Author Profile

Vivian Cox Fraser is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Urban League of Essex County (ULEC), one of the oldest and largest affiliates of the National Urban League.  A distinguished corporate and civic leader, she has led the organization through a period of growth and revitalization.

Under her vision and guidance, the agency has expanded its roster of programs that drive its mission to promote economic self-sufficiency.   In addition to quality initiatives in education, employment and economic development, ULEC has built affordable housing, established social enterprises and spearheaded the redevelopment of distressed neighborhoods.  These programs play a vital role in the organization's mission, supporting economic empowerment as the key driver of social change for the clients and communities ULEC serves.

The granddaughter of sharecroppers, Mrs. Fraser was taught early on that education was the primary way to improve one’s future, and was raised with an awareness of social inequality that fueled her passion for economic justice.  After attending a neighborhood school for her elementary years, she was bused to a more affluent neighborhood for middle and high school.  Despite her poor educational foundation, Mrs. Fraser graduated with honors from Goucher College and received her master’s degree in economics from Yale University, where she was a National Science Foundation Fellow.

Prior to joining ULEC in 2004, Mrs. Fraser had a distinguished career in corporate finance at leading financial institutions, including Credit Suisse, Prudential, Mutual Benefit Asset Management and CIGNA.  She is married to Leon Fraser and has three daughters, Lauren, Alyson, and Andrea.