Susan Hockfield

President Emerita, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Susan Hockfield was the sixteenth president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), serving from December 2004 to July 2012. She has had a career that has spanned advanced scientific research and the presidency of one of the leading institutions of science and engineering in the world. Prior to serving at MIT, Dr. Hockfield was first the dean of Yale University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, with oversight of more than seventy graduate programs; she then served as provost, Yale’s chief academic and administrative officer. Currently, she holds a faculty appointment as professor of neuroscience at MIT. Other board memberships include the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Partners HealthCare, Fidelity Non-Profit Management Foundation, the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She recently served as a U.S. science envoy to Turkey with the U.S. Department of State.

G20 (Group of Twenty)

What Does the G20 Do?
The Group of Twenty, an informal gathering of many of the world’s largest economies, is the premier global forum for discussing economic issues. But it has faced divisions over trade, climate change, and the war in Ukraine.

Backgrounder by James McBride, Anshu Siripurapu and Noah Berman November 10, 2022

Monetary Policy

What Is the U.S. Federal Reserve?
Over the past decade, the Fed kept interest rates low while it deployed trillions of dollars in stimulus and expanded its regulatory oversight. Now, the central bank is back in the spotlight for its battle against inflation. 

Backgrounder by James McBride, Anshu Siripurapu and Noah Berman November 8, 2022 Renewing America

Middle East and North Africa

Yemen’s Tragedy: War, Stalemate, and Suffering
Yemen’s internal divisions and a Saudi-led military intervention have spawned an intractable political, military, and humanitarian crisis.

Backgrounder by Kali Robinson October 21, 2022

Top Stories on CFR

Climate Change

COP27 Didn’t Make Enough Progress to Prevent Climate Catastrophe

The UN climate summit delivered on a loss and damage fund, but it fell short on goals to reduce emissions and avoid the worst consequences of climate change.

In Brief by Alice C. Hill November 21, 2022

Malaysia

Malaysia’s Election: More Turmoil Ahead?
Malaysia's voters delivered an inconclusive message in the general election, leading to a hung parliament.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick November 21, 2022 Asia Unbound

Iran

Do Iran’s Women Protesters Have the Power to Topple the Regime?
Despite limits to their political and social power, Iranian women are leading protests that could jeopardize the regime.

In Brief by Kali Robinson November 17, 2022