Daphne Nwobike
Staff Writer
How can we use our liberal arts education to revolutionize fields often characterized as rigid and inflexible? Laurel Graefe, a regional executive at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, exemplifies the necessity of infusing liberal arts and the interdisciplinary approach to all fields, including science, math, and technology. The Babson Center invited Graefe to share her career experience and the impact of her work at the Federal Reserve with Sewanee students in a campus lecture. Getting to interview Graefe provided helpful insight into the motivators that have brought her this far.
An alumni of a small liberal arts college herself, Graefe spent her undergraduate years at Agnes Scott College studying math and economics as ways to understand the world better. Growing up in rural Appalachia, Graefe initially viewed math as a subject to take in high school and then a familiar course in college. Her perspective on this field has long changed since then. Graefe said, “I think a part of it was just STEM was an area to focus on in high school. It was the natural place I went to when I went to college. But in fact, I actually feel like so much of my career has been about using that liberal arts education to see how we can connect the technical work of economics and math and actually bring that to [see] why does this matter? And, importantly, how can policymakers be connecting decision-making to data?”
Graefe is not content with simply looking at data and making surface-level and often incomplete conclusions from what the values say. Rather, she is determined to see and consider the people and individuals who make up these numbers and are actively affected by the policies enacted—or revoked—by policymakers. She appreciates the importance of quantitative data but also sees the vitality of qualitative data. Grafae said that “qualitative data and sort of the softer side of not just what the numbers say, but how are people actually experiencing the economy has been such a part of my journey. If you look at my resume, so much of it is this technical background. But my career and where I continue to find my passion leading me is how can I help to kind of bring and connect what the data is saying to people in decision making?”
As the regional executive at the Nashville sector of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Graefe’s typical day consists of looking at and analyzing data while listening to necessary perspectives. “I lead a little team, and our job is to have a perspective about where the economy is today and where it will be going in the future so we can help advise on monetary policy,” Graefe said. “I spend a lot of time looking at data, and I focus on my team, who looks at a lot of data. I’ll spend time on any given day out in public. Sometimes, it’s kind of about sharing our perspectives at the Fed, but more importantly, listening. So, I tend to think that one of the most important parts of my job is as a listener that identifies people that have unique but important perspectives on the economy.”
Despite the often overwhelming nature of her work, Graefe takes it all in stride, saying, “I think part of it is I’m a naturally curious person, and so in some ways it feels like I hit the jackpot. My day job involves learning about things I would be interested in learning about the human, you know, and I think it’s natural.” But she still makes time for herself to unwind and not think about work all the time. It is admirable that Graefe’s commitment to the individuals around her is facilitated through the experience and wisdom she gained during her time at liberal arts institutions. Graefe is working hard to evoke more change in the Nashville region—while celebrating the little victories she gains along the way.