tag:economics.nd.edu,2005:/newsDepartment of Economics | News2023-11-30T09:50:00-05:00tag:economics.nd.edu,2005:News/1583742023-11-30T09:50:00-05:002023-11-30T09:50:44-05:00Combining empathy with economics: Eric Sims wins the Arts & Letters 2023 Sheedy Excellence in Teaching Award<p><span style="color: var(--gray-dark);">Economics professor Eric Sims' </span>skill of combining economics with empathy has also been recognized by his students and colleagues, and it ultimately led to Sims receiving the <a href="https://al.nd.edu/about/college-awards/sheedy-excellence-in-teaching-award/">2023 Sheedy Excellence in Teaching Award</a>, the <a href="https://al.nd.edu/">College of Arts & Letters</a>’ highest teaching honor.</p><figure class="image image-default"><img src="https://al.nd.edu/assets/549617/1200x/ericsims71200.jpg" alt="Ericsims71200" width="1200" height="784">
<figcaption>Economics professor Eric Sims works through a problem in his office while a sasquatch statue gifted to him from his brother watches closely. (Photo by Jon Hendricks/University of Notre Dame)</figcaption>
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<p>As students sit across from <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/eric-sims/">Eric Sims</a> in his office, they get a one-on-one with the chair of the <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/">Department of Economics</a> — and a glimpse of Bigfoot.</p>
<p>Three crucifixes, a painting of an unidentifiable pope, golf tournament trophies, and a well-worn couch fill Sims’ space, but it’s the large statue of the sasquatch that stands out as it looms toward students who come to the professor asking for advice.<br><br>“I let them know about my quirks,” said Sims, the Michael P. Grace II Collegiate Chair and professor of economics. “I'm authentic, I let them know what makes me tick, and I try to meet them on their level.”</p>
<p>Along with the conversational pieces are photos of Sims’ family — his wife, Jill, and children Molly, Caroline, and Catherine, who <a href="https://ndworks.nd.edu/news/university-community-supports-professors-family-facing-rare-disease-2/">has an extremely rare neuromuscular disease</a> and is wheelchair-bound. There's also a photo of son Bobby, who passed away in infancy of seemingly the same illness.</p>
<p>At the beginning of every course he teaches, Sims introduces himself by letting his students know about his enthusiasm for macroeconomics, his love for his family, and the challenges he and his wife have faced with their childrens’ health.</p>
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<p>"If I can teach them something about dealing with adversity, figuring out what makes you tick, and following your passion, I view that as a win."</p>
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<p>During his nearly 15 years at the University of Notre Dame, he has found being vulnerable with students is key to connecting with them.</p>
<p>“One of our roles and our responsibilities as faculty members is to help students discern their own life path,” he said. “If I can teach them something about dealing with adversity, figuring out what makes you tick, and following your passion, I view that as a win. And I think that by being open and vulnerable with them, it encourages them and gives them an opportunity to potentially be open and vulnerable with me.”</p>
<p>That skill of combining economics with empathy has also been recognized by his students and colleagues, and it ultimately led to Sims receiving the <a href="https://al.nd.edu/about/college-awards/sheedy-excellence-in-teaching-award/">2023 Sheedy Excellence in Teaching Award</a>, the <a href="https://al.nd.edu/">College of Arts & Letters</a>’ highest teaching honor.</p>
<p>Created in 1970, the Sheedy award is named after Rev. Charles E. Sheedy, C.S.C., who served as dean of the College from 1952 to 1968. The award is given to a faculty member who demonstrates sustained excellence in research and instruction, motivates and enriches students with innovative and creative teaching methods, and has influenced teaching and learning.</p>
<p>Sims will be recognized at a ceremony and reception beginning at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6, in the new <a href="https://raclinmurphymuseum.nd.edu/">Raclin Murphy Museum of Art</a>.</p>
<p>“I felt truly blessed to have been a student of Professor Sims at Notre Dame. He is dedicated to student growth, teaching, and fostering self confidence,” economics and political science major Kayle Liao ’23 wrote in a letter nominating Sims for the award. “When I’m asked by undergraduates on what economics electives to take at Notre Dame, I always recommend Professor Sims’ classes. I know he will continue to serve as an extraordinary mentor to many eager students like me and make a lasting impact on their lives.”</p>
<h2><strong>Finding the human element in economics</strong></h2>
<figure class="image image-default"><img src="https://al.nd.edu/assets/549602/1200x/ericsims61200.jpg" alt="Ericsims61200" width="600" height="400">
<figcaption>Eric Sims, the Michael P. Grace II Collegiate Chair and professor of economics, speaks with a graduate student. (Photo by Matt Cashore/University of Notre Dame)</figcaption>
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<p>A lauded macroeconomist, Sims’ research focuses on business cycles and monetary and fiscal policies. His work is regularly published in notable journals and has been relied upon by the National Bureau of Economic Research and the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. He’s co-authored an online textbook for use in intermediate macroeconomics courses, and ranks in the top 3 percent among all living economists in the <a href="https://ideas.repec.org/top/top.person.all.html">Research Papers in Economics index</a>, which quantifies how frequently an economist is cited by other scholars.</p>
<p>His lecture notes, however, might be among his most renowned material.</p>
<p>“Eric’s notes are so well-prepared and comprehensive that professors and students have adopted them at other universities, even in countries like Chile,” wrote Carlos Rondon Moreno, who earned his Ph.D. in 2019 and now works at the Central Bank of Chile, in a Sheedy nomination letter. “Since I graduated, I have met many colleagues who referenced Eric’s lecture notes as a crucial part of their learning process during their Ph.D. studies.”</p>
<p>While his papers often include detailed mathematical derivations and complex graphs, Sims strives to strike a balance in his class sessions between the analytical rigor and the human application of the subject.</p>
<p>“What we are really trying to do with macroeconomics is solve this really complicated puzzle,” he said. “And just when we think we've got a solution, something changes and we've got to think up another solution, and I think that's really exciting.”</p>
<p>That enthusiasm is contagious. In her nomination letter, Liao described Sims’ teaching approach as intellectually stimulating, in part because of how he incorporates current events into the day’s lesson.</p>
<p>“I was always excited to come to his class, knowing what I read about the Federal Reserve in the <em>Wall Street Journal</em> would be addressed in class,” she wrote. “He encourages everyone in his class to stay up to date with the economy and keep asking the bigger questions.”</p>
<p>Sims believes asking those bigger questions is key to constantly learning in life, and it’s something he continues to challenge himself to do.</p>
<p>“If you’re not learning, you’re not doing a good job,” he said. “Every time I’ve offered a course, I have come out with a better understanding of the material and I’ve come out of it with ideas of ways to better present the material on the blackboard.”</p>
<h2><strong>Breaking down the role of a professor</strong></h2>
<figure class="image image-default"><img src="https://al.nd.edu/assets/549600/1200x/ericsims51200.jpg" alt="Ericsims51200" width="600" height="400">
<figcaption>Sims writes down a problem on a whiteboard, though he prefers to work with chalk and blackboards. (Photo by Matt Cashore/University of Notre Dame)</figcaption>
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<p>Before Sims came to Notre Dame in 2009, he graduated magna cum laude from Trinity University in San Antonio, then earned his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan.</p>
<p>As Sims was developing the skills that would help him thrive as a scholar, he was also considering the type of teacher he wanted to become. He admired professors who were organized and explained topics thoroughly, linearly, and constantly — traits he later sought to apply to his own pedagogy.</p>
<p>He also experienced firsthand the benefits of learning opportunities outside the classroom. As an undergraduate, Sims was a regular attendee of “the breakfast club” — small group meetings hosted by <a href="https://www.trinity.edu/directory/rbutler">Trinity professor Rich Butler</a> in a small conference room, devoted solely to working through economics problems with students.</p>
<p>Those sessions not only jumpstarted Sims’ addiction to black coffee, they also served as an inspiration for group sessions he now offers, where students are encouraged to learn from one another under his guidance.</p>
<p>“If you're struggling, maybe you can learn from a question your peers are asking. And we're going to work on problems together,” Sims said. “And, as part of that, I’ll get to know them better than I would in class.”</p>
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<p>“We are simultaneously a major research university that engages in topics of debate in secular affairs, but we are also a university grounded in a religious faith tradition. And there is really no place in higher ed that combines all of those things into one.”</p>
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<p>While working as a TA as a graduate student at Michigan, Sims discovered other core aspects about who he was as an educator — including his love for chalkboards, and the importance of not wearing a black shirt while teaching in front of one.</p>
<p>But, more importantly, he found his passion for teaching.<br><br>“I was so excited to be in a classroom,” Sims said. “It was my job to go into the discussion sections or tutorial sections and clean up the mess from lecture. So the students idolized me because I was like ‘OK, let me work out how to solve this problem, and cut out all the gibberish.’”</p>
<p>That quality for dissecting and translating complicated problems is something he carries on in his teaching today.</p>
<p>“(Sims) is exceptionally gifted in breaking complex things down to appear simple,” wrote Isabel Godl-Hanisch, a 2021 Ph.D. graduate who is now an assistant professor of economics at LMU Munich. “His teaching approach not only stimulates thinking during the class, but also stimulates research idea creation and long-lasting knowledge.”</p>
<p>As Sims went out on the job market, he knew he wanted to be at a university that produced groundbreaking research, had an emphasis on teaching, and provided grounding in his Catholic faith. He found one place that was distinctly positioned to satiate all of those desires.</p>
<p>“What excited me about Notre Dame was it was, and is, unique in the landscape of higher education, in the sense that we are simultaneously a major research university and an elite liberal arts college,” he said. “We are simultaneously a major research university that engages in topics of debate in secular affairs, but we are also a university grounded in a religious faith tradition. And there is really no place in higher ed that combines all of those things into one.”</p>
<h2><strong>‘Nothing great ever happens by playing it safe’</strong></h2>
<figure class="image image-default"><img src="https://al.nd.edu/assets/549588/1200x/eric_sims1200.jpg" alt="Eric Sims1200" width="1200" height="800">
<figcaption>Sims is known for his research on business cycles and monetary and fiscal policies. Previous students credit how well he can simplify often complicated topics. (Photo by Matt Cashore/University of Notre Dame)</figcaption>
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<p>When a student reaches out to Sims to discuss a setback in class, he sees an opportunity to help them to grow. Because, like Sims, failure can be a motivating teacher.</p>
<p>Sims was a talented student as well, but was humbled when he failed two exams early in his academic career.</p>
<p>“I just got destroyed,” he said. “And I look back and those were two of the best things that ever happened to me, because they caused me to re-evaluate what I was doing.”</p>
<p>Those failures catalyzed Sims to do some soul-searching and find what his strengths were. He refocused, studied harder, and concentrated his efforts on what he ultimately wanted to do — ask questions that no one has asked before and tenaciously find the answers.</p>
<p>Through that experience, he recognized what he was capable of and now encourages students to open themselves up to that same vulnerable state.</p>
<p>“Take a class that you don't think you'll be good at, or that you've heard is hard. Ask a person out on a date if you think there's no way they would ever go out with you,” he said. “Expose yourself to the possibility of failure, because nothing great ever happens by playing it safe.”</p>
<p>Sims considers it a great privilege to help students grow from adversity because that’s when he feels he can give advice that offers the most value to their lives. And in the face of his childrens’ health adversities, his students came together to contribute value into his life.</p>
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<p>“The way in which my students rallied around me in a moment of difficulty, in a moment of weakness, is one of the things that stands out the most to me. In that sense, I would say I think my students have done more for me than I have done for them.”</p>
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<p>Soon after Catherine was born in 2013, she was hospitalized in Indianapolis for six months. Sims was teaching two undergraduate courses that fall and drove back and forth every week in order to be present for both his family and his students.</p>
<p>When he opened up to his students about what he was facing, a group came together to support him.</p>
<p>“They took me out to dinner while I was here by myself,” he said. “The way in which my students rallied around me in a moment of difficulty, in a moment of weakness, is one of the things that stands out the most to me. In that sense, I would say I think my students have done more for me than I have done for them.”</p>
<p>Sims believes his greatest skill as a teacher isn’t necessarily his pedagogy or lecture notes, but it’s his ability to empathize with students. And receiving the Sheedy Award has prompted him to reflect on the impact his students have had on him as a teacher, scholar, and person.</p>
<p>“At the end of the day, I'm filled mostly with a sense of gratitude that I've been able to work with the quality and caliber of students that we have at a place like Notre Dame,” he said. “Any success or any recognition that is being conferred upon me is in no small part due to the hundreds or thousands of students that I've had in class before — and that is my great privilege.”</p>
<p class="attribution">Originally published by <span class="rel-author">Mary Kinney</span> at <span class="rel-source"><a href="https://al.nd.edu/news/latest-news/combining-empathy-with-economics-eric-sims-wins-the-arts-letters-2023-sheedy-excellence-in-teaching-award/">al.nd.edu</a></span> on <span class="rel-pubdate">November 30, 2023</span>.</p>Mary Kinneytag:economics.nd.edu,2005:News/1564822023-09-26T11:30:00-04:002023-09-27T14:02:43-04:00DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS WELCOMES NEW FACULTY<p><span style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;">The University of Notre Dame’s Department of Economics welcomes six new regular faculty members for the 2023-24 academic year: <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/victoria-barone/">Victoria Barone</a>, <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/jeff-biddle/">Jeff Biddle</a>, <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/jeffrey-denning/">Jefferey Denning</a>, <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/christopher-mills/">Christopher Mills</a></span></span>…</p><p><span style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;">The University of Notre Dame’s Department of Economics welcomes six new regular faculty members for the 2023-24 academic year: <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/victoria-barone/">Victoria Barone</a>, <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/jeff-biddle/">Jeff Biddle</a>, <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/jeffrey-denning/">Jefferey Denning</a>, <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/christopher-mills/">Christopher Mills</a>, <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/heitor-pellegrina/">Heitor Pellegrina</a>, and <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/niharika-singh/">Niharika Singh</a>!</span></span><span style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> “We are delighted to welcome Vicky, Jeff, Jeff, Chris, Heitor, and Niha to Notre Dame. Their skills and interests contribute to our pre-existing research strengths in applied microeconomics and development. They will be teaching students across the spectrum – all the way from a first-year seminar to a graduate field class. Collectively, these new faculty also represent a nice mix of fresh Ph.D.s and more seasoned scholars. We couldn’t be happier to have them as part of the Notre Dame family,” stated Department Chair </span></span><a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/eric-sims/"><span style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none;"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink: none;">Eric Sims</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;">.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;">We asked each of our new faculty members to share a little bit about themselves:</span></span></p>
<p><strong style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Victoria Barone</span></strong></p>
<figure class="image-left"><img src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/529661/200x200/barone2.jpg" alt="Barone2" width="600" height="600"></figure>
<p><span style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Barone earned her BA in Economics from the Universidad Nacional de Cordoba, Argentina, her Master's from Torcuato Di Tella University, and her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is an applied microeconomist with interests in public and health economics. In her research, she combines structural estimation and reduced-form methods to study the optimal design of social insurance programs and the origins and unfolding of the opioid epidemic. She teaches intermediate microeconomics, which is her favorite class to teach. She believes that the most valuable lesson she can teach students is how to approach and rigorously think about the incentives that shape individual and social behavior. When asked why she chose Notre Dame, Barone said, "Honestly, I always had a gut feeling that this would be the best place to start my academic career. I think the department has a vibrant community of researchers with interests that align with my work and foster a great environment for incoming assistant professors to become great scholars. Also, I really appreciate that we have great female role models in the department, like Kasey, Lakshmi, Taryn, and Chloe. I have been a fan of their academic work and the work they do to improve the representation of women in economics." </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Sims stated, “We are very fortunate to have a teacher-scholar of Vicky’s caliber joining the department. Her work on health is a great fit with some of our existing faculty, like Chris Cronin, Bill Evans, and Ethan Lieber. Vicky is also a decorated teacher from her days as a graduate student at UCLA.”</span></span></p>
<p><strong style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Jeff Biddle</span></strong></p>
<figure class="image-left"><img src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/529666/200x200/biddle.jpg" alt="Biddle" width="600" height="600"></figure>
<p><span style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Prof. Biddle is joining the Notre Dame faculty after serving as a Professor of Economics at Michigan State University for over 30 years. Prior to that, he received a BA in Economics from West Virginia University and a Ph.D. in Economics from Duke University. One of Professor Biddle’s research interests is the intellectual history of economics, and his work in that area has been published in several articles and books. His current research in that field focuses on the development of empirical research methods in economics in the twentieth century. Professor Biddle has also done empirical research on a variety of topics in the field of labor economics, the results of which have appeared in journals such as the <em>American Economic Review</em>, the <em>Journal of Political Economy</em>, and the <em>Journal of Labor Economics</em>. He is currently looking at the labor market impact of the restrictions on immigration imposed by the U.S. in the 1920s. Of his move to Notre Dame, Biddle said, "Because two of my sons are graduates of Notre Dame, I know that it is an excellent institution that cares about the quality of undergraduate teaching. Notre Dame students are intelligent and motivated, and I look forward to teaching them."</span></span><span style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Sims says, “Jeff is a world-renowned scholar who also has a real passion for educating young people. He brings a wealth of experience from his long tenure at Michigan State. Our faculty and students are going to really benefit from having Jeff around.</span></span><span style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;">"</span></span></p>
<p><strong style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Jefferey Denning</span></strong></p>
<figure class="image-left"><img src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/529668/200x200/denning.jpg" alt="Denning" width="600" height="600"></figure>
<p><span style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Jeff Denning earned his bachelor's degree at Brigham Young University and his Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Austin. He spent the last eight years as an assistant and associate professor at Brigham Young University. He researches the economics of education, often focusing on higher education and how people finance college enrollment. His work has appeared or is accepted in the <em>American Economic Review</em>, <em>American Economic Journal: Applied Economics</em>, the <em>Review of Economics and Statistics, American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, </em>and the <em>Journal of Human Resources</em>, among others. He is affiliated with the National Bureau of Economic Research, CESifo, and IZA and is a coeditor at the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. Of his move to Notre Dame, Denning said "I chose Notre Dame because it has great faculty working on important topics and excellent students. I really appreciate Notre Dame's community and unique place within American higher education." </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Sims notes that “Jeff has emerged as one of the leading scholars of the economics of higher education, and his work is well aligned with Notre Dame’s unique mission. Our graduate students and faculty alike are going to really benefit from having him around. We are incredibly fortunate that he chose to come to Notre Dame.”</span></span></p>
<p><strong style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Christopher Mills</span></strong></p>
<figure class="image-left"><img src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/529700/200x200/mills.jpg" alt="Mills" width="600" height="600"></figure>
<p>Christopher Mills is an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Notre Dame and a member of the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO). Mills earned his Bachelor's degree from Cornell University and his Ph.D. at Princeton University. His research interests include labor and public economics, with a focus on service delivery to children and families and human-algorithm interaction. Mills writes, "I'm excited to join a department with kind and brilliant colleagues, driven students, and a collective team spirit. Furthermore, Notre Dame's institutional commitment to alleviating poverty through the Lab for Economic Opportunities and BIG Lab provides a special opportunity for collaboration, mentoring, and impact."</p>
<p>Sims knows that “Chris is an ideal fit for our department and for the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) in particular. He does cutting-edge research that is on the front lines of the fight against poverty. Chris exudes enthusiasm for his work, and comes highly recommended as a teacher from his Ph.D. days at Princeton. We are fortunate to have him.”</p>
<p><strong style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Heitor Pellegrina</span></strong></p>
<figure class="image-left"><img src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/528849/200x/pellegrina.jpg" alt="Pellegrina" width="325" height="332"></figure>
<p>Heitor S. Pellegrina is a trade and development economist, with a particular focus on agriculture and environment resources. He earned his Bachelor and Master degrees from the University of São Paulo and his Ph.D. from Brown University. He spent six years in New York University Abu Dhabi as an Assistant Professor before joining the University of Notre Dame. His work has been published in the <em>Journal of Political Economy</em>, <em>Journal of Development Economics,</em> and the <em>Journal of International Economics</em>. Of his move to Notre Dame, Pellegrina said "I'm really excited to join Notre Dame and its amazing group of development economists. The sense of collegiality and dynamic energy within the department is truly remarkable. Furthermore, I find great inspiration in the university's mission to reduce poverty across the globe."</p>
<p>Sims stated that “Heitor comes to Notre Dame as an emerging leader in the areas of macro, trade, and development. He already has several prestigious publications, and many exciting projects. His work is a great bridge between our already strong macro, international, and development groups. We are delighted that we were able to land him.”</p>
<p><strong style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Niharika Singh</span></strong></p>
<figure class="image-left"><img src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/537173/200x/niharika_singh.jpg" alt="Niharika Singh" width="600" height="566"></figure>
<p>Singh graduated with a Bachelor's degree from McGill University and a Ph.D. from Harvard University. Her research interests are in labor and development economics, with a regional focus on the U.S. and South Asia. Singh is "excited to be joining a growing and tight-knit department. With both LEO and the BIG Lab housed in the department, I particularly look forward to contributing to and learning from colleagues and students thinking about anti-poverty efforts domestically and globally." Singh already has a publication in the <em>American Economic Review</em>, and a forthcoming article in <em>American Economic Review: Insights</em>.</p>
<p>Sims notes, “In just a few short years post-Ph.D., Niha already has some excellent publications and is doing exciting work in the areas of labor and development. She is a great fit for our applied micro and development groups." </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;">About the Department of Economics</span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;">I</span></span><span style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-style: normal;">nternationally recognized for its contributions to academic research and economic policymaking, the <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/about/">Department of Economics</a> at Notre Dame boasts more than fifty full-time faculty members, one of the largest undergraduate majors on campus, and a doctoral program with more than forty Ph.D. students. The department is committed to providing the highest quality instruction in modern economic analysis and to conducting innovative, policy-relevant research, all while fostering and contributing to the Catholic mission of the University of Notre Dame.<br></span></span></p>Anna Poltracktag:economics.nd.edu,2005:News/1478512022-09-15T17:38:00-04:002022-09-16T08:55:33-04:00Notre Dame launches BIG Lab to address global poverty and economic inequality<figure class="image-right"><img alt="Big Lab Leadership" height="297" src="https://al.nd.edu/assets/485751/big_lab_leadership.jpg" width="600"></figure>
<p>Even the most effective poverty alleviation programs in low-income countries can leave some people behind. Notre Dame’s <a href="http://al.nd.edu">College of Arts and Letters</a> and the <a href="http://kellogg.nd.edu">Kellogg Institute for International Studies</a>…</p><figure class="image-right"><img alt="Big Lab Leadership" height="297" src="https://al.nd.edu/assets/485751/big_lab_leadership.jpg" width="600"></figure>
<p>Even the most effective poverty alleviation programs in low-income countries can leave some people behind. Notre Dame’s <a href="http://al.nd.edu">College of Arts and Letters</a> and the <a href="http://kellogg.nd.edu">Kellogg Institute for International Studies</a> have a big idea on how to bridge that gap.</p>
<p>The new Building Inclusive Growth (BIG) Lab, led by Notre Dame economists <a href="https://kellogg.nd.edu/taryn-dinkelman">Taryn Dinkelman</a>, <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/lakshmi-iyer/">Lakshmi Iyer</a>, and <a href="https://kellogg.nd.edu/people/joseph-kaboski">Joseph Kaboski</a>, will bring some of the world’s best researchers together to develop innovative, long-lasting solutions to help vulnerable populations in developing countries.</p>
<p>“This type of growth remains the most powerful way to reduce global poverty and ensure that the benefits are widely shared — among the poor, children, women, rural, and ethnic minorities,” said Dinkelman, the Loughrey Associate Professor of Economics and Kellogg faculty fellow as well as a member of the BIG Lab’s founding executive committee.</p>
<p>Historically, the vast majority of successful poverty alleviation efforts have come from macro-scale, economy-wide development that moves whole societies out of poverty by addressing causes rather than symptoms of underdevelopment. Macroeconomic growth has proven to have a more lasting impact than foreign aid and social service programs, but large-scale development can still leave people out.</p>
<figure class="image-left"><img alt="Road Building" src="https://al.nd.edu/assets/485758/400x/road_building.jpg"></figure>
<p>“Lack of inclusion — inclusive growth for all people — is a huge challenge in developing countries,” said Kaboski, BIG Lab’s director and the David F. and Erin M. Seng Foundation Professor of Economics, whose research focuses on growth, development, and international economics. “The gap is huge, but it’s not just inequality, it’s lack of inclusion, lack of basics like roads to get out to people.”</p>
<p>The BIG Lab seeks to uncover these kinds of context-specific barriers to equitable economic growth in different parts of the world and generate data on approaches for tackling these barriers at both macroeconomic and microeconomic levels — economic growth for whole countries that positively impacts all people, including the poor and marginalized. </p>
<p>For example, Kaboski’s collaborative study “<a href="https://www.nber.org/papers/w17905">The Macroeconomics of Microfinance</a>” found that, overall, people do experience gains in income when microfinancing is widely available. However, access to economy-wide microfinancing could also lead to increased interest rates, ultimately benefiting the rich at the expense of the poor.</p>
<figure class="image-right"><img alt="Solar Panel" height="320" src="https://al.nd.edu/assets/485752/300x/solar_panel.jpg" width="400"></figure>
<p>Dinkleman’s research focuses on labor market barriers to better work in low-income countries. Her study “<a href="https://rpds.princeton.edu/sites/g/files/toruqf1956/files/media/dinkelman_electricity_0810.pdf">The Effects of Rural Electrification on Employment: New Evidence from South Africa</a>” is another example that looked at how access to household electricity ultimately led to more women entering the workforce, but it could take many years for households to adapt before there was a measurable impact on housework.</p>
<p>This type of research requires a range of methodologies to make progress, said Dinkelman, who is one of ten BIG Lab faculty researchers. She notes that a collaborative “team model of research is now essential to generating high-impact work,” and the BIG Lab provides the resources and infrastructure to make this type of research possible.</p>
<p>“The BIG Lab brings together faculty from across the university, including from Arts and Letters, Mendoza, and Keough,” she said. “All of the affiliated faculty use quantitatively-oriented methodologies to study global poverty, and it’s just fantastic that the BIG Lab can be a hub and a platform for our shared research interests and goals.”</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“A key component of the lab will be the ability to systematically train our graduate and undergraduate students in field research skills, so that they can be force multipliers who help faculty carry out this important work around the world while advancing their own development as scholars and future leaders.”</p>
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<p>In addition to questions around labor markets and transportation, other areas of inquiry within the BIG Lab are financial access, employment opportunities, political representation, education, agriculture, entrepreneurship, criminal justice reform, access to digital technology, and international migration.</p>
<p>“We’re scaling up the research that’s already happening at Notre Dame and building some infrastructure around it so we can expand our research and be more productive — engage more students, produce more papers, and make the faculty more productive,” Kaboski said.</p>
<p>One of the ways the BIG Lab supports faculty research is by funding more opportunities for graduate students to collaborate with faculty on research projects: running surveys, collecting data, and managing partner relationships abroad. The BIG Lab also helps fund the exploratory work of graduate students and will help generate additional funding for them through external grants. Opportunities for undergraduates include training in data management and analysis technique through the Development Data Bootcamp and assisting faculty through fieldwork internships during the summers.</p>
<p>“We’re excited to get more Notre Dame undergraduate and graduate students involved in research,” Kaboski said. “And the BIG Lab fits the University’s Catholic mission and is inspired by Pope Francis — who called for people to look at the underlying structures of poverty, rather than just charity, as solutions to poverty.”</p>
<p>The BIG Lab provides the resources and organization needed for both students and faculty to focus in on that goal — to eliminate the structural causes of poverty and promote the integral development of the poor. The lab’s launch was made possible by a generous gift from Joe ’71 and Deborah Loughrey.</p>
<p>“The BIG Lab is a big investment in Kellogg’s overall goals of promoting research and providing educational opportunities, with a focus on democracy and human development,” said Kellogg Institute Director <a href="https://kellogg.nd.edu/people/an%C3%ADbal-p%C3%A9rez-li%C3%B1%C3%A1n">Aníbal Pérez-Líñan</a>, a professor of political science. “We are leveraging our time and talents to produce more high-quality, high-impact research that we will get into the hands of policymakers to address questions around how to reduce global poverty, drive economic growth, and address global inequality in our time.”</p>
<p>The lab has tremendous potential, said <a href="https://al.nd.edu/about/office-of-the-dean/executive-committee/sarah-mustillo/">Sarah A. Mustillo</a>, the I.A. O'Shaughnessy Dean of the College of Arts and Letters.</p>
<p>“The BIG lab aligns with our mission in so many ways — advancing our research, growing our international engagement, collaborating across campus to address complex global challenges, and working to be a force for good in the world,” she said. “A key component of the lab will be the ability to systematically train our graduate and undergraduate students in field research skills, so that they can be force multipliers who help faculty carry out this important work around the world while advancing their own development as scholars and future leaders.”</p>
<p class="attribution">Originally published by <span class="rel-author">Katie Jamieson</span> at <a href="https://kellogg.nd.edu/news/new-research-lab-aims-alleviate-global-poverty-and-foster-inclusive-economic-growth">kellogg.nd.edu</a> on <span class="rel-pubdate">September 15, 2022</span>.</p>Katie Jamiesontag:economics.nd.edu,2005:News/1476812022-09-09T09:09:21-04:002022-09-09T09:09:21-04:00ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT WELCOMES NEW COHORT OF GRADUATE STUDENTS<p><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">The<a href="https://economics.nd.edu/"> University of Notre Dame’s Economics department</a> has welcomed nine new students to its halls from three different continents. <span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Economics Department Chair <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/eric-sims/">Eric Sims</a> said “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jackson, Mitchell, Caio, Emily, Pascal, Thomas, Shane, Ryan, and Coleson to the Notre Dame economics family. They are an impressive group on paper, and, in a few short weeks, have really gelled together as a group. I am looking forward to working with them and seeing them each develop as scholars."</span></span></span></span>…</p><p><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">The<a href="https://economics.nd.edu/"> University of Notre Dame’s Economics department</a> has welcomed nine new students to its halls from three different continents. <span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Economics Department Chair <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/eric-sims/">Eric Sims</a> said “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jackson, Mitchell, Caio, Emily, Pascal, Thomas, Shane, Ryan, and Coleson to the Notre Dame economics family. They are an impressive group on paper, and, in a few short weeks, have really gelled together as a group. I am looking forward to working with them and seeing them each develop as scholars."</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Jackson Alexander</span></span></strong></p>
<figure class="image-left"><img alt="Jackson Alexander Professional Headshot" height="175" src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/481713/175x/jackson_alexander.jpg" width="175"></figure>
<p style="margin-left:48px"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"></span></span><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Jackson is from Springdale, Arkansas. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Arkansas with a B.S.B.A. in Economics and a minor in Mathematics. His research interests include applied microeconomics and labor economics.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:48px"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">“I chose Notre Dame because they have great professors, an excellent student-advisor ratio, and the program feels more like a community rather than a competition. They also have a great first-year system that allows you to truly focus on the rigorous courses.”</span></span></p>
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<p><strong><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Mitchell Boice</span></span></strong></p>
<figure class="image-left"><img alt="Mitchell Boice Professional Headshot" height="168" src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/481711/175x/mitchell_boice_for_site.jpg" width="175"></figure>
<p style="margin-left:48px"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"></span></span><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Mitchell grew up in Vermilion, Ohio, a small town on the Southern Coast of Lake Erie. He holds a B.A. and M.A. in Economics from Miami University. Prior to joining the Ph.D. program at Notre Dame, he spent a term studying banking and European integration in the Netherlands, ultimately developing research interests in banking, business cycles, and growth. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:48px"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">"I chose Notre Dame because it offered the best prospect of intellectual growth at a university with a rich history and strong commitment to creating a sense of solidarity and concern for the common good."</span></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Caio Oliveira Dantas</span></span></strong></p>
<figure class="image-left"><img alt="Caio Oliveiras Dantas Professional Headshot" height="175" src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/481708/175x/caio_oliveiras_dantas_for_site.jpg" width="175"></figure>
<p style="margin-left:48px"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"></span></span><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Caio Oliveira Dantas is from Brasília, Brazil. He holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of São Paulo. Caio's primary research interest is monetary policy.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:48px"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">“My main reason for applying to Notre Dame was the excellence of the macro faculty. Realizing all the department's research areas were of an equally high standard sealed the deal.”</span></span></p>
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<p><strong><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Emily Davis</span></span></strong></p>
<figure class="image-left"><img alt="Emily Davis Professional Headshot" height="175" src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/481709/175x/emily_davis_for_site.jpg" width="175"></figure>
<p style="margin-left:48px"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"></span></span><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Emily Davis is from Morganfield, Kentucky. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Louisville with a B.S. in economics and a minor in math. As an undergraduate, she worked as a research assistant and co-author with two of her professors. Her research interests include applied microeconomics, especially within the fields of health, labor, and public economics.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:48px"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">“I chose to come to Notre Dame because the economists in the department were not only doing interesting and innovative research, but they were working on research that made an impact on people’s lives. I wanted to be a part of a program that used its academic rigor and prestige as a force for good in the world.”</span></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Pascal Frank</span></span></strong></p>
<figure class="image-left"><img alt="Pascal Frank Professional Headshot" height="175" src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/482982/175x/pascal_frank_professional_headshot.jpg" width="175"></figure>
<p style="margin-left:48px"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"></span></span><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Pascal Frank is from Germany. Before joining the Ph.D. program at Notre Dame, he received his B.S. and M.S. in Economics from the University of Wuerzburg and worked as teaching and research assistant. During his studies, internships brought him to the German Council of Economic Experts, the KfW Development Bank and the Institute for the World Economy in Germany. His research interests include macroeconomics and monetary policy.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:48px"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">“Notre Dame offers, with an excellent faculty and small cohort sizes, an outstanding basis for pursuing my research goals.”</span></span></p>
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<p><strong><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Thomas Poitevin</span></span></strong></p>
<figure class="image-left"><img alt="Picture Thomas Professional Headshot" height="175" src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/482985/175x/picture_thomas_1_.jpg" width="175"></figure>
<p style="margin-left:48px"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"></span></span><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Thomas Poitevin is from Saint-Nazaire, France. He graduated from Universite Paris-Dauphine with a B.S. degree in Applied Economics and earned with highest honors a master's degree in Quantitative Economics with a specialization in Macroeconomics and Finance. Before joining the Ph.D. program at Notre Dame, he served as a Master trainee in the Fiscal Policy Division at the European Central Bank. His research interests lie in macroeconomics with a focus in analyzing stabilization policies and studying the impact of agent heterogeneity.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:48px"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">“I wanted to enroll in a PhD program to become an active contributor of economic research in line with the policymakers' expectations. I have chosen Notre Dame because it is going to help me reach this objective thanks to its talented faculty members, their availability, and high quality teaching.”</span></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Shane Reed</span></span></strong></p>
<figure class="image-left"><img alt="Shane Reed Professional Headshot" height="175" src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/482990/175x/shane_reed_professional_headshot.jpg" width="175"></figure>
<p style="margin-left:48px"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"></span></span><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Shane Reed is from a small cornfield south of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Shane studied economics, cognitive science, and mathematics at the University of Michigan as an undergraduate, where he received his B.S. In his time at Michigan he worked as an intern for the football team, and then as a research assistant for the Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics. After graduation, he worked for three years at the Upjohn Institute as a Research Analyst.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:48px"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">"In picking somewhere to spend 5+ years, in addition to the standard rankings, it was important for me to go somewhere where the department was compassionate and collegial. In the dozen trips I took, nowhere impressed me more than Notre Dame in this dimension... After our trip to Notre Dame, my wife spent the whole trip back raving about how nice everyone was, and ultimately that went a long way in helping me make my decision."</span></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Ryan Sullivan</span></span></strong></p>
<figure class="image-left"><img alt="Ryan Sullivan Professional Headshot" src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/484709/175x/img_20220826_114450684.jpg"></figure>
<p style="margin-left:48px"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"></span></span><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Ryan Sullivan is from Sandy Springs, Georgia. He graduated summa cum laude from Rhodes College with a B.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Mathematics. While at Rhodes, he worked as a researcher in the Mathematics Department and played on the baseball team. His research interests lie in applied microeconomics.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:48px"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">“I chose to come to Notre Dame because of the faculty's dedication to working with graduate students to produce quality research.”</span></span></p>
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<p><strong><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Coleson Weir</span></span></strong></p>
<figure class="image-left"><img alt="Coleson Weir Professional Headshot" height="175" src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/481710/175x/coleson_weir_for_site.jpg" width="175"></figure>
<p style="margin-left:48px"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"></span></span><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Coleson Weir is from Naples, Florida. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Delaware with an H.B.S. in Mathematics and Economics with minors in Political Science and Theater Studies. He concurrently graduated with his M.S. in Economics and Applied Econometrics. His research interests include development economics, political economy, and public economics.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-left:48px"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">“I chose Notre Dame to work with faculty doing cutting edge research in the fields that interest me most and to learn about other fields in economics. Another reason I chose Notre Dame was the emphasis of faculty members on having a positive and inclusive departmental culture.”</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">With the addition of these nine students, the Economics program now has <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/graduate-program/graduate-students-directory/">43 active students</a>, including three serving as Post-Doctoral teaching fellows and seven entering the Job Market this fall.</span></p>Chelsea Cloutiertag:economics.nd.edu,2005:News/1476102022-09-02T12:04:00-04:002022-09-08T08:00:30-04:00ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT WELCOMES NEW FACULTY MEMBERS<p><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">The University of Notre Dame’s Economics department welcomes two new regular faculty members for the 2022-23 academic year: </span></span><a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/jane-ryngaert/"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">Jane Ryngaert</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"> and </span></span><a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/jonathan-tebes/"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">Jonathan Tebes</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">. “We are delighted to welcome scholars of the caliber of Jane and John to our faculty. They contribute to our department’s existing strengths in macroeconomics and applied microeconomics,” stated Department Chair,</span></span>…</p><p><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">The University of Notre Dame’s Economics department welcomes two new regular faculty members for the 2022-23 academic year: </span></span><a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/jane-ryngaert/"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">Jane Ryngaert</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"> and </span></span><a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/jonathan-tebes/"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">Jonathan Tebes</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">. “We are delighted to welcome scholars of the caliber of Jane and John to our faculty. They contribute to our department’s existing strengths in macroeconomics and applied microeconomics,” stated Department Chair, </span></span><a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/eric-sims/"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">Eric Sims</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">.</span></span></p>
<p><strong style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Jane Ryngaert</span></strong></p>
<figure class="image-left"><img alt="Jane Rynegaert Professional Headshot" height="255" src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/484052/200x/jane_rynegaert_professional_headshot.png" width="200"></figure>
<p><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"></span></span><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Ryngaert earned her Bachelor’s degree in 2013 at William and Mary and her PhD at the University of Texas in Austin in 2018. Her research interests are macroeconomics, monetary policy, and inflation expectations. She has been published in </span></span><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><em style="font-style:italic">Quarterly Journal of Economics</em></span><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"> and</span></span><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><em style="font-style:italic"> Journal of Monetary Economics</em></span><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">. Of her move to Notre Dame, Ryngaert said "I'm excited to join this group of excellent researchers who have a ton of fun together. Notre Dame also has a wonderful commitment to its students and I look forward to being in the classroom soon!" </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Sims stated that “Jane is one of the leading experts on the formation and implications of inflation expectations. Her research focus is incredibly important in the current macro environment with high inflation. She was an all-star teacher in her previous job at Wake Forest. I’m looking forward to working with her.”</span></span></p>
<p><strong style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Jonathan Tebes</span></strong></p>
<figure class="image-left"><img alt="Jonathan Tebes Professional Headshot" height="200" src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/484051/200x/jonathan_tebes_professional_headshot.jpg" width="200"></figure>
<p><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"></span></span><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Tebes graduated with his Bachelor’s degree from MIT in 2014, and with his PhD from Harvard in 2022. His research interests include labor economics, education, policing, and criminal justice. Tebes is “thrilled to be joining this collaborative and welcoming economics community with researchers at the forefront of their fields. As the home of the </span></span><a href="https://leo.nd.edu/"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"> (LEO), the number of colleagues also conducting anti-poverty research provides amazing opportunities for learning and collaboration.” </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">“Hiring Jonathan on the rookie market last year was a coup for our department. He is doing great work related to criminal justice that will contribute to the research missions of both LEO and the Department,” said Sims. Professor </span></span><a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/james-sullivan/"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">James Sullivan</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">, faculty director of the Wilson Sheehan Lab, stated that "John's research aligns very nicely with the mission of the University. He is already emerging as an influential scholar of the effects of policing on criminal justice and education outcomes, and the racial inequities in these outcomes. We are delighted he has decided to join our department and LEO."</span></span></p>
<p><strong style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:700; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">About the Department of Economics</span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">Internationally recognized for its contributions to academic research and economic policymaking, the </span></span><a href="https://economics.nd.edu/about/"><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none"><span style="text-decoration-skip-ink:none">Department of Economics</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal"> at Notre Dame boasts more than 40 regular faculty members, one of the largest undergraduate majors at Notre Dame, and a doctoral program with 40 PhD students. It is ranked in the top quartile of economics departments in the United States by Ideas/RePEc. The department is committed to providing the highest quality instruction in modern economic analysis and to conducting innovative, policy-relevant research, all while fostering and contributing to the Catholic mission of the University of Notre Dame.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>Chelsea Cloutiertag:economics.nd.edu,2005:News/1470302022-08-03T15:10:00-04:002022-08-03T15:10:57-04:00In memoriam: Thomas R. Swartz, professor emeritus of economics<p>For 45 years, Swartz taught everything from introductory courses to interdisciplinary seminars. The popular professor received Notre Dame's highest teaching honor in the College of Arts and Letters — the Sheedy Award. He also introduced a summer program at the University's study abroad site in London and was president of the Faculty Senate.</p>
<p> </p><p><span style="background:white"><span style="background:white">Thomas R. Swartz, professor emeritus of <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/">economics</a> at the University of Notre Dame, died July 19. He was 84.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="background:white"><span style="background:white">A native of Philadelphia, Swartz earned his doctoral degree in economics from Indiana University in 1965 after taking a master’s degree from Ohio University three years earlier and a bachelor’s degree from LaSalle University in 1960.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="background:white"><span style="background:white">Upon receiving his doctorate, Swartz accepted an appointment to the economics faculty at Notre Dame, where he spent the next 45 years teaching everything from introductory courses to interdisciplinary seminars. A popular professor, he was the recipient of Notre Dame’s highest teaching honor in the <a href="https://al.nd.edu/">College of Arts and Letters</a>, the Sheedy Award.</span></span><span style="background:white"><span style="background:white"></span></span></p>
<p><span style="background:white"><span style="background:white">Swartz also introduced and administered a summer program at Notre Dame’s study abroad site in London and was active in a range of campus issues, including service as president of the Faculty Senate.</span></span><span style="background:white"><span style="background:white"></span></span></p>
<p><span style="background:white"><span style="background:white">Off campus, Swartz was involved in Democratic political campaigns, assisted local and state governments with issues related to urban economics, supported the foundation at Southwest Michigan College, and volunteered with the planning commission in Cass County, Michigan, the Diamond Lake Yacht Club, the Niles, Michigan, YMCA and St. Ann Catholic Church in Cassopolis, Michigan.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="background:white"><span style="background:white">Swartz is survived by his wife, Jeanne Jourdan, along with five daughters, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="background:white"><span style="background:white">A funeral Mass will take place at 11 a.m. Aug. 12 (Friday) at St. Ann Catholic Church, 421 N. Broadway St., Cassopolis, Michigan.</span></span></p>
<p class="attribution">Originally published by <span class="rel-author">Dennis Brown</span> at <span class="rel-source"><a href="https://news.nd.edu/news/in-memoriam-thomas-r-swartz-professor-emeritus-of-economics/">news.nd.edu</a></span> on <span class="rel-pubdate">July 29, 2022</span>.</p>Dennis Browntag:economics.nd.edu,2005:News/1467572022-07-18T14:38:00-04:002022-07-18T14:42:40-04:00Assistant professor Chloe Gibbs to serve on Council of Economic Advisers <p>“ I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve in this capacity, and hope I can use my skills and expertise to solve problems that affect people’s daily lives, particularly those of children and families." Gibbs' one-year tenure begins this month on the council charged with offering the president of the United States objective economic advice based on data, research, and evidence to support the formulation of both domestic and international policy.</p><figure class="image-right"><img alt="Mc 2" src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/478093/mc_2.21.18_chloe_gibbs_classroom_02_feature.jpg"></figure>
<p style="margin-bottom:11px"><a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/chloe-gibbs/">Chloe Gibbs</a>, assistant professor of economics at the University of Notre Dame, has been appointed to a one-year term as a senior economist on the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/cea/about/">Council of Economic Advisers</a> (CEA). The council is charged with offering the president of the United States objective economic advice based on data, research and evidence to support the formulation of both domestic and international policy.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:11px">“We are obviously facing economic challenges in the wake of the pandemic. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve in this capacity, and hope I can use my skills and expertise to solve problems that affect people’s daily lives, particularly those of children and families,” said Gibbs, whose tenure begins this month.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:11px">The CEA is led by a chair who is appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate, and two members who are appointed by the president. With a staff of senior economists, staff economists, research assistants and supporting administrators, the council analyzes and interprets economic developments and formulates and recommends economic policies that advance the interests of the American people.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:11px">A labor economist who specializes in the economics of education, Gibbs focuses on measuring the effects — both intended and unintended — of policies and programs targeted at helping disadvantaged children and families. Much of her research investigates early childhood care and education, parenting, and successful transitions into and out of formal schooling.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:11px">One of the most pressing issues for working parents in the United States is the availability and cost of child care. Along with seven other economists, Gibbs recently conducted <a href="https://www.nber.org/papers/w30140">a study</a> that modeled two different policy scenarios that involved expanding federal funding for early child care and education subsidies — one narrow and one broad. While child care costs have increased over the past 15 years, the authors find that “a broad expansion of childcare subsidies would substantially reduce the costs that households pay on average for childcare.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:11px">Indeed, their research showed that a broad expansion would lower average household expenditures significantly from about $8,100 per year to approximately $5,000 — a decline from nearly 18% to 6% of after-tax income. Under the narrow subsidy expansion, the reduction in household costs is more modest, with average household expenditures (for full-time care) falling from approximately $8,100 (close to 18% of income) to $7,700 (12% of income). The study also predicts increases in maternal employment and improvements in care quality under both subsidy schemes, with the most pronounced benefits among low-income families.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:11px">Gibbs has also studied various aspects of the federal Head Start program that launched in 1965 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. Her most recent related research (with colleague <a href="https://liberalarts.tamu.edu/economics/profile/andrew-barr/">Andrew Barr</a> from Texas A&M) was the first to show large-scale intergenerational effects of the program. Their <a href="https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/epdf/10.1086/720764">study</a> documented effects in the second generation — the children of those who went through Head Start — including decreases in teen parenthood (by 8 percentage points) and criminal engagement (by 13 percentage points) and increases in educational attainment (high school graduation by 11 percentage points and college enrollment by 18 percentage points). The study also found shorter-term effects for the second generation that may explain the long-term effects, such as better home environments, greater preschool participation, higher self-esteem, lower likelihood of repeating a grade and less criminal engagement in adolescence.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:11px">“Chloe is a recognized academic leader in the areas of schooling and education,” said Michael P. Grace II Professor and Department Chair of Economics <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/eric-sims/">Eric Sims</a>. “We are fortunate that she will be putting her expertise on these and related topics into practice in service to our country on the Council of Economic Advisers. We are extremely proud of her and are lucky to count her as a member of the Notre Dame family.”</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:11px">Gibbs is also an affiliate of the <a href="https://leo.nd.edu/">Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities</a> and serves as the director of Notre Dame’s <a href="https://iei.nd.edu/initiatives/pier">Program for Interdisciplinary Educational Research</a> at the <a href="https://iei.nd.edu/">Institute for Educational Initiatives</a>.</p>
<p class="attribution">Originally published by <span class="rel-author">Colleen Sharkey</span> at <span class="rel-source"><a href="https://news.nd.edu/news/chloe-gibbs-to-serve-on-council-of-economic-advisers/">news.nd.edu</a></span> on <span class="rel-pubdate">July 18, 2022</span>.</p>Colleen Sharkeytag:economics.nd.edu,2005:News/1461912022-05-17T15:55:00-04:002022-06-14T15:55:37-04:006 A&L faculty honored for undergraduate teaching, advising<p>The Office of the Provost presented Kimberly Belcher, Ann-Marie Conrado, Blake Leyerle, Forrest Spence, and Michael Macaluso with Joyce Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and presented Maureen Dawson with a Dockweiler Award for outstanding advising.</p><p style="margin-bottom:13px">Six people affiliated with the College of Arts and Letters are among the 20 University of Notre Dame faculty members who received Rev. Edmund P. Joyce, C.S.C., Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching or a Dockweiler Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:13px">The Office of the Provost presents the awards and recipients are selected through a process that includes peer and student nominations.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:13px">The Joyce Awards, established in 2007, are supported by a gift from the late Father Joyce’s classmates of Notre Dame’s Class of 1937. They honor faculty members who have had a profound influence on undergraduate students through sustained exemplary teaching, and, in particular, recognize professors who create environments that stimulate significant student learning, elevate students to a new level of intellectual engagement and foster students’ ability to express themselves effectively within their disciplines.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:13px">The Dockweiler Awards, established in 2007 with a gift from the Julia Stearns Dockweiler Charitable Foundation, recognize faculty or staff members who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to Notre Dame undergraduates through outstanding mentoring, academic advising or career counseling services.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:13px"><strong>2021-22 JOYCE AWARD RECIPIENTS</strong></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:13px">COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS</p>
<p><a href="https://theology.nd.edu/people/kimberly-belcher/">Kimberly Belcher</a>, theology</p>
<p><a href="https://artdept.nd.edu/faculty/faculty-by-alpha/ann-marie-conrado/">Ann-Marie Conrado</a>, art, art history and design</p>
<p><a href="https://theology.nd.edu/people/blake-leyerle/">Blake Leyerle</a>, theology</p>
<p><a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/forrest-spence/">Forrest Spence</a>, economics</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:13px">INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES</p>
<p><a href="https://iei.nd.edu/initiatives/alliance-for-catholic-education/people/michael-macaluso">Michael Macaluso</a>, Institute for Educational Initiatives</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:13px"><strong>DOCKWEILER AWARD RECIPIENT</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://al.nd.edu/advising/advising-deans-and-staff/maureen-dawson/">Maureen Dawson</a>, College of Arts and Letters Office of Undergraduate Studies</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="attribution">Originally published by <span class="rel-author">Chloe McCotter</span> at <span class="rel-source"><a href="https://news.nd.edu/news/faculty-awards-honor-undergraduate-teaching-and-advising-5/">news.nd.edu</a></span> <span class="rel-pubdate">May 16, 2022</span>.</p>Chloe McCottertag:economics.nd.edu,2005:News/1446642022-04-14T12:40:00-04:002022-04-14T12:34:34-04:00“The Voltage Effect” with Professor John A. List<p>John A. List, The Kenneth C. Griffin Distinguished Service Professor in Economics at the University of Chicago presented on his book, The Voltage Effect. Please see his lecture here. Prof. List’s lecture was part of our Combs Distinguished Lecture Series which regularly brings to campus leading academics and practitioners in the field of economics to interact with our students and faculty.…</p><p>John A. List, The Kenneth C. Griffin Distinguished Service Professor in Economics at the University of Chicago presented on his book, The Voltage Effect. Please see his lecture here. Prof. List’s lecture was part of our Combs Distinguished Lecture Series which regularly brings to campus leading academics and practitioners in the field of economics to interact with our students and faculty.</p>Birgit Deymanntag:economics.nd.edu,2005:News/1440442022-03-15T16:00:00-04:002022-04-06T10:51:00-04:00An unpredictable career, full of purpose: How Notre Dame helped economics alumna Mary Agnes Laguatan find her place in the world through languages, service, and a global mindset<p>A love of language led Mary Agnes “M.A.” Laguatan ’85 to Notre Dame. Four years later, that interest had blossomed into a curiosity about the rest of the world — and a calling to live out her values in the service of others. Now an executive with the global office of Ronald McDonald House Charities, Laguatan’s time at Notre Dame allowed her to discover her place and purpose in the world, one defined by helping others and offering dignity to those in need at home and abroad.</p><style type="text/css">/* Create a parent div so we can position the child div within it at the smaller screen size */
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<figure class="image-default"><img alt="Women 50yrs Frame Mlaguatan" height="800" src="https://al.nd.edu/assets/463990/fullsize/women_50yrs_frame_mlaguatan.jpg" width="1200">
<figcaption>Mary Agnes Laguatan</figcaption>
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<figure class="image-default"><img alt="50 Golden Years Logo" src="https://al.nd.edu/assets/464227/golden_is_thy_fame_stacked_logo.png" width="100%"></figure>
<p>To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the co-education of women at Notre Dame, the College of Arts & Letters is publishing a series of features on alumnae who studied the arts, humanities, or social sciences, then followed a wide range of career paths after graduation. Look for more profiles soon on how a liberal arts education helped these women discern not just what they wanted to do — but who they wanted to be.</p>
<figure class="image-default"><a href="https://al.nd.edu/careers/career-development-resources/"><img alt="Beyond the dome logo" src="https://al.nd.edu/assets/400124/beyond_the_dome_logo_fc.png" width="100%"></a></figure>
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<p>A love of language led Mary Agnes “M.A.” Laguatan ’85 to Notre Dame. </p>
<p>Four years later, that interest had blossomed into a curiosity about the rest of the world — and a calling to live out her values in the service of others.</p>
<p>Now an executive with the global office of Ronald McDonald House Charities, Laguatan’s time at Notre Dame allowed her to discover her place and purpose in the world, one defined by helping others and offering dignity to those in need at home and abroad.</p>
<p>“A global mindset is really something I cultivated and felt affirmed in at Notre Dame,” said Laguatan, who majored in <a href="http://economics.nd.edu/">economics</a> and <a href="https://romancelanguages.nd.edu/undergraduate/french/">French</a>. “It was such an amazing experience to come from a small Catholic high school to Notre Dame at age 18 and meet people from all over and be exposed to all kinds of people and thoughts. For me, the Notre Dame experience was really about opening up to the world.”</p>
<h3>‘You learn to love learning’</h3>
<p>A native of Flint, Michigan, Laguatan had studied French in high school, and when looking at colleges, Notre Dame’s yearlong <a href="http://international.nd.edu/">study abroad program</a> in France caught her attention. </p>
<figure class="image-left"><img alt="Mary Agnes Murphy '85" height="359" src="https://al.nd.edu/assets/464093/200x/ma_l_2.jpg" width="300">
<figcaption>M.A. Murphy, in the 1985 Dome yearbook</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Once admitted, she declared a French major and then spent the entirety of her sophomore year studying and living with a host family in Angers. Being immersed in a foreign country and traveling around Europe sparked her interest in other cultures and ways of living.</p>
<p>Wanting to expand her studies beyond French, Laguatan explored a range of classes within Arts and Letters. She was drawn toward the field of business but was passionate about the reading, writing, and speaking skills associated with liberal arts programs. Laguatan decided to pursue a second major in economics and immediately saw many ways in which her two interests overlapped.</p>
<p>“For me, developing a global mindset included the French language and living in France, but also taking classes about modern political theory and macroeconomics and issues of justice,” said Laguatan, whose maiden name is Murphy. “You start putting those pieces together, and it makes you even more interested in the rest of the world and how we interact and how we treat one another. I really feel like Arts and Letters was all about teaching you to be a thinker and reflector.” </p>
<p>After graduating, she had a brief stint working for General Motors in her hometown, then took a position teaching French and government at her high school alma mater. Three years later, she decided being in the classroom wasn’t the career she wanted, so she enrolled in a political science master’s degree program at Marquette University. </p>
<p>“I’ve always had a love of learning, which was also a big part of my Notre Dame experience,” Laguatan said. “At Notre Dame, you learn to love learning and always learning more. I had decided that I would love to learn more about the bigger picture, and political science seemed like a great fit.”</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“A global mindset is really something I cultivated and felt affirmed in at Notre Dame. ... For me, the Notre Dame experience was really about opening up to the world.”</p>
</blockquote>
<figure class="image-left"><img alt="Ma Laguatan Peru" height="421" src="https://al.nd.edu/assets/463410/350x/ma_laguatan_peru.jpg" width="400">
<figcaption>Laguatan at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Peru to do staff and board training in January 2020.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Yet, Laguatan kept feeling a call toward service. She had been a part of service experiences through the <a href="https://socialconcerns.nd.edu/">Center for Social Concerns</a>, and the possibility of pursuing a mission had been on her mind since graduation. Visiting her college roommate, a Holy Cross associate in Chile at the time, gave her the final push she needed. </p>
<p>She joined the Maryknoll Lay Missioners, and after six months of training that included a two-month stay in Bolivia to learn Spanish, Laguatan moved to a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of Santiago, Chile. There, she worked with a parish community for four years organizing and supporting educational opportunities for women in the parish.</p>
<p>“There’s a lot of isolation and machismo, and women have a hard life there, so the classes were a way for them to get out, to connect with others, to learn a different trade, and earn money,” Laguatan said. “I was able to use my background to train the women to be teachers and, in doing so, helped create a community for them. It was an amazing time in my life.”</p>
<h3>‘Life is a great little story’</h3>
<figure class="image-right"><img alt="Ma Laguatan Oaklawn Opening" height="681" src="https://al.nd.edu/assets/463413/350x/ma_laguatan_oaklawn_opening.jpg" width="492">
<figcaption>Laguatan at the ribbon-cutting day for the Ronald McDonald House near Hope Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois, for which she was the project lead — and brought her then-6-week-old son to the ceremony.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Her years in Chile affirmed her desire to continue her career in the nonprofit sector, and after returning to the United States, she began working for Ronald McDonald House Charities, an organization that supports families with ill or injured children, primarily by providing housing to the parents and relatives of children who are in the hospital or outpatient treatment.</p>
<p>Laguatan credits her Spanish skills with helping her land a job as a house administrator in Cleveland, where she worked for four years before moving to Chicago in 1999 to run a Ronald McDonald House in Hyde Park.</p>
<p>“It’s a community effort trying to advocate for people who are vulnerable and provide a great home away from home,” she said. “It’s a family-like environment filled with volunteers, and I just find it really inspiring. Anyone with a sick child is welcome at a Ronald McDonald House — it’s the way I wished the world worked everywhere, and it inspires me everyday.”</p>
<p>Laguatan — who now lives in Lisle, Illinois, with her husband, Richard, and 13-year-old son, Daniel — has now been with Ronald McDonald House Charities for about 25 years, moving up to senior director and vice president positions in the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana region before starting her current role directing field operations across the Americas in May 2021. She oversees nearly 160 sites throughout North and South America, ensuring they are getting the support and resources necessary to be successful charities helping children and families in need.</p>
<figure class="image-left"><img alt="Ma Laguatan Winfield Keys" height="485" src="https://al.nd.edu/assets/463411/300x/ma_laguatan_winfield_keys.jpg" width="400">
<figcaption>Laguatan receiving the keys from the contractor to a new Ronald McDonald House near Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Illinois.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In her daily communications with the many chapters around the world, Laguatan regularly relies on the abilities she developed at Notre Dame.</p>
<p>“Arts and Letters was so great at teaching writing, communication, and analytical skills,” she said. “With any topic, you end up having to communicate and analyze and put together an argument, and I felt really well guided in that area. I firmly believe I have really strong writing and communication skills because of that.”</p>
<p>Time and time again, Laguatan found that her liberal arts education had also helped her hone a mentality that prepared her for the twists and turns of a career that was unpredictable, but always full of purpose.</p>
<p>“Life is a great little story,” Laguatan said. “Notre Dame teaches you to have this reflective nature about where you fit into the world. Trying to figure out where that was for me took a while, but then I fell into it — the French, the service, and living by my values. </p>
<p>“My years at Notre Dame helped me formulate that bigger picture, and it has guided my career ever since.”</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“Notre Dame teaches you to have this reflective nature about where you fit into the world. Trying to figure out where that was for me took a while, but then I fell into it. ... My years at Notre Dame helped me formulate that bigger picture, and it has guided my career ever since.”</p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p class="attribution">Originally published by <span class="rel-author">Sophia Lauber</span> at <span class="rel-source"><a href="https://al.nd.edu/news/latest-news/an-unpredictable-career-full-of-purpose-how-notre-dame-helped-mary-agnes-laguatan-85-find-her-place-in-the-world-through-languages-service-and-a-global-mindset/">al.nd.edu</a></span> on <span class="rel-pubdate">March 15, 2022</span>.</p>Sophia Laubertag:economics.nd.edu,2005:News/1436672022-02-25T17:00:00-05:002022-02-26T09:04:19-05:00 Associate Professor Lakshmi Iyer on role of history in shaping India's economic development<p>Notre Dame Associate Professor Lakshmi Iyer's discussion with economic historian Bishnupriya Gupta in the podcast series "Ideas for India Conversations.” Listen to the podcast interview <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.ideasforindia.in/topics/miscellany/role-of-history-in-shaping-india-s-economic-development.html%26source%3Dgmail-imap%26ust%3D1646288210000000%26usg%3DAOvVaw32BEIjcQXPtfUf9LjcEUcY&source=gmail&ust=1645910671655000&usg=AOvVaw2mLUmFNYFoU0qGMRvflBdl" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ideasforindia.in/topics/miscellany/role-of-history-in-shaping-india-s-economic-development.html&source=gmail-imap&ust=1646288210000000&usg=AOvVaw32BEIjcQXPtfUf9LjcEUcY" target="_blank">here</a>…</p><p>Notre Dame Associate Professor Lakshmi Iyer's discussion with economic historian Bishnupriya Gupta in the podcast series "Ideas for India Conversations.” Listen to the podcast interview <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.ideasforindia.in/topics/miscellany/role-of-history-in-shaping-india-s-economic-development.html%26source%3Dgmail-imap%26ust%3D1646288210000000%26usg%3DAOvVaw32BEIjcQXPtfUf9LjcEUcY&source=gmail&ust=1645910671655000&usg=AOvVaw2mLUmFNYFoU0qGMRvflBdl" href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ideasforindia.in/topics/miscellany/role-of-history-in-shaping-india-s-economic-development.html&source=gmail-imap&ust=1646288210000000&usg=AOvVaw32BEIjcQXPtfUf9LjcEUcY" target="_blank">here</a> </p>Marie Revaktag:economics.nd.edu,2005:News/1397442021-08-26T12:00:00-04:002021-08-26T12:13:36-04:00Economics Department Welcomes New Faculty Members<p>Three new members of the regular faculty and one visiting professor have joined the <a href="https://economics.nd.edu">Department of Economics</a> at the University of Notre Dame for the 2021-22 academic year. These new hires contribute to the department’s research strengths in applied microeconomics. They will also be offering exciting new courses for the department’s expanding undergraduate major.…</p><p>Three new members of the regular faculty and one visiting professor have joined the <a href="https://economics.nd.edu">Department of Economics</a> at the University of Notre Dame for the 2021-22 academic year. These new hires contribute to the department’s research strengths in applied microeconomics. They will also be offering exciting new courses for the department’s expanding undergraduate major.</p>
<p>The new hires for this academic year include assistant professors <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/evan-mast/">Evan Mast</a> and <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/adrienne-sabety/">Adrienne Sabety</a>, visiting assistant teaching professor <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/cora-bennett/">Cora Bennett</a>, and associate teaching professor <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/davin-raiha/">Davin Raiha</a>. “We are pleased to welcome Evan, Adrienne, Cora, and Davin to the economics family at Notre Dame,” said <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/eric-sims/">Eric Sims</a>, department chair and Michael P. Grace II Collegiate Professor of Economics. “These hires contribute to existing areas of strength and help to shore up teaching needs. Evan is an expert in urban economics and has already published several articles in excellent journals. He contributes to a burgeoning strength in the department in the economics of housing. Adrienne is an expert in health economics, complementing our already strong group of health economists. Cora works in the broad area of applied microeconomics and has a real passion for teaching. She will be teaching principles of economics and public economics this coming year, along with getting involved with our undergraduate advising. Davin studies real estate economics, and will be offering two new undergraduate electives – one on money, credit, and mortgage markets, and the other on the economics of sports.”</p>
<p>Sabety will have an affiliation with the Wilson Sheehan <a href="https://leo.nd.edu/">Lab for Economic Opportunities</a> (LEO). Mast and Raiha will have affiliations with Notre Dame’s <a href="https://realestate.nd.edu/">Fitzgerald Institute for Real Estate</a>. “The growth and success of LEO has been instrumental for the overall growth of our department,” said Sims. “We are delighted to add another LEO affiliate to the ranks of our tenured and tenure-track faculty.” Sims went on to add: “Our department has a great working relationship with the relatively new Fitzgerald Institute. We could not be more pleased to add scholars and teachers of the caliber of Evan and Davin, and are grateful to the Institute for their partnership and support.”</p>
<p><strong>Evan Mast</strong></p>
<p>Evan Mast is an applied microeconomist specializing in urban economics and public finance. He received his PhD from Stanford University in 2017, and comes to Notre Dame after a four-year stint at the Upjohn Institute in Kalamzoo, MI. His work has been published in the <em>Review of Economics and Statistics</em>, <em>American Economic Journal: Applied Economics</em>, and <em>Journal of Urban Economics</em>. This fall, he will be teaching a class on the economics of housing.</p>
<p>“I chose Notre Dame because of the outstanding faculty, both in my field and others,” Mast said. “I am excited to start working with my new colleagues and to be in the classroom with the excellent graduate and undergraduate students at the university!”</p>
<p><strong>Adrienne Sabety</strong></p>
<p>Adrienne Sabety received her PhD from Harvard University in 2020. She spent the 2020-21 academic year as a post-doctoral fellow with the National Bureau of Economic Research. She is an applied microeconomist with a particular focus on health. Her work has been published in the <em>American Journal of Public Health</em> and the <em>American Economic Review</em>. She joins the department as the Wilson Family LEO assistant professor of economics. This fall, she will be teaching principles of microeconomics.</p>
<p>On coming to Notre Dame, Sabety said: “Notre Dame is an exceptional department filled with passionate researchers and a collaborative culture.”</p>
<p><strong>Cora Bennett</strong></p>
<p>Cora Bennett received her PhD in 2021 from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She earned her BA from Seton Hall University in 2016, where she was a varsity swimmer. She joins the department as a visiting assistant teaching professor. Her research interests include public economics and the economics of education. This fall, she will be teaching principles of microeconomics. For spring 2022, she will also be offering an undergraduate elective in public economics.</p>
<p>About coming to Notre Dame, Bennett said: “I was excited by the opportunity to teach at an institution that wholly embraces its Catholic mission and to work with the remarkable faculty within the Department of Economics.”</p>
<p><strong>Davin Raiha</strong></p>
<p>Davin Raiha received his PhD from Stanford University. Prior to coming to Notre Dame, he taught at the University of Western Ontario and Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. He joins Notre Dame as an associate teaching professor. His research interests lie at the intersection of economics and public policy, with a special focus on real estate markets, residential housing public policy, the political economy of commercial real estate, and the economics of sports. This fall, Davin will be teaching undergraduate electives in money, credit, and mortgage markets and sports economics.</p>
<p>On joining the faculty at Notre Dame, Raiha said: “I’m excited to be joining an outstanding and welcoming community of scholars in both economics and real estate, and a vibrant Catholic institution where faith and academic pursuits are meaningfully integrated.”</p>
<p><strong>About the Department of Economics</strong></p>
<p>The Department of Economics at Notre Dame is internationally recognized for its contributions to academic research and economic policymaking. It boasts more than 40 regular faculty members, one of the largest undergraduate majors at Notre Dame, and a doctoral program with more than 40 PhD students. It is ranked in the top quartile of economics departments in the United States by Ideas/RePEc. The department is committed to providing the highest quality instruction in modern economic analysis and to conducting innovative, policy-relevant research, all while fostering and contributing to the Catholic mission of the University of Notre Dame.</p>Marie Revaktag:economics.nd.edu,2005:News/1391342021-07-23T09:00:00-04:002021-07-23T09:32:49-04:00Associate Teaching Professor Eva Dziadula on 0% APR credit cards<p>Notre Dame Associate Teaching Professor Eva Dziadula's interview with WalletHub about 0% APR credit cards. Read the full story <a href="https://wallethub.com/credit-cards/0-apr/#expert=Eva_Dziadula">here</a> …</p><p>Notre Dame Associate Teaching Professor Eva Dziadula's interview with WalletHub about 0% APR credit cards. Read the full story <a href="https://wallethub.com/credit-cards/0-apr/#expert=Eva_Dziadula">here</a> </p>Marie Revaktag:economics.nd.edu,2005:News/1382762021-07-13T10:00:00-04:002021-07-13T10:52:46-04:00Moment to See, Courage to Act Lightning Talks<p>As part of the Moment to See, Courage to Act Provost initiative, in April and May 2021, Notre Dame Economics Department faculty were invited to share their research, scholarship, or creative work with Provost Miranda and others (over Zoom) by giving a 3-minute “lightning talk.”</p>
<p>The lightning talk sessions featured multiple faculty each giving their own 3-minute presentation. Presenters were asked to highlight, in broad terms, three main points:…</p><p>As part of the Moment to See, Courage to Act Provost initiative, in April and May 2021, Notre Dame Economics Department faculty were invited to share their research, scholarship, or creative work with Provost Miranda and others (over Zoom) by giving a 3-minute “lightning talk.”</p>
<p>The lightning talk sessions featured multiple faculty each giving their own 3-minute presentation. Presenters were asked to highlight, in broad terms, three main points:</p>
<p>• The focus of their work<br>
• Why that work is important<br>
• One recent finding or project that they are particularly excited about </p>
<figure class="image-right"> </figure>
<p>See the links below to view the Economics Department faculty Lightning Talks: </p>
<ul>
<li style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><a href="https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=5cb5d602-2a76-4b8b-bf56-ad260149737c" target="_blank">Mary Kate Batistich</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><a href="https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=6490733e-0eef-4508-9048-ad2f0146f563" target="_blank">Robert Collinson</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><a href="https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=d997f5b0-6d0b-4560-8a35-ad1d0100734a" target="_blank">William Evans</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P4rlFKhoXIQXPgi4wbvecg49NgLCa-dx/view?usp=sharing">A. Nilesh Fernando</a> </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><a href="https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=0d0dfb6d-6060-4205-ab40-ad2501566ca0" target="_blank">Chloe Gibbs</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><a href="https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=ca293af6-b4a0-4d8b-a131-ad1e0135ed55" target="_blank">Thomas Gresik</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y-gcpE3KMaBV-m1mJVeUgC2EnxzTkfTq/view?usp=sharing">Matthias Hoelzlein</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><a href="https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=9178f315-d25e-40e9-8e60-ad2d012a7a73" target="_blank">Sarah Kroeger</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><a href="https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=c51ce2e1-155f-44d9-a38d-ad2501566d03" target="_blank">David Phillips</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><a href="https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=ced9b196-f101-4f89-8495-ad2d0129b866" target="_blank">Eric Sims</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom:11px"><span style="tab-stops:list .5in"><a href="https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=8d16d9f2-8063-4f66-8f36-ad2401226bde" target="_blank">Jim Sullivan</a></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom:11px"><a href="https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=d4fbfa57-6d9b-45c5-87e2-ad2000e4a199" target="_blank">Patrick Turner</a></li>
</ul>Marie Revaktag:economics.nd.edu,2005:News/1384682021-06-21T14:00:00-04:002021-06-21T14:30:19-04:00ND Economics Assistant Professor Matthias Hoelzlein discusses Important Financial Factors to consider when deciding where to live<p>Notre Dame Assistant Professor Matthias Hoelzlein was recently featured in WalletHub's recent piece about the <em>Best States to Live In. </em>Read the full story<em> </em><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://wallethub.com/edu/best-states-to-live-in/62617%23expert%3DMatthias_Hoelzlein&source=gmail&ust=1624386000546000&usg=AFQjCNE75xGvgqkn5UCIp2wmHcjO-3xCBQ" href="https://wallethub.com/edu/best-states-to-live-in/62617#expert=Matthias_Hoelzlein" target="_blank">here</a>…</p><p>Notre Dame Assistant Professor Matthias Hoelzlein was recently featured in WalletHub's recent piece about the <em>Best States to Live In. </em>Read the full story<em> </em><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://wallethub.com/edu/best-states-to-live-in/62617%23expert%3DMatthias_Hoelzlein&source=gmail&ust=1624386000546000&usg=AFQjCNE75xGvgqkn5UCIp2wmHcjO-3xCBQ" href="https://wallethub.com/edu/best-states-to-live-in/62617#expert=Matthias_Hoelzlein" target="_blank">here</a></p>Marie Revaktag:economics.nd.edu,2005:News/1379732021-05-25T11:00:00-04:002021-05-25T11:02:49-04:00Seven economics undergraduates land prestigious pre-doctoral research positions, including five with the Federal Reserve<p>Seven seniors in the Department of Economics have secured highly competitive pre-doctoral positions for after graduation — three with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, two at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, and one each at the National Bureau of Economic Research and Northwestern University's Global Poverty Research Lab. “These positions are both prestigious and highly competitive,” said Eric Sims, professor and chair of the department. “In these roles, individuals work as research assistants — and often as coauthors — with leading professional economists on cutting-edge research aimed at solving some of the most pressing issues facing society.” </p><figure class="image-default"><img alt="Treacy Mcconville Bognar" height="1427" src="https://al.nd.edu/assets/430660/fullsize/treacy_mcconville_bognar.jpg" width="2400">
<figcaption>Mary Treacy, Sean McConville, and Levi Bognar (right) will work as research assistants at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Seven seniors with majors in the <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/">Department of Economics</a> have secured highly competitive pre-doctoral positions for after graduation. </p>
<p>Levi Bognar, Sean McConville, and Mary Treacy will serve as research assistants at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, while Carolyn Davin and Madeline Penn will be joining the research department at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Additionally, Charles Hanzel has accepted a position at the National Bureau of Economic Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Mika Inoue is headed to the Global Poverty Research Lab at Northwestern University.</p>
<p>Pre-doctoral positions are an increasingly common phenomenon that serve as a bridge between undergraduate and graduate studies, said <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/eric-sims/">Eric Sims</a>, professor and chair of the Department of Economics, and students going into these positions must be well trained in modern economic theory and quantitative analysis. </p>
<p>“These positions are both prestigious and highly competitive,” Sims said. “In these roles, individuals work as research assistants — and often as coauthors — with leading professional economists on cutting-edge research aimed at solving some of the most pressing issues facing society. </p>
<p>“To have so many of our graduates going into these highly competitive positions speaks to the rigorous training our department provides in modern economic analysis. We are incredibly proud of these students and look forward to seeing where their careers go from here.”</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“To have so many of our graduates going into these highly competitive positions speaks to the rigorous training our department provides in modern economic analysis. We are incredibly proud of these students and look forward to seeing where their careers go from here.”</p>
</blockquote>
<h3>Kindling a passion</h3>
<p>McConville, who majored in economics and political science, looks forward to learning more about the intricate ways in which the research at the Chicago Federal Reserve impacts monetary policy.</p>
<p>He credits his economic coursework, his work as a research assistant at the <a href="https://leo.nd.edu/">Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities</a> on campus, and his senior thesis project with preparing him for the position.</p>
<p>“The economics major has been absolutely crucial in preparing me,” McConville said. “The economic theory I have learned guides the way I see the world. It impacts both the questions I ask and how I search for the answers.”</p>
<p>Working at the Federal Reserve will offer a unique opportunity to learn about all phases of the academic research lifecycle, said Bognar — along with the chance to continue to surround himself with people who are as passionate about economics as he is.</p>
<p>The faculty in the Department of Economics helped to kindle that passion, he said.</p>
<p>“By far, the best thing about majoring in economics at Notre Dame is getting to learn from outstanding faculty,” Bognar said. “All of my economics professors have played a major role in growing my interest in the field. The combination of excellent teaching and availability outside the classroom fostered an amazing learning environment.”</p>
<h3>A meaningful impact</h3>
<figure class="image-right"><img alt="Davin Penn" height="275" src="https://al.nd.edu/assets/430662/450x/davin_penn.jpg" width="450">
<figcaption>Carolyn Davin (left) and Madeline Penn will join the research department at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington, D.C.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Treacy, an economics major with a supplementary major in applied mathematics and computational statistics (ACMS), said the variety of tasks she’ll be working on at the Federal Reserve — including a mix of policy work and short- and long-term research projects — will allow her to continue to explore where her interests lie. </p>
<p>The experience will build on the discernment she did through multiple internships while at Notre Dame — at the Brookings Institution’s Africa Growth Initiative, in market research in Taiwan, with the Central Bank of Armenia, and with Dentsu in Tokyo.</p>
<p>“Each position was valuable in exposing me to different areas and developing new skills,” she said. “My economics coursework provided me with the foundational knowledge necessary for this role, and my research and internship experiences expanded my knowledge base and skill set so that I feel prepared to work in any area they need.”</p>
<p>Davin, also an economics and ACMS major, is looking forward to working and living in Washington, D.C., as well as the opportunity to work on projects that will have a meaningful impact on the economy.</p>
<p>She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in economics after the two-year position and said the variety of classes she has taken has been invaluable.</p>
<p>“I loved being able to take classes on different aspects of macroeconomics, and I especially enjoyed my Economics of Education class with my thesis advisor, <a href="https://economics.nd.edu/faculty/chloe-gibbs/">Chloe Gibbs</a>,” she said. “The classes introduced me to a new way of thinking that is unique to economics and gave me a framework through which to solve problems, which will be necessary for my work at the Fed.” </p>
<h3>A clearer vision</h3>
<figure class="image-right"><img alt="Hanzel Inoue" height="275" src="https://al.nd.edu/assets/430663/450x/hanzel_inoue.jpg" width="450">
<figcaption>Charles Hanzel has accepted a position at the National Bureau of Economic Research, and Mika Inoue will be working at Northwestern University's Global Poverty Research Lab.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Inoue, who is joining Northwestern’s Global Poverty Research Lab, <a href="https://al.nd.edu/news/latest-news/economics-majors-senior-thesis-develops-an-integrated-approach-to-analyzing-groundwater-markets-and-depletion-drawing-from-research-in-engineering-law-and-math/">wrote a senior thesis that drew on engineering, law, and math as well as economics</a> to address problems associated with groundwater pumping. It served as the culmination of her academic interests and prepared her for her post-graduation career.</p>
<p>“It's just been a great opportunity,” she said. “I've come out of it learning so much more about this field, and it's been really interesting to see that I can explore beyond things that I was used to.”</p>
<p>At the National Bureau of Economic Research, Hanzel is especially excited to learn from experts in the fields of health economics and health policy. </p>
<p>The design of the economics major, he said, has provided excellent preparation for his new position.</p>
<p>“The core requirements gave me a foundation in economic theory and concepts, while the upper-level, writing-intensive courses taught me how to critically analyze research and to take the lead on my own empirical projects. The ability to interpret, produce, and critique economic research will be essential at NBER.”</p>
<p>Penn, an international economics major with a concentration in Spanish and a supplementary major in ACMS, is looking forward to refining her research skills and gaining a clearer vision of what area of economics she’d like to focus on in a Ph.D. program.</p>
<p>The research opportunities she has had in Arts & Letters — and, particularly, her senior thesis on the role of censorship in the campaign for the 2016 Colombian peace referendum — were crucial to securing the role, she said. </p>
<p>“I couldn’t have gotten this position without the research experiences I have had as an international economics major — much of my interview was spent discussing my senior thesis,” she said. “My first experience as a research assistant on campus helped me get an internship at the American Enterprise Institute. And then, around that time, I began work on my thesis. All of these combined have helped me approach this job with a solid understanding of economic research.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="attribution">Originally published by <span class="rel-author">Carrie Gates</span> at <span class="rel-source"><a href="https://al.nd.edu/news/latest-news/seven-economics-undergraduates-land-prestigious-pre-doctoral-research-positions-including-five-with-the-federal-reserve/">al.nd.edu</a></span> on <span class="rel-pubdate">May 21, 2021</span>.</p>Carrie Gatestag:economics.nd.edu,2005:News/1362822021-03-22T12:00:00-04:002021-03-22T14:50:49-04:00Graduate Alumni Highlight: Eva Van Leemput, Ph.D. 2015, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System <figure class="image-right"><img alt="Evl 1" height="281" src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/423853/evl_1_.jpg" width="306"></figure>
<p>Eva Van Leemput, Ph.D. 2015 </p>
<p>Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System </p>
<p>I graduated from Notre Dame in 2015 and I am currently a principal economist in the International Finance Division at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, where I am part of the Emerging Market Economies (EME) section.…</p><figure class="image-right"><img alt="Evl 1" height="281" src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/423853/evl_1_.jpg" width="306"></figure>
<p>Eva Van Leemput, Ph.D. 2015 </p>
<p>Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System </p>
<p>I graduated from Notre Dame in 2015 and I am currently a principal economist in the International Finance Division at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, where I am part of the Emerging Market Economies (EME) section.</p>
<p>Within the EME section, I cover the Chinese economy. Specifically, I work on forecasting China’s macroeconomic outcomes including GDP and inflation and assessing the spillovers from China to the global economy. I also do research on a number of topics including studying the macroeconomic effects of the 2018–2019 tariff increases between China and the United States, quantifying China’s contribution to the global economic cycle over the past decades, and assessing internal barriers to trade in India. </p>
<p>The Ph.D. program at Notre Dame has been invaluable in my development as an economist. The rigorous curriculum of the program and the fantastic mentorship of its faculty have given me the tools I need for my current job. In addition, the amazing support I received from the faculty during the job market, especially from my advisor Joe Kaboski, is a major reason I found my job at the Board of Governors.</p>Marie Revaktag:economics.nd.edu,2005:News/1361652021-03-18T16:00:00-04:002021-03-29T15:04:02-04:00Graduate Alumni Highlight: Julio Garin, Ph.D. 2012, Associate Professor at Claremont McKenna College<figure class="image-default">
<p> </p></figure>
<p>Julio Garin, Ph.D. 2012 </p>
<p>Associate Professor<br />
Robert Day School of Economics and Finance at Claremont McKenna College </p>
<figure class="image-right"><img alt="Garin" height="283" src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/423516/garin.jpg" width="257" /></figure>
<figure class="image-right"> </figure>
<p>I graduated from Notre Dame in 2012 and I'm currently an associate professor in the Robert Day School of Economics and Finance at Claremont Mckenna College. </p>
<figure class="image-right"> </figure>
<figure class="image-right"><br />
</figure>
<figure class="image-right"> </figure>
<figure class="image-right"> </figure>
<p>Besides the professional opportunities, it is hard to overstate the impact Notre Dame had on my intellectual life. The training I received provided me with tools and skills that allowed me to answer questions as diverse as the environment I faced during my graduate studies. However, it did more than that, it reinforced my curiosity and eagerness for understanding aspects of human behavior that started way before I learned what a budget constraint was.</p>
<p>Those two aspects are quite instrumental for an individual seeking to push the frontier as well as help those inside -- our students--, to get closer to it.</p><p>Julio Garin, Ph.D. 2012 </p>
<p>Associate Professor<br>
Robert Day School of Economics and Finance at Claremont McKenna College </p>
<figure class="image-right"><img alt="Garin" height="283" src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/423516/garin.jpg" width="257"></figure>
<figure class="image-right"> </figure>
<p>I graduated from Notre Dame in 2012 and I'm currently an associate professor in the Robert Day School of Economics and Finance at Claremont Mckenna College. </p>
<figure class="image-right"><br>
<br>
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<p>Besides the professional opportunities, it is hard to overstate the impact Notre Dame had on my intellectual life. The training I received provided me with tools and skills that allowed me to answer questions as diverse as the environment I faced during my graduate studies. However, it did more than that, it reinforced my curiosity and eagerness for understanding aspects of human behavior that started way before I learned what a budget constraint was.</p>
<p>Those two aspects are quite instrumental for an individual seeking to push the frontier as well as help those inside -- our students--, to get closer to it.</p>
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</figure>Thomas Davistag:economics.nd.edu,2005:News/1361692021-03-18T16:00:00-04:002021-03-29T15:24:00-04:00Graduate Alumni Highlight: Beth Munnich, Ph.D. 2013, Assistant Professor of Economics, University of Louisville <figure class="image-right">
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<p>Beth Munnich, Ph.D. 2013</p>
<p>Assistant Professor of Economics<br />
University of Louisville</p>
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<p><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">At ND, I gained tools to critically and thoughtfully approach research questions, and conduct rigorous empirical studies about social issues. </span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-variant-east-asian:normal; font-variant-numeric:normal; white-space:pre-wrap">Working directly with Economics faculty was undoubtedly the most formative part of my experience at ND. Their support and mentorship throughout </span><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">my graduate work and beyond has been invaluable in helping me develop as an economist.</span></span></p>
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<p>Beth Munnich, Ph.D. 2013</p>
<p>Assistant Professor of Economics<br>
University of Louisville</p>
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<span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">At ND, I gained tools to critically and thoughtfully approach research questions, and conduct rigorous empirical studies about social issues. </span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-variant-east-asian:normal; font-variant-numeric:normal; white-space:pre-wrap">Working directly with Economics faculty was undoubtedly the most formative part of my experience at ND. Their support and mentorship throughout </span><span style="font-variant:normal; font-weight:400; white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-style:normal">my graduate work and beyond has been invaluable in helping me develop as an economist.</span></span></p>
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<p> </p>Marie Revaktag:economics.nd.edu,2005:News/1352432021-02-15T12:00:00-05:002021-03-19T14:19:51-04:00Professor Bill Leahy Retires<figure class="image-right"><img alt="Leahy Picture" height="300" src="https://economics.nd.edu/assets/420048/300x300/leahy_picture.jpg" width="300" /></figure>
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<p>William (Bill) Leahy recently retired from active teaching and research in the Department of Economics at the University of Notre Dame. His retirement became effective July 1, 2020, at which point he assumed the status of emeritus professor of economics.</p></p>
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<p>Bill’s retirement came after 54 consecutive years of teaching economics at Notre Dame. A triple Domer who received his BA, MA, and PhD from Notre Dame, Bill joined the faculty of the Department of Economics as an assistant professor in 1966. He was promoted to associate professor in 1969 and full professor in 1975. For many years, he served as the Director of Undergraduate Studies and/or the Director of Undergraduate Advising for economics majors.</p><p>William (Bill) Leahy recently retired from active teaching and research in the Department of Economics at the University of Notre Dame. His retirement became effective July 1, 2020, at which point he assumed the status of emeritus professor of economics.</p>
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<p>Bill’s retirement came after 54 consecutive years of teaching economics at Notre Dame. A triple Domer who received his BA, MA, and PhD from Notre Dame, Bill joined the faculty of the Department of Economics as an assistant professor in 1966. He was promoted to associate professor in 1969 and full professor in 1975. For many years, he served as the Director of Undergraduate Studies and/or the Director of Undergraduate Advising for economics majors.</p>
<p>Bill’s research specialties are labor economics, collective bargaining, arbitration, and industrial relations. Over the course of his academic career, he published six books and more than 30 journal articles. An incredibly popular instructor, he most frequently taught a social science university seminar, labor law, and employee relations law. His teaching was recognized in 2004 with the Sheedy Excellence in Teaching Award, given annually to a faculty member in the College of Arts and Letters. The Sheedy award, named after former dean Rev. Charles E. Sheedy, CSC, is the College’s most prestigious teaching award.</p>
<p>As a professor, Bill’s passion was his students. He would come to his office in Decio very early in the morning and meet students for coffee and breakfast at the Decio Café. For years, he was heavily involved in the recruitment and advising of student athletes. On days when he was teaching, in between classes he could be found hanging out in the lounge of the Kaneb Center in DeBartolo Hall, sipping coffee and interacting with faculty from units all over campus.</p>
<p>“Bill Leahy has had a profound impact on thousands of students over the course of his decades on the faculty at Notre Dame,” said Eric Sims, Professor and Chair in the Department of Economics. “Bill represents Notre Dame at its finest. He has a firm commitment to shaping the whole person and helping young people grow into the best version of themselves. I am lucky to count Bill as a mentor and friend. I will miss our regular interactions, but look forward to keeping in touch with him as he moves on to the next stage of his life.”</p>
<p>Mary Flannery, a Notre Dame alum, currently serves the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies in the College of Arts and Letters. Prior to that, she was the Director of Undergraduate studies in the Department of Economics. “Bill Leahy was already a very popular and well-regarded presence in the Department of Economics when I was an undergraduate in the 1970s. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to take a class with him,” Flannery said. “One of the unexpected blessings of returning to Notre Dame to teach was seeing him again and realizing that his enthusiasm for teaching economics and our students was as strong as ever. Many students took his courses on the recommendation of their own parents and were never disappointed. Bill’s wisdom and concern for his students continued to be as impactful in recent years as they were in his early years of teaching. His long career of service was a gift to the University and to the Department of Economics in particular.”</p>
<p>“I came to Notre Dame in 1952 as a freshman, the same year Fr. Hesburgh became president. The longer I taught at Notre Dame, the more I appreciated the history and values of this place,” said Bill Leahy. “One day I opened a class with 10-15 minutes on the history of Notre Dame. I found it be a wonderful grounding upon which to teach and so good for students to understand this unique university on a deeper level.” Leahy went on to reflect on his decision to retire: “My only regret in retiring this past year was not being able to say goodbye in person to my colleagues and to the many of the priests whom I have become close to over the years. I thank all of them for their support and friendship over all these years. While no institution is perfect, Notre Dame works so hard to do the right thing. In this world that is to be lauded. Notre Dame will be in my heart forever.”</p>
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<p>Bill and his wife Sharon have six children, all of whom graduated from the University of Notre Dame. Bill and Sharon recently moved to Holy Cross Village across from Notre Dame’s campus, and look forward to a retirement filled with cheering on Fighting Irish athletics teams and spending time with friends and family.</p>
<p> </p>Marie Revak