Rabb new head of McNair Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth

Jennifer Rabb, former tax policy adviser in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Texas, has been named director and fellow of the McNair Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, the institute announced today.

JENNIFER RABB

Rabb succeeds Edward J. Egan, who served as the center’s first director.

In the lieutenant governor’s office from November 2016 until last month, Rabb focused on tax reduction and economic growth. She also served as the committee clerk for the Texas House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means. Prior to her service in state government, Rabb, an attorney, represented entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes facing structuring, funding and compliance issues.

Founded in 2015 with a gift from The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation, the McNair Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth has two pillars to its mandate: research and engagement. The center enables, analyzes and produces academic research on the role of entrepreneurship and free enterprise in the U.S. economy. It then translates this research into timely policy assessments and recommendations, and engages with decision-makers from the public and private sectors to enable growth and prosperity.

The center’s research is data-driven, nonpartisan and policy-relevant. Its director and scholars investigate topics including entrepreneurship ecosystems, small business taxation and regulation, workforce availability and access to capital for entrepreneurs. This research results in academic papers as well as issue briefs, policy reports and white papers.

Rabb holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin, a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and a Master of Laws degree in taxation from Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law.