Nan J. Morrison, President and CEO of the Council for Economic Education (CEE), highlighting her career, leadership, and mission-driven impact:
Who Is Nan J. Morrison?
Nan J. Morrison serves as President and CEO of the Council for Economic Education (CEE), a nonprofit dedicated to advancing financial literacy and economic education for K–12 students across the United States (Milken Institute, The USA Leaders). She has led the organization since May 2010, shaping its growth and digital transformation (The USA Leaders).
Educational & Professional Background
- Holds a B.S. in Applied Mathematics/Engineering (magna cum laude) from Yale University and an MBA from Harvard Business School (with second-year honors) (The Inc. Magazine).
- Spent 20+ years in management consulting with top firms including BCG, Accenture, and Mercer, working on technology strategy and post-merger integration projects (Milken Institute).
- Held leadership or operational roles at Morgan Stanley and General Electric early in her career (Invest in Girls).
Leadership at the Council for Economic Education
1. Mission & Programs
Under Nan’s leadership, CEE provides:
- Free curriculum, professional development, and webinars to ~50,000 teachers annually, who reach ~5 million students each year (Bizzabo Events).
- Digital reach: EconEdLink, CEE’s online educator gateway, attracts over 700,000 unique users annually (Bizzabo Events).
- National Personal Finance Challenge, Financial Fitness for Life curriculum, and programs targeting underserved communities like Invest in Girls and Access Zone (The USA Leaders).
2. Digital Transformation
- Led CEE’s strategic shift to digital, ensuring curriculum remained accessible during COVID‑19 and quickly expanded to online formats covering pandemic economics and trending financial events like GameStop trades (The USA Leaders).
3. Equity and Inclusion
- CEE’s Invest in Girls program focuses on financial services career exposure for young women of color from low- to moderate-income backgrounds.
- Approximately 40% of participants in their national programs are Black or Hispanic, reflecting a strong equity emphasis (The USA Leaders).
4. Policy Advocacy & Impact
- Under Nan’s guidance, CEE actively influences state and federal education policy, including financial literacy benchmarks and high school graduation requirements nationwide (The USA Leaders, Bizzabo Events).
Professional Recognition & Board Roles
- Serves on the MIT Center for Finance & Policy Advisory Board and CNBC Financial Wellness Advisory Council.
- Chaired the executive committee of a $100M agency serving older adults in New York City.
- Member of the Federal Reserve’s Centennial Advisory Council.
- Co-founded Restart Central, aiding NYC small businesses post–9/11 (Milken Institute).
Compensation & Organizational Facts
- According to CEE’s nonprofit Form 990 (year ended Dec 2021), Nan Morrison’s compensation was $483,069, making up about 12.6% of total executive salary expenses (ProPublica).
- In that fiscal year, CEE reported revenue of $6.85 million, expenses of $5.64 million, and net assets of $4.74 million (ProPublica).
Leadership Style & Philosophy
- Known as a strategic, data-driven leader who merges private-sector discipline with nonprofit mission.
- Emphasizes the use of technology and digital tools to scale impact and efficiently serve educators and students.
- Prioritizes equity, ensuring programs reach low-income and under-resourced communities.
- Driven by results and quality: 90+% satisfaction rates reported for teacher training programs and curricula (The USA Leaders).
Highlight Summary
| Area | Key Details |
| Role | President & CEO, Council for Economic Education (since 2010) |
| Education | Yale (BS Applied Math/Engineering), Harvard (MBA) |
| Consulting Career | BCG, Accenture, Mercer; roles at Morgan Stanley & GE |
| Digital Leadership | Expanded EconEdLink usage and Pivoted during COVID |
| Equity Programs | Invest in Girls, Access Zone, reaching diverse communities |
| Advocacy | Influences financial literacy mandates through the Survey of the States |
| Board Roles | MIT, CNBC Council, Federal Reserve Advisory Council |
| Compensation | ~$483K/year; part of annual revenue ~$6.8M (2021 filings) |
| Impact | Trains ~50K teachers → reaches ~5M students/year; growing reach via affiliates |
Final Thought
Nan Morrison exemplifies mission-driven leadership grounded in business acumen and innovation. Her work has significantly increased access to financial education for millions, especially in underserved areas. Through digital tools, inclusive programs, and strong policy advocacy, she’s reshaping economic education in the U.S.
For similar content visit here
