Dean Karlan

Dean Karlan is an American development economist and social entrepreneur. He is the Frederic Esser Nemmers Distinguished Professor of Economics and Finance at Northwestern University where, alongside Christopher Udry, he co-directs the Global Poverty Research Lab at the Kellogg School of Management. Karlan served as the chief economist at the United States Agency for International Development from November 15, 2022, until his resignation on February 25, 2025.