Ray Marshall, Professor Emeritus is presently the holder of the Audre and Bernard Rapoport Centennial Chair in Economics and Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. From January 1977 to January 1981, Dr. Marshall served as the U.S. Secretary of Labor in Washington, D.C. As President Carter's chief advisor on labor matters, he was responsible for carrying out the Department of Labor's mission “to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners of the United States, to improve their working conditions, and to advance their opportunities for profitable employment.” In carrying out these duties, administered laws and programs in such areas as employment and training, labor statistics, labor management relations, occupational safety and health, pension benefits security, and other matters affecting the nation's expanding work force. Administered Cabinet level agency with over 24,000 employees and an annual budget in excess of $29 billion.