Diane Swonk

Swonk was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan.[4] She studied economics at the University of Michigan, where she obtained a Bachelors and later a master's degree in the subject.[5] She also holds an MBA in finance from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago.[5] She is dyslexic, and has spoken publicly on how she considers this to have affected her work.[6][7]

Swonk started her career at the age of 22 when she joined First Chicago Corporation in 1985 as an associate economist.[8] The bank later merged with Banc One Corporation to become Bank One.[9] Swonk rose to become Director of Economics and Senior Vice President, leaving the firm in 2004.[8][9]

In 2001, she joined the faculty of DePaul University's Kellstadt Graduate School of Business as a clinical professor of finance. Later, in November 2004, Swonk was appointed Chief Economist and Senior Managing Director at Mesirow Financial.[10][11] She spent 11 years at the firm, before leaving in 2016 to found her private consulting firm, DS Economics, where she serves as CEO.[11][12][13]

Swonk was appointed Chief Economist of Grant Thornton, LLP in January 2018.[5]

Swonk is also known for her work as advisor to the Federal Reserve, as well as to the Congressional Budget Office and the Council of Economic Advisers.[12] She is a Fellow of the National Association for Business Economics (NABE), serving as its President from 1999-2000.[14] Swonk is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.[2]

• Swonk, Diane (2003-01-23). The Passionate Economist: Finding the Power and Humanity Behind the Numbers. Wiley. ISBN 9780471269960.