Dr. Phyllis Pomerantz

Biography

Phyllis Pomerantz is a Professor of Practice Emerita at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, where she teaches graduate seminars related to aid effectiveness, global poverty reduction, leadership, and governance. Pomerantz began her career at the World Bank in 1979, specializing as an economist in rural development for the Latin America and Caribbean region. Throughout her tenure, she held several key managerial positions, including Chief of Agriculture in Brazil, Chief of Infrastructure Operations in Southern Africa, and Country Manager for Zambia and Mozambique. Pomerantz became the World Bank’s Chief Learning Officer in 2001 and retired in 2005. Before her time at the World Bank, she was an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Hartwick College, a lecturer at Tufts University, and a Research Associate at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. She has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Pomerantz holds a Ph.D. in International Relations/International Development from Tufts University, as well as a Master of Arts in International Relations. Her current research interests focus on aid effectiveness, governance, and global public goods programs.

Research Interests