Marina von Neumann Whitman | |
|---|---|
 Whitman speaks at theGerald R. Ford School of Public Policy in 2015 | |
| Born | (1935-03-06)March 6, 1935 (age 90) New York City, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Education |
|
| Occupation(s) | Economist Automobile executive Writer |
| Employer | University of Michigan |
| Board member of | National Bureau of Economic Research Institute for International Economics |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Malcolm Russell Whitman Laura Mariette Whitman |
| Parent | John von Neumann Marietta (Kövesi) von Neumann (later Mrs. J.B.H. Kuper)[1] |
Marina von Neumann Whitman (born March 6, 1935) is an American economist, writer and former automobile executive. She is a professor of business administration and public policy at theUniversity of Michigan's Ross School of Business as well as TheGerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.[2]
From 1979 until 1992 she was an officer of theGeneral Motors Corporation, first as vice president and chief economist, and later as vice president and group executive for public affairs, which included the Economics, Environmental Activities, Industry-Government Relations and Public Relations staffs. She also serves or has served as a director of several leading multinational corporations and research and policy institutions, including theInstitute for Advanced Study andPeterson Institute for International Economics.
Prior to her appointment at GM, Whitman was a member of the faculty in the Department of Economics at theUniversity of Pittsburgh, beginning as an instructor in 1962 and becoming Distinguished Public Service Professor of Economics in 1973. She served as a member of the President's Council of Economic Advisers in 1972–73, while on leave from the university.[3] She was a director at theCouncil on Foreign Relations between 1977 and 1987.[2] She is also a former member of the Steering Committee of theBilderberg Group.[4]
Whitman received a B.A. in government fromRadcliffe College (now Harvard University), graduating at the top of her class, and her M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in economics fromColumbia University. The author of many books, monographs and articles, she is the recipient of numerous fellowships, honors and awards, and holds honorary degrees from over twenty colleges and universities.
Her father was thepolymathJohn von Neumann,[2] one of the foremostmathematicians of the 20th century. She was married to Robert Freeman Whitman,[5]professor emeritus of English at theUniversity of Pittsburgh, from 1956 until his death in 2024. Marina has two children and two grandchildren. Her step-brother is George H. Kuper,[1] former president and chief executive officer of the Council of Great Lake Industries and an independent consultant in the areas of public policy, environmental and energy issues. Her daughter, Dr. Laura Mariette Whitman (1964–2023), was a noted specialist in internal medicine andout-patient medical education atYale University.[6] Laura was married toDavid L. Downie, a scholar of international environmental policy, who is the son ofLeonard Downie, Jr., the journalist and long-time editor of theWashington Post.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
