Lisa D. Cook is a professor of economics and international relations at Michigan State University. She was the first Marshall Scholar from Spelman College, and received a second B.A. in philosophy, politics and economics from Oxford University. She holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of California, Berkeley.

Prior to this appointment and while on the faculty of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, she was also deputy director for Africa Research and Programs at the Center for International Development at Harvard University, was managing editor of the Harvard University-World Economic Forum Africa Competitiveness Report, and contributed to the Making Markets Work program at Harvard Business School.

Among her research interests are economic growth and development, economic history, innovation, and financial institutions and markets. Cook is the author of a number of published articles, book chapters, and working papers. With former colleague and co-author Jeffrey Sachs, she advised the governments of Nigeria and Rwanda. As a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow, she was senior adviser on Finance and Development at the Treasury Department from 2000 to 2001.

She spoke to NPR’s The Indicator about the monthly jobs report, violence’s impact on economic activity, and patent racism.

Expertise: Economic growth and development, innovation, economics, microeconomics, deficit, international markets, finance, property rights, financial institutions and crises

Location: East Lansing, Mich.

Email: cooklisad@gmail.com

Twitter: @drlisadcook

Cook speaks to MSNBC’s Melissa Harris-Perry: