She was the first woman to serve on the White House Council of Economic Advisers. At General Motors, she became one of the highest-ranking women in corporate America.The New York Times reports that Marina von Neumann Whitman, a renowned expert in international trade, passed away on May 20 at the age of 90. She was the first woman to be appointed to the White House Council of Economic Advisers in 1972, and later became one of the highest-ranking women in corporate America at General Motors.
Dr. Whitman, who had a background in academia as a professor of economics at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Michigan, also had extensive experience in the public and corporate sectors. Before joining the Council of Economic Advisers, she had worked as a staff economist for the council and served on President Richard M. Nixon’s board overseeing price controls.
President Nixon praised Dr. Whitman’s intelligence and appointed her despite being outnumbered by men on the council. She was joined by Herbert Stein and Ezra Solomon at the time.
Dr. Whitman’s son, Malcolm Whitman, confirmed her death and stated that she passed away from complications of pneumonia in a hospital in Concord, Massachusetts.
Throughout her career, Dr. Whitman was a trailblazer for women in economics and leadership roles. She will be remembered for her contributions to the field and her determination to break barriers for women in traditionally male-dominated industries.
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