Belot Named Frances Perkins Professor

A professor at the ILR School and in Cornell’s Department of Economics, Michèle Belot has been named the Frances Perkins Professor of Industrial and Labor Relations and Economics.

“Michèle is an excellent scholar who is doing innovative work in the use of randomized control trials to investigate the areas of job search and health. She has brought new expertise to ILR in the area of behavioral economics, strengthening our labor economics group,” said Alexander Colvin, Ph.D. '99, ILR’s Kenneth F. Kahn '69 Dean and the Martin F. Scheinman '75, MS '76, Professor of Conflict Resolution.

A monumental figure in U.S. history who changed the nation’s culture, Perkins taught at the ILR School.

The director of the Labor Dynamics Institute, Belot came to Cornell in 2020 following appointments at the University of Edinburgh, Oxford University, the University of Essex and at the European University Institute.

Her research is at the crossroads of behavioral, labor and health economics. A main thread that has run through her most recent projects has to do with “open mindedness” and discovering what can trigger people to consider other views, other jobs or adopt healthier behaviors.

Belot’s appointment will be a second Frances Perkins Professorship at ILR. Professor Francine Blau was the school’s first appointment and will continue in that professorship.

“Fran has been foundational to our strength in labor economics,” Colvin said. “Awarding a second Perkins Professorship to Michèle reinforces our commitment to maintaining and building on our excellence in this area. It also continues to recognize the historic importance of Frances Perkins to our field and American society, honoring her connection to the ILR School.”

Belot’s appointment begins April 1.