Elizabeth Warren
Born 1949 · Age 76
U.S. Senator from Massachusetts (Democrat), former law professor and consumer protection advocate, founder/architect of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2020 presidential candidate, author of books on bankruptcy and the middle class.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Oklahoma City
Elizabeth Ann Herring born to Pauline Louise (née Reed) and Donald Jones Herring in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Father's heart attack and family financial hardship
Her father had a heart attack which led to medical bills, pay cut, job change to maintenance work and repossession of the family car, shaping her early view of middle-class fragility.
Started waiting tables to help family
At about age 13 she began waiting tables at her aunt's restaurant to help the family finances.
Won debate scholarship to George Washington University
Won a state high school debating championship and received a debate scholarship to George Washington University at age 16.
High school graduation (Northwest Classen HS)
Graduated from Northwest Classen High School in Oklahoma City.
Married James Robert "Jim" Warren
Married her high-school sweetheart Jim Warren in Oklahoma City; the couple moved to Houston where he worked for IBM.
Graduated University of Houston (B.S.)
Earned a Bachelor of Science in speech pathology and audiology from the University of Houston; first in her immediate family to graduate college.
Taught children with disabilities
Worked as a public-school teacher for a year teaching children with disabilities (before law school).
Enrolled at Rutgers Law School
After her daughter turned two, she enrolled at Rutgers Law School (Rutgers–Newark).
Received Juris Doctor (Rutgers)
Graduated from Rutgers Law School with a J.D. and soon after passed the bar; began practicing law from home offering wills and real estate closings.
Began academic career — Rutgers lecturer
Started as a lecturer at Rutgers University, Newark School of Law (1977–1978).
Joined University of Houston Law Center faculty
Became a faculty member at University of Houston Law Center (1978–1983).
Associate Dean at University of Houston
Became an associate dean at University of Houston Law Center in 1980.
Married Bruce H. Mann
Married Harvard legal scholar Bruce H. Mann (kept the surname Warren).
Obtained tenure at University of Houston
Received tenure at the University of Houston Law Center in 1981.
Visiting associate professor at University of Texas (1981)
Served as visiting associate professor at University of Texas School of Law in 1981 and later returned as full professor.
Full professor at University of Texas (1983–1987)
Returned to University of Texas as a full professor and served as research associate at UT Population Research Center (1983–1987).
Visiting professor at University of Michigan
Served as a visiting professor at the University of Michigan in 1985.
Published As We Forgive Our Debtors
Co-authored the book As We Forgive Our Debtors (with Teresa A. Sullivan and Jay Westbrook), reporting on bankruptcy causes and middle-class finance.
Endowed chair at University of Pennsylvania
Became William A. Schnader Professor of Commercial Law at the University of Pennsylvania (endowed chair obtained 1990).
Visiting professor at Harvard Law School (Robert Braucher Visiting)
Taught at Harvard Law School in 1992 as the Robert Braucher Visiting Professor of Commercial Law.
Advised National Bankruptcy Review Commission
Asked by Mike Synar to advise the commission; helped draft the commission's report and opposed restrictive bankruptcy legislation.
Joined Harvard Law as Leo Gottlieb Professor
Left Penn to become the Leo Gottlieb Professor of Law at Harvard Law School; began long tenure at Harvard.
Reported top non-administrator Harvard professor pay
Reported as Harvard's highest-paid professor who was not an administrator: $181,300 salary and $291,876 total compensation including moving expenses and allowance.
Published The Fragile Middle Class
Published scholarship and books on the middle class; The Fragile Middle Class (aka Americas in Debt) contributed to her public profile.
Published The Two-Income Trap
Published The Two-Income Trap (national bestseller), further raising her public profile on middle-class financial pressures.
National media appearances increase profile
Appearance on Dr. Phil and other media in 2004 boosted public recognition of her work on consumer finance and bankruptcy.
Became highly cited bankruptcy scholar (2005–2009)
From 2005 to 2009, was among the three most-cited scholars in bankruptcy and commercial law, reflecting broad academic influence.
Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act passed
Despite her opposition and advocacy, Congress passed the 2005 BAPCPA, restricting consumer bankruptcy access.
Member, FDIC Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion
Served on the FDIC Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion (2006–2010), advising on financial inclusion policy.
Published influential oversight reports on TARP
As Chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel produced monthly oversight reports covering foreclosure mitigation, bank stress tests, AIG, and other topics central to the financial crisis response.
Appointed Chair of Congressional Oversight Panel (TARP)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid appointed Warren to chair the five-member Congressional Oversight Panel to oversee the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act/TARP; monthly oversight reports raised her national profile.
Named Bostonian of the Year; TIME recognition
Honored by the Boston Globe as Bostonian of the Year; TIME called her 'New Sheriff of Wall Street'—recognition for TARP oversight work.
Dodd–Frank signed; CFPB created
Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act signed into law (July 2010), creating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a policy she had championed.
Appointed Special Advisor to set up CFPB (Assistant to President)
President Obama named Warren Assistant to the President and Special Advisor to the Treasury Secretary to help establish the CFPB and stand it up (served Sep 17, 2010 – Aug 1, 2011).
Viral 'You didn't build that' speech clip
A week after declaring candidacy a video of Warren's Andover speech on wealth and public infrastructure went viral, elevating national profile.
Stepped down as Special Advisor to CFPB (Aug 2011)
Left the official special advisor role in August 2011 amid political resistance to her possible confirmation as CFPB director.
Declared candidacy for U.S. Senate (MA)
Announced intention to run for the U.S. Senate seat long held by Ted Kennedy (waged campaign against incumbent Scott Brown).
Raised $39 million for Senate campaign (2012)
Raised approximately $39 million for her 2012 Senate campaign—more than any other Senate candidate that cycle.
Faces Native American ancestry controversy
Media and political controversy over past claims of Native American ancestry surfaced during the 2012 campaign; Warren publicly addressed it and later released DNA results (2018).
Won Democratic nomination (Massachusetts)
Won the Democratic nomination at the state convention with a record 95.77% of the delegate vote (ran unopposed).
Prime-time speaker at 2012 Democratic National Convention
Delivered a prime-time speech defending the middle class and criticizing Wall Street at the DNC in Charlotte.
Elected U.S. Senator from Massachusetts
Defeated incumbent Republican Scott Brown, winning 53.7% of the vote; became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Massachusetts.
Published A Fighting Chance (memoir)
Published memoir A Fighting Chance (2014 widely noted, but part of her publications and a widely cited milestone in her public life).
First high-profile Senate banking hearings went viral
At her first Senate Banking Committee hearings she aggressively questioned regulators about criminal prosecutions of big banks; videos amassed over one million views rapidly.
Sworn in to U.S. Senate
Sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden as U.S. Senator from Massachusetts (term began Jan 3, 2013).
Introduced Bank on Student Loans Fairness Act
Introduced legislation to let students borrow at the same low rate banks get from the Treasury (0.75%), aiming to reduce student loan costs.
Assigned to Senate Banking Committee
Assigned a seat on the Senate Banking Committee, overseeing Dodd–Frank implementation and banking regulation oversight.
Became Strategic Adviser, Democratic Policy and Communications Committee
After 2014 election, appointed the first-ever Strategic Adviser of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (position created for her).
Appointed Strategic Adviser — speculation about 2016 run
Appointment to Democratic Policy and Communications Committee fueled speculation about potential 2016 presidential run though she ultimately did not run.
Reintroduced 21st Century Glass–Steagall Act
Alongside Sen. John McCain, Maria Cantwell, and Angus King, reintroduced legislation to separate commercial and investment banking to reduce systemic risk.
Named to Senate Armed Services Committee
Gained a seat on the Senate Armed Services Committee in December 2016, a high-profile committee role fueling speculation about presidential ambitions.
Endorsed Hillary Clinton for president
Publicly endorsed Hillary Clinton as the Democratic presidential nominee and campaigned with her.
Published This Fight Is Our Fight
Published This Fight Is Our Fight: The Battle to Save America's Middle Class (2017 publication sometimes noted as 2016 appearances about it).
Keynote speaker at 2016 Democratic National Convention
Delivered the keynote address on the first night of the 2016 DNC in Philadelphia, a prestigious speaking role.
Launched Equifax oversight/investigation
Spearheaded Senate scrutiny of the Equifax 2017 data breach affecting ~147M consumers and drafted legislation to strengthen data breach protections.
Coined/Popularized 'Nevertheless, she persisted'
After being silenced during the Sessions debate, Mitch McConnell's rebuke ('nevertheless, she persisted') became a rallying slogan often associated with Warren.
Silenced under Senate Rule 19 during Jeff Sessions debate
During debate on Jeff Sessions's AG nomination, Warren read Coretta Scott King's 1986 letter and was ruled to have violated Senate Rule 19; she later read it on Facebook Live ('nevertheless, she persisted' became a slogan).
Confronted Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf
Questioned Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf at a Senate Banking hearing and called for accountability over fake accounts scandal.
Called for resignation of Wells Fargo CEO Timothy Sloan
At a Senate Banking Committee hearing called on successor CEO Timothy Sloan to resign over ongoing misconduct concerns.
Sacks-Freund Award (Harvard) — twice recognized for teaching
Harvard students twice recognized her with the Sacks-Freund Award for excellence in teaching (years during her Harvard tenure; awards cited by Harvard class recognition).
Re-elected to U.S. Senate (2018)
Won a second term, defeating Republican Geoff Diehl by roughly 60% to 36% of the vote.
Exploratory/presidential campaign activity
Began exploratory steps for 2020 presidential run (announced exploratory committee Dec 31, 2018 / declared candidacy Feb 9, 2019).
Delivered Morgan State University commencement address; honorary degree
Delivered the Fall Commencement Address and received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree (Dec 14, 2018).
Released DNA test re: Native American ancestry
Released DNA test results indicating likely Native American ancestor 6–10 generations ago amid public controversy over ancestry claims.
Introduced Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act (Aug 2019)
Introduced legislation to limit stock ownership by senior officials, require tax-return disclosures for candidates, and curb lobbying influence.
Announced 2020 presidential candidacy
Officially announced candidacy for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination (Feb 9, 2019).
Introduced College Student Hunger Act (SNAP eligibility)
With Rep. Al Lawson introduced the College Student Hunger Act of 2019 to make low-income college students eligible for SNAP.
Suspended 2020 presidential campaign
Withdrew from the Democratic primary after Super Tuesday; finished third overall in the primary field.
Personal loss to COVID-19
Her eldest brother died from COVID-19 in April 2020; she publicly criticized federal pandemic response and proposed relief measures.
Considered for Treasury Secretary
Named as one of the candidates considered for Secretary of the Treasury in the incoming Biden Administration (November 2020 reports).
Continued Senate oversight and investigations
Led and participated in oversight hearings and investigations (e.g., Equifax breach oversight exposing data of ~147 million customers), wrote legislation addressing data breaches and consumer protections.
Won third Senate term (2024)
Reelected to a third Senate term, defeating Republican John Deaton with 59.6% to 40.4% of the vote; first time she lost Bristol County while running.
Assumed role: Ranking Member, Senate Banking Committee
Listed as Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee (assumed office Jan 3, 2025 per infobox data), a powerful oversight and regulatory role.
Key Achievement Ages
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