Hon. Sharon Bowen

Commissioner Sharon Bowen serves as the Chair of the New York Stock Exchange, the first woman or person of color to hold that position. She was the first African American to be appointed as Commissioner of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, serving from 2014 to 2017, and was earlier appointed by President Obama to serve as Vice Chair and Acting Chair of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation from 2010 to 2014. Her groundbreaking career includes three decades working in corporate and transactional law.

Bowen currently serves on the Boards of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., Neuberger Berman Group LLC and Akamai Technologies, Inc. She is a partner at Seneca Women, which connects and advances women in the economy. Bowen earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Virginia as well as a joint Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management and Juris Doctor from Pritzker School of Law, both at Northwestern University. During her time at Northwestern, she served as Managing Editor of the Northwestern Journal of International Law and Business. Bowen has also served as a former Executive Committee Member and Chair of the Law School Board. In 2023, she received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Northwestern, and in 2024, the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Bowen has served as a member of the Board and Emeritus Board of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, Inc., the Boards of New York City Economic Development Corporation, and Public Education Needs Civil Involvement in Learning. Her other achievements include: 2026 Strong Men & Women in Virginia History Award, 2022 Women in Derivatives Luminary Lifetime Achievement Award, 2011 Diversity Trailblazer Award of the New York State Bar Association, New York City Bar Association 2007 Diversity Champion, and Metropolitan Black Bar Association 2006 Lawyer of the Year. In 2022, she was inducted into the Futures Industry Association Hall of Fame.