Career Timeline of Elizabeth Warren: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Elizabeth Warren built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Elizabeth Warren is a prominent American politician and the senior U.S. Senator from Massachusetts since 2013. A Democrat known for her progressive views, she champions consumer protection, economic equality, and strengthening the social safety net. Warren ran for president in the 2020 Democratic primaries, finishing third. Prior to her political career, she was a distinguished law professor specializing in bankruptcy and commercial law. Warren is seen as a leading voice for economic reform and social justice within the Democratic Party.
1970: Graduation from University of Houston
In 1970, Elizabeth Warren graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science degree in speech pathology and audiology.
1970: Taught Children with Disabilities
In 1970, after obtaining a degree but before law school, Elizabeth Warren taught children with disabilities for a year in a public school.
1976: Graduation from Rutgers Law School
In 1976, Elizabeth Warren received her Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School and passed the bar examination shortly thereafter.
1977: Lecturer at Rutgers
In 1977, Elizabeth Warren began her academic career as a lecturer at Rutgers University, Newark School of Law.
1978: Moved to Houston
In 1978, Elizabeth Warren moved to the University of Houston Law Center.
1980: Associate Dean
In 1980, Elizabeth Warren became an associate dean at the University of Houston Law Center.
1980: Published Article
In 1980, Elizabeth Warren published an article arguing that public utilities were over-regulated and automatic rate increases should be instituted.
1983: Full Professor at UT
In 1983, Elizabeth Warren returned to the University of Texas School of Law as a full professor.
1985: Visiting Professor at Michigan
In 1985, Elizabeth Warren was a visiting professor at the University of Michigan.
1987: Professor at Penn
In 1987, Elizabeth Warren joined the University of Pennsylvania Law School as a full professor.
1989: Published Book
In 1989, Elizabeth Warren and colleagues published "As We Forgive Our Debtors," showcasing their research on bankruptcy.
1990: Endowed Chair
In 1990, Elizabeth Warren obtained an endowed chair at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
1992: Visiting Professor at Harvard
In 1992, Elizabeth Warren taught at Harvard Law School as a visiting professor.
1995: Advised Bankruptcy Commission
In 1995, Elizabeth Warren advised the National Bankruptcy Review Commission, helping draft its report.
1995: Professor at Harvard Law
In 1995, Elizabeth Warren became Leo Gottlieb Professor of Law at Harvard Law School.
1995: Public Policy Involvement
In 1995, Elizabeth Warren began her involvement in public policy by opposing legislation restricting bankruptcy access.
1996: Highest-Paid Professor
In 1996, Elizabeth Warren became the highest-paid professor at Harvard University who was not an administrator.
2004: Publication of The Two-Income Trap
In 2004, Elizabeth Warren and her daughter Amelia Tyagi published "The Two-Income Trap: Why Middle-Class Mothers and Fathers Are Going Broke," highlighting the financial struggles of middle-class families due to rising core expenses and stagnant income.
2004: Rise in Prominence
In 2004, Elizabeth Warren began to rise in prominence with an appearance on the Dr. Phil show, and published several books.
2004: Published Article
In 2004, Elizabeth Warren published an article arguing that correlating middle-class struggles with over-consumption was a fallacy.
2005: Most-Cited Scholar
From 2005 to 2009, Warren was among the three most-cited scholars in bankruptcy and commercial law.
2005: Publication of Study on Bankruptcy and Medical Bills
In 2005, Elizabeth Warren and David Himmelstein published a study indicating that half of all families declaring bankruptcy did so following a significant medical issue. The study reported that 75% of these families had medical insurance.
2006: FDIC Advisory Committee
From 2006 to 2010, Elizabeth Warren was a member of the FDIC Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion.
2007: Financial Crisis
In 2007, the financial crisis began, leading to Elizabeth Warren's increased prominence due to her advocacy for banking regulations.
November 14, 2008: Appointed to Congressional Oversight Panel
On November 14, 2008, Elizabeth Warren was appointed to chair the Congressional Oversight Panel for the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act.
2008: Banking Regulations Advocacy
In 2008, Elizabeth Warren gained national profile for her public stances in favor of stringent banking regulations after the financial crisis.
2008: Financial Crisis Backlash
Warren helped lead an economic "backlash" to the 2008 financial crisis.
2009: Most-Cited Scholar
From 2005 to 2009, Warren was among the three most-cited scholars in bankruptcy and commercial law.
July 2010: Dodd-Frank Act Signed
In July 2010, the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, establishing the CFPB, was signed into law.
September 2010: Special Advisor for CFPB
In September 2010, Elizabeth Warren was named Assistant to the President and Special Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury on the CFPB.
2010: FDIC Advisory Committee
From 2006 to 2010, Elizabeth Warren was a member of the FDIC Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion.
2010: Scott Brown Won Seat
In 2010, Republican Scott Brown had won the seat in a special election after Ted Kennedy's death.
September 14, 2011: Senate Candidacy
On September 14, 2011, Elizabeth Warren declared her intention to run for the Democratic nomination for the 2012 election in Massachusetts for the U.S. Senate.
2011: Only Tenured Law Professor
As of 2011, Elizabeth Warren was Harvard's only tenured law professor who had attended law school at an American public university.
2011: CFPB Established
In 2011, Elizabeth Warren's scholarship and public advocacy were the impetus for establishing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
June 2, 2012: Won Democratic Nomination
On June 2, 2012, Elizabeth Warren won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate with 95.77% of the delegate votes.
September 5, 2012: Speech at the Democratic National Convention
On September 5, 2012, Elizabeth Warren delivered a prime-time speech at the Democratic National Convention, positioning herself as a champion of the middle class, arguing that the system is rigged against them and criticizing Wall Street CEOs for their role in the economic crisis.
November 6, 2012: Warren Defeats Brown in Election
On November 6, 2012, Elizabeth Warren defeated Scott Brown with 53.7% of the vote, becoming the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Massachusetts.
2012: Elected as Senator
In 2012, Elizabeth Warren was elected as the first female U.S. senator from Massachusetts, defeating incumbent Scott Brown.
2012: Michelle Wu worked on Senate campaign
Michelle Wu worked on Warren's 2012 Senate campaign.
January 3, 2013: Warren Sworn into Senate
On January 3, 2013, Elizabeth Warren was sworn in as a U.S. Senator by Vice President Joe Biden.
February 2013: First Banking Committee Hearing
In February 2013, at her first Banking Committee hearing, Elizabeth Warren questioned banking regulators about holding Wall Street banks accountable, expressing concerns that 'too big to fail' had become 'too big for trial'.
May 2013: Introduces Bank on Student Loans Fairness Act
In May 2013, Elizabeth Warren introduced the Bank on Student Loans Fairness Act, aiming to allow students to take out government education loans at the same rate that banks pay to borrow from the federal government, which was 0.75% at the time.
October 2013: Encourages Hillary Clinton to Run
In October 2013, Elizabeth Warren joined 15 women Democratic senators in signing a letter that encouraged Hillary Clinton to run for president.
2013: Became Senator
In 2013, Elizabeth Warren began serving as the senior United States senator from Massachusetts.
2013: Michelle Wu ran for Boston City Council
Michelle Wu, a law student of Warren's, ran for Boston City Council in 2013.
April 2014: Publication of A Fighting Chance
In April 2014, Warren's book, "A Fighting Chance", was published by Metropolitan Books, reflecting on the decline of the American Dream for middle-class families.
December 2014: Warren pressed Clinton to commit to not appointing Wall Street-friendly people
Beginning in December 2014, Warren discreetly "pressed Clinton to commit to not appointing Wall Street-friendly people to her administration, as Warren felt Bill Clinton and Barack Obama had done."
June 9, 2016: Endorses Hillary Clinton for President
On June 9, 2016, after the California Democratic primary, Elizabeth Warren formally endorsed Hillary Clinton for president.
September 20, 2016: Calls for Wells Fargo CEO to Resign
On September 20, 2016, Elizabeth Warren called on Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf to resign and be criminally investigated during a hearing, due to the bank's opening of two million unauthorized accounts.
December 2016: Gains Seat on Senate Armed Services Committee
In December 2016, Elizabeth Warren was appointed to the Senate Armed Services Committee, a position that fueled speculation about a possible 2020 bid for president.
2016: Aftermath of 2016 Election
After the 2016 election of Donald Trump, many commenters saw Warren as one of the de facto leading figures in the Democratic Party.
2016: Effort to shape a potential Clinton administration
Warren discreetly worked to influence how Hillary Clinton might staff an administration, recognizing that Clinton was likely to become the party's nominee in 2016.
2016: Influence on Clinton staffing presidential administrations
Warren has influenced President Obama, 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, and President Biden on the matter of staffing presidential administrations.
2016: Warren pressed Clinton to commit to not appointing Wall Street-friendly people
Warren pressed Clinton to commit to not appointing Wall Street-friendly people to her administration, as Warren felt Bill Clinton and Barack Obama had done in 2016.
January 6, 2017: Announces Run for Second Term
On January 6, 2017, Elizabeth Warren announced in an email to supporters that she would run for a second term as a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, vowing to fight against the policies of Donald Trump and his administration.
January 2017: Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act Read in Senate
In January 2017, the Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act, written by Warren, was first read in the Senate.
February 2017: "Nevertheless, She Persisted"
In February 2017, during the debate on Jeff Sessions's nomination, Elizabeth Warren was silenced for reading a letter from Coretta Scott King. Mitch McConnell's phrase 'Nevertheless, she persisted' became a slogan.
April 2017: Publication of This Fight Is Our Fight
In April 2017, Elizabeth Warren published her book "This Fight Is Our Fight: The Battle to Save America's Middle Class", where she examines the challenges facing the American middle class and advocates for government support through social programs and educational investments.
October 3, 2017: Calls for Wells Fargo CEO Sloan to Resign
On October 3, 2017, Elizabeth Warren called on Wells Fargo CEO Timothy J. Sloan to resign during his appearance before the Senate Banking Committee, citing incompetence or complicity.
September 29, 2018: Considering a 2020 Presidential Run
On September 29, 2018, at a town hall meeting in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren stated that she would 'take a hard look' at running for president in the 2020 election after the 2018 United States elections concluded.
2018: Senate Reelected
In 2018, Elizabeth Warren was reelected as senator, defeating Republican nominee Geoff Diehl.
2018: Called for abolishing ICE
In 2018, Warren called for abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
December 31, 2018: Forms Exploratory Committee for President
On December 31, 2018, Elizabeth Warren announced the formation of an exploratory committee to run for president.
January 2019: Criticized Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan
In January 2019, Warren criticized Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan, stating that withdrawals should be part of a "coordinated" plan with U.S. allies.
February 9, 2019: Announced Presidential Candidacy
On February 9, 2019, Elizabeth Warren announced her candidacy for the 2020 United States presidential election.
April 2019: Called for impeachment proceedings against Trump
In April 2019, after reading the Mueller report, Warren called on the House of Representatives to begin impeachment proceedings against Trump, citing obstruction of the investigation into Russian interference.
July 17, 2019: Introduces College Student Hunger Act of 2019
On July 17, 2019, Elizabeth Warren and Representative Al Lawson introduced the College Student Hunger Act of 2019, which aimed to make low-income college students eligible for benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
2019: Report on Warren's efforts to pressure Clinton
In 2019, Alex Thompson reported in Politico on Warren's efforts ahead of the 2016 election to pressure Clinton on potential appointees.
March 5, 2020: Withdrawal from Presidential Race
On March 5, 2020, Elizabeth Warren withdrew from the 2020 United States presidential election after Super Tuesday.
August 11, 2020: Harris Announced as Running Mate
On August 11, 2020, Kamala Harris was officially announced as Joe Biden's running mate, ending speculation about other candidates, including Elizabeth Warren.
November 2020: Mentioned as Possible Treasury Secretary
In November 2020, Elizabeth Warren was considered a candidate for Secretary of the Treasury in the Biden Administration.
2020: Presidential Campaign
In 2020, Elizabeth Warren was a candidate in the Democratic Party presidential primaries, ultimately finishing third.
February 2021: Biden administration receptive to Warren's input
In February 2021, it was observed that the Biden administration appeared more receptive to Warren's input compared to the Obama administration.
March 2021: Warren's Influence on Biden Administration Personnel
In March 2021, it was noted that Elizabeth Warren had been a consistent and private influence on President Biden's administration regarding personnel decisions, with several of her former staffers and allies appointed to positions within the administration.
June 24, 2022: Wrote op-ed requesting Biden unblock resources after Roe v. Wade Overturn
On June 24, 2022, following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, Warren penned a New York Times op-ed urging President Biden to release resources to address the surge in demand for reproductive health services.
2022: Voted for the Respect for Marriage Act
In 2022, Warren voted in favor of advancing legislation to codify same-sex marriage into federal law through the Respect for Marriage Act.
March 2024: Signed letter urging US to recognize Palestinian state
In March 2024, Warren was among 19 Democratic senators who signed a letter to the Biden administration, advocating for U.S. recognition of a "nonmilitarized" Palestinian state post-Gaza war.
2024: Senate Reelected for a third term
In 2024, Elizabeth Warren was reelected to a third Senate term against Republican nominee John Deaton.
2024: Stern's book about Warren's effort to shape a potential Clinton administration
In his 2024 book, Stern noted that after Warren (bullish on her own 2016 prospects of winning a presidential election) had declined grassroots efforts to draft her into a candidacy and recognized Clinton stood of becoming the party's nominee, Warren quietly worked to influence how she might staff an administration.
