Prior to joining the Federal Reserve Bank, Sandra Pianalto was an economist at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and served on the staff of the Budget Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1983 she began her career with the Bank which has lasted more than twenty years. She started as an economist in the research department. She was appointed assistant vice president of public affairs in 1984, vice president and secretary to the board of directors in 1988, and first vice president and chief operating officer in 1993.
---more---

Pianalto is active in the Fourth District’s civic community, serving on the boards of directors of many community organizations, including The Cleveland Foundation, University Hospitals Health System, and the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Foundation.

Pianalto was born in Valli del Pasubio, Italy. She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Akron and a master’s degree in economics from the George Washington University. She is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and holds honorary doctor of humane letters degrees from the University of Akron, Baldwin-Wallace College, Kent State University and Ursuline College. Pianalto also received an honorary doctor of business administration degree from Cleveland State University.