Juanita Kreps, former secretary of commerce for Jimmy Carter and an economist at Duke, died July 5 in Durham.
The 89 year old’s death was caused by complications of Alzheimer’s disease, her daughter, Laura Anne Kreps, told The New York Times.
Just the fourth woman to be appointed to the cabinet in the country’s history, Kreps served as Carter’s secretary of commerce from 1977 to 1979. As secretary, Kreps promoted international trade, taking trade missions to countries across Asia, Africa and Europe, including the Soviet Union, according to The New York Times.
Juanita Kreps, former secretary of commerce for Jimmy Carter and an economist at Duke, died July 5 in Durham.
The 89 year old’s death was caused by complications of Alzheimer’s disease, her daughter, Laura Anne Kreps, told The New York Times.
Just the fourth woman to be appointed to the cabinet in the country’s history, Kreps served as Carter’s secretary of commerce from 1977 to 1979. As secretary, Kreps promoted international trade, taking trade missions to countries across Asia, Africa and Europe, including the Soviet Union, according to The New York Times. In 1979, she initiated a historic trade agreement with China before resigning to return to Durham and her academic life at Duke.
While secretary, Kreps advocated for more social responsibility among businesses and served as a voice for minority-owned businesses, the unemployed, female and elderly workers and the development of depressed urban areas.
Not only was Kreps the first woman and economist to become secretary of commerce, she was also the first woman to be named director of the New York Stock Exchange in 1972 and the first woman to be appointed James B. Duke Professor of Economics.
Attending Duke on scholarship money, Kreps received her masters and Ph.D. in economics from the University in 1944 and 1948, respectively, according to The New York Times. She later rejoined the faculty at Duke in 1955 and became a full professor in 1968. In 1972, she became the James B. Duke Professor of Economics.
Kreps went on to become dean of the Woman’s College and vice provost from 1969 to 1972. She was named vice president in 1973, and in 1985, Duke established the Juanita and Clifton Kreps chair in economics.
Kreps served on numerous boards and government commissions in addition to her teaching and writing, much of which centered on age and sex in the workplace. She also received many awards, including the Duke University Medal for Distinguished Meritorious Service—considered the University’s highest honor—according to a Duke news release.
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