Each year Women for UMass Amherst awards campus projects and programs selected by donors to the fund. The Department of Economics has received a $4,000 award from Women for UMass Amherst for the proposal, “Encouraging Women to Major in Economics.”
Fewer than 20 percent of economics majors at UMass Amherst are women, compared to between 30 and 40 percent nationally. In spring 2012 the department began research to identify aspects of our program that may fail to engage undergraduate women. Professor Gerald Friedman and Ph.D. student Alexis Doyle identified decision points where disproportionate numbers of women stop taking economics courses or choose other majors.
The Women for UMass Amherst award allows Friedman and Doyle to further their research with the aim of developing strategies to attract and retain more women for the major.
The Peer Mentor Program in the Department of Economics is a NEW resource for undergraduate students! Peer Mentors are undergraduate students majoring in Economics. They are available to share with you their internship, work, and classroom experiences and insight on upper-level economics courses from a student’s perspective. Peer Mentors can also direct you to appropriate resources on campus and assist you on how to make an appointment with an Academic Advisor or the Internship Coordinator in the Department of Economics. You can meet with a Peer Mentor during their office hours or connect with them via e-mail (EconMentor@econs.umass.edu). The Peer Mentor Office is located in 1036 Thompson Hall.
If you are not available to meet with a Peer Mentor during their office hours, then connect via e-mail by sending your questions to EconMentor@umass.edu. Feel free to address your e-mail to a specific Peer Mentor or send a general inquiry.
Sanjay Singh ’13 was the Department of Economics student speaker at the 2013 SBS Senior Celebration held on May 11 at the Mullins Center. As a student, Singh served as 2012-2013 UEC Board of Governor, was co-founder of the Massachusetts Undergraduate Journal of Economics, and worked as a staff member at the Center for Education Policy and Advocacy. Post-graduation, Singh will be entering the corporate Human Resource Development Program at Liberty Mutual in Boston, complementing his interests in labor economics, human resources, and industrial relations. His remarks are below.
Good afternoon. I’m proud to say that I am a graduate of the UMass Economics Department. Studying Economics at UMass has triggered my curiosity about the world around me, leading me to ask questions such as: How did I get a 40% average in Intermediate Microeconomics with Professor Katzner, and still end up with an A? Should I double check my spreadsheet for errors? How many years does Machmer Hall realistically have before it collapses?
Economics has allowed me to see the world through a new lens. It has taught me that one must understand the Neoclassical model, but also not be afraid to question it. Economics has taught me to always consider the costs and benefits before making a decision. Lastly, Economics has taught me to always maintain a dynamic worldview, when reality proves that our economic models were wrong. Like in 2007.
On behalf of all Economics graduates, I’d like to thank all members of the Economics faculty, all graduate student assistants, all of our peers, and all of our families, for supporting us along the way. None of us would be here today if it weren’t for you all.
Congratulations, class of 2013, and good luck on all of your future endeavors!
Each year the department, college, and university award scholarships to deserving students. Scholarship funding comes almost entirely from the generous gifts of our alumni and friends and are intended to recognize the hard work and academic success of our students, as a well as assist them with the expense of their education. This year 21 economics undergraduates were recognized with 26 departmental awards. We congratulate our students on their achievements and thank our alumni and friends for their support.
Timur Abduljalil ’14– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Jonathan Berke ’14– Economics Writing Award
Elysia Eastty ’15– E.W. Eldridge Jr. Memorial Scholarship
Cameron Kackley ’14– Highest Academic Achievement Award
Ryan King ’13– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Keith Kittelson ’13– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Alexander Kniazev ’14– E.W. Eldridge Jr. Memorial Scholarship
Shawn LeLievre ’14– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Alexander Major ’14– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship, Economics Alumni Award for Distinguished Service, & Ward McCarthy Scholarship for Interns
Katelynn Mann ’15– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Timothy Martin ’13– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Vickash Mohanka ’13– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Ken Naeh ’13– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship & Highest Academic Achievement Award
Victoria Pfenninger ’13– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Eric Popp ’15– Ward McCarthy Scholarship for Interns
Ariel Richman ’13– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
James Santucci ’13– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Luke Seaberg ’14– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship & Economics Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement
Sanjay Singh ’13– Economics Alumni Award for Distinguished Service & James Kindahl Award
Collin Whittier ’15– Sherry Barber Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship
Each year the department, college, and university award scholarships to deserving students. Scholarship funding comes almost entirely from the generous gifts of our alumni and friends and are intended to recognize the hard work and academic success of our students, as a well as assist them with the expense of their education. This year 25 economics undergraduates were recognized with 33 awards. We congratulate our students on their achievements and thank our alumni and friends for their support.
Two UMass Amherst undergraduate students, Mark Paul ’11 and Anastasia Wilson ’11, were recent guest contributors for The Baseline Scenario, an economic blog dedicated to explaining global economic issues and developing policy proposals. In their article, “How Are the Kids? Unemployed, Underwater, and Sinking” they discuss challenges for young college graduates. According to Paul and Wilson, not only are young adults having trouble landing a job, with only half of B.A. holders able to secure a position which requires such a degree, they are also facing massive student load debt. The average student debt for the class of 2008 was $23,200.
Paul and Wilson suggest that investing in green energy and technology may be the solution. “Green collar industry would naturally target the young workers who are up to date on the high-tech nature of green jobs, and much research and development would, as with most budding industries, take place at academic research institutions like public universities – a two-for-one stimulus in both jobs and education.” Read more…
