Current position: Associate Professor of Economics and Business Economics, College of Wooster

I chose the CSU Department of Economics for my graduate studies for three reasons: the wonderful community, the unique academic program, and the emphasis on teaching. In retrospect, I’m so glad I made the choice I did. All of these aspects of the PhD program at CSU were key to preparing me for my current position. The tight-knit student community—which was clear from the first time I visited the department—offered support throughout my studies. Faculty were equally supportive and accessible. Their mentorship was key to helping me navigate the academic job market, from offering feedback on my research and application materials to helping me build my professional networks. In terms of the curriculum, the PhD program’s blend of theoretical paradigms, one rarely found in economics departments, allowed me to pursue unique research projects that I was passionate about. I received robust training in areas as wide ranging as econometrics and the history of economic thought. I was encouraged to draw connections between both social context and formal economic models. These opportunities prepared me for my current role in a liberal arts college where interdisciplinarity is particularly valued. Last, but certainly not least, I am very grateful for the teaching experience and mentorship in teaching methods that I received as a graduate teaching assistant and then graduate instructor. Thanks to this, I was able to offer evidence while I was on the job market that I would start a tenure-track position with a foundation in pedagogy that I could build upon. Even today, I continue to draw on the advice that I received through my work with faculty as a GTA and from their observations of my teaching.