Anita Summers

Who is Anita Summers?

Anita Arrow Summers is an American educator of public policy, management, real estate and education and is Professor Emerita at the University of Pennsylvania.

The daughter of Jewish immigrants from Romania. Summers joined the University in 1979 as an Adjunct Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, became a Professor of Public Policy and Management in 1982, and chaired that department from 1983-1988. She was a member of Provost's Academic Planning and Budget Committee from 1984–1990, in addition to many other University activities. Summers has been a recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Awards at Wharton several times. While technically retired, her expertise is sought as she is considered a leading authority on urban economic development and finance and educational efficiency.

Summers is also a senior research fellow at Wharton's Samuel Zell and Robert Lurie Real Estate Center. Summers has authored and edited many books and reports. She comes from a family of well-known economists, including husband Robert Summers, son Lawrence Summers, brother Kenneth Arrow, and brother-in-law Paul Samuelson.

Prior to joining the UPenn faculty Summers was on the faculty of Yale University.