  janet louise yellen (born august 13, 1946) is an american economist. she is the chair of the board of governors of the federal reserve system, previously serving as vice chair from 2010 to 2014. previously, she was president and chief executive officer of the federal reserve bank of san francisco; chair of the white house council of economic advisers under president bill clinton; and professor emerita at the university of california, berkeley, haas school of business. on january 6, 2014, the united states senate confirmed yellen's nomination to be chair of the federal reserve board of governors. yellen was sworn in on february 3, 2014, making her the first woman to hold the position.yellen takes over federal reserve as bernanke departs ==early life and education== yellen was born to a jewish family in brooklyn, new york, the daughter of anna (nÃ©e blumenthal) and julius yellen, a physician.{{cite web |title=obama to nominate jewish economist janet yellen as new fed chief |url=http://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/news/14019/obama_to_nominate_jewish_economist_janet_yellen_as_new_fed_chief |publisher=world jewish congress |date=9 
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