On July 1, Susan M. Collins marked her first year as president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, one of 12 districts across the country that make up the U.S. central bank. In this first year, she participated in policy votes at meetings of the Federal Open Market Committee and visited each New England state to meet with community members and business leaders on a range of issues affecting local economies. She also delivered public remarks on topics ranging from inflation to the emerging post-pandemic economy.

Below, we share photos and quotes from Collins’ first year:

July - September 2022

In her first regional visit in September, Collins traveled to Hartford, Connecticut, to host roundtable discussions with business and community development leaders about local economic conditions. That month, she also spoke before the Boston Chamber of Commerce and discussed her early priorities as the new Reserve Bank president.

October – December 2022

Collins traveled to Maine in October to visit a Working Communities Challenge team in Bath that is focused on supporting area youth. She also met with employers who were struggling to attract workers because of the region’s high housing costs and child care constraints. Then, in November, Collins opened the Boston Fed’s annual economic conference, which focused on labor markets during and after COVID.

January – March 2023

In January, Collins traveled to several communities in Vermont, where she spoke at a leadership conference for women in banking, met with local business leaders, and visited a housing development for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. In March, she spoke about the Fed's reach and mission at the 39th Annual National Association for Business Economics Policy Conference.

April – June 2023

In May, the Community College of Rhode Island was the site of Collins’ first college visit – she said she chose it to highlight the importance of such schools. That same month she spoke with business leaders and community members in New Hampshire. At the Growing Years center, Collins noted child care access affects the financial health and job prospects for working parents. In June, she traveled to Western Mass. to speak with business leaders and community members about the economic challenges they face. That same month, she addressed more than 40 students from historically Black colleges and universities who are summer interns in Boston, emphasizing self-advocacy and the importance of forming relationships with mentors and peers who are different from them.