A. Gabel, Howard Gillman, Jonathan Haidt, Sara Hebel , Fiona Hill, Xuedong Huang, Rishi Jaitly, John B. King, Jr., Bridget Terry Long, Jon Marcus, Steven W. McLaughlin, Michael S. McPherson, Angela Villela Olinto, David W. Oxtoby, Lynn Pasquerella, Avis Proctor, Francesca Purcell, L. Song Richardson, Elizabeth H. Simmons, Blanton Tolbert, Frances Ward-Johnson, Sisi Wei, Ben Wildavsky, and Teresa K. Woodruff
            
            
    Aspen, CO
      
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    Academic Learning or Occupational Skills? Discussing a Dichotomy
                Featuring
                Thomas Bailey, Clive Belfield, Sandy Baum, and Michael S. McPherson
            
            
    New York, NY
      
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    Promoting Excellence in Undergraduate STEM Education
                Featuring
                Mary Sue Coleman, Emily R. Miller, Tobin Smith, Sandy Baum, and Michael S. McPherson
            
            
    Washington, D.C.
      
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    Improving Teaching: One Professor’s Experience
                Featuring
                Harry Brighouse, Sandy Baum, and Michael S. McPherson
            
            
    Madison, WI
      
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    Improving Teaching and Learning to Strengthen the College Experience
                Featuring
                Sandy Baum and Michael S. McPherson
            
            
    Cambridge, MA
      
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    Launch and Discussion of “The Future of Undergraduate Education, The Future of Americaâ€
                Featuring
                Jonathan Fanton, Roger W. Ferguson, Michael S. McPherson, Mitchell E. Daniels, Deborah Loewenberg Ball, and John J. DeGioia
            
            
    Washington, D.C.
      
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    From Enrollment to Excellence: New Opportunities for American Undergraduate Education
                Featuring
                Vartan Gregorian, Nicholas B. Lemann, Michael S. McPherson, and Gail O. Mellow
            
            
    New York, NY
      
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    Priorities for Progress: Advancing Higher Education in America
                Featuring
                Jonathan Fanton, Robert J. Birgeneau, Bob Jacobsen, Monica Cecilia Lozano, and Michael S. McPherson
            
            
    Berkeley, CA
      News
In the News
      The Imperative to Improve College Learning
Source
            Inside Higher Ed
      In the News
      Putting the college admissions scandal in context
Source
            Brookings
      In the News
      The Future of Undergraduate Education
Source
            International Higher Education
      In the News
      As Higher Education Grows More Crucial, How Can It Be Improved?
Source
            The Chronicle of Higher Education
      In the News
      A Highways Project for College Completion
Source
            Inside Higher Ed