Kendra Morad

**Kendra Lucille Morad** (born 8 July 1964) is a New Anglian politician and economist who has served as chancellor of New Anglia in the second Godwin ministry since 2020, becoming the first woman and first foreign-born individual to serve in the position. She additionally served as secretary for the treasury in the first Godwin ministry from 2017 until 2020, and has represented Dedham and Quincy in the House of Commons since 2012. Morad is a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, and is the first Monégasque-born individual elected to parliament in New Anglia.

Born in Monaco to a British mother and Syrian father, Morad moved with her family to London at age seven, and later to New York City at age nine. In New York, Morad was educated at the Lycée Français de New York, a French-language international school, graduating in 1982. After graduating, she enrolled in Harvard University, receiving a bachelor's degree in economics in 1986, and later a master's degree in business administration in 1988. After completing her education, Morad relocated to Boston, where she began working in the private sector finance industry. Morad later began a doctoral program at Harvard in 1995, receiving her doctorate in microeconomics in 2003. She subsequently was hired as an economics professor at Northeastern University in 2005, and later at Harvard in 2008. She continued to teach at Harvard until entering politics in 2012.

Morad entered politics in 2012, when she was selected to be the Democratic-Republican candidate for the Dedham and Quincy constituency in the 2012 general election. Considered to be a Democratic-Republican safe seat, she was easily elected and took office on 14 November 2012. After taking her seat in parliament, Morad began focusing on economic issues and was later appointed deputy shadow spokesperson for business and industry. She was later promoted to deputy shadow spokesperson for economics in 2013, and became shadow spokesperson for economics in 2015.

Following the 2016 general election, the Democratic-Republicans took control of parliament, and Morad was appointed spokesperson for economics by Harry Carter. Carter resigned as prime minister of New Anglia the following year, and was replaced by Paulette Godwin. Upon Godwin assuming office, she nominated Morad to serve as secretary for the treasury in her first ministry. In the position, Morad became the second-ranking economic official in New Anglia, and was a significant boost to her public profile. Morad served in this position for three years, and following the 2020 general election, was promoted by Godwin to chancellor of New Anglia in her second ministry, the highest-ranking economic official in New Anglia and one of the Great Officers of State. This made Morad the first woman to serve as chancellor and the first foreign-born individual to serve as a Great Officer of State in New Anglian history. As chancellor, Morad has focused on promoting economically liberal policies.

Since being nominated to serve as chancellor, Morad has been the recipient of widespread attention and recognition within the New Anglian political media. She has been frequently cited as one of the most powerful women in New Anglian politics, in addition to being a possible future Democratic-Republican party leader or prime minister. Politically, Morad has identified herself as a moderate and liberal, who supports both socially and economically liberal policies.

## Early life and education

Morad was born on 8 July 1964 in Monte Carlo, Monaco to parents Amir (born 1932) and Susan Morad (née *Wilkinson*; born 1935). Her father was born in Damascus, Syria and moved to London as a teenager, while her mother is from Nottinghamshire. Amir was a successful real estate developer who owned his own international firm that operated out of Monaco, while Susan was an art dealer who ran an art gallery in Monaco. They met in London, and later moved to Monaco together in 1959. Morad was raised irreligiously, although her father came from a Syriac Orthodox Christian background and her mother from an Anglican background. Morad is the second of four children; her siblings include Anthony (born 1962), Elizabeth (born 1966), and Thomasina "Tina" (born 1970).

Morad began her education in 1970, attending private bilingual schooling in Monaco. The following year, the family left Monaco after Amir relocated his business to London, where they settled in Kensington. While in London, Morad continued her education at an independent school for girls. In 1973, the family once again relocated, this time settling in New York City, purchasing a six-bedroom townhouse on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, now valued at $8.5 million. After arriving in New York City, Morad was enrolled at the Lycée Français de New York, a French international school, which was chosen due to her parents' fears that she would lose her proficiency in the French language for being away from Monaco for so long. While at the Lycée Français, Morad demonstrated herself to be a gifted and popular student. She later graduated from the school in 1982.

After receiving her diploma, Morad moved to Massachusetts to enroll in Harvard University, studying economics. While at Harvard, Morad was also involved in student government, and was elected vice president of her graduating class at Harvard, becoming the only female student elected to a government position in her class. Morad graduated with her degree in 1986, and later enrolled in Harvard Business School, receiving her master's degree in business administration in 1988. Morad returned to her education in 1995, when she began a doctoral program in economics at Harvard. She later received her doctorate in 2003, having studied macroeconomics in Francophone nations.

## Personal life

Morad began a relationship with New Anglian law professor Charles Davies in 1992. They later became engaged in 1994, and married the following year. Morad and Davies have two children together: Dylan (born 1997) and Christina (born 2000). The family resides in Needham, Massachusetts, while Morad also rents an apartment in Washington, D.C. for parliamentary business.

Morad has identified herself as irreligious, and was not raised with religion. Despite this, she has recalled her "fond memories" of attending Syriac Orthodox and Anglican churches with her grandparents as a child in London. Morad holds dual citizenship to New Anglia and the United Kingdom; she was born a British citizen and naturalized as a New Anglian citizen as an adult in 1983. Despite being born in Monaco, she has never held Monégasque citizenship due to a ban on dual citizenship. Morad is fluent in both English and French.