econ phd yale

Economic Theory

Economic theory is at the center of the Cowles Foundation’s research mission. The Economic Theory group at Yale has a distinguished legacy of outstanding scholars and is characterized by a large faculty whose research spans virtually all specializations.

Yale has one of the largest and finest research groups in economic theory in the world. Our faculty have research interests in all the major fields of microeconomic theory, including but not limited to decision theory, general equilibrium, game theory, contract theory, mechanism design, information design, learning, matching, and misspecified models. The Economics Department has a long tradition in training aspiring theorists and has produced top scholars in the field.

Following its longstanding tradition of supporting research in theoretical economics, the Cowles Foundation provides a uniquely supportive environment for work in microeconomic theory. The Cowles Foundation funds a regular influx of short term and long term academic visitors, postdocs, and doctoral students from other institutions, who contribute to the economic theory research community.

Seminars and Conferences

The Department runs two weekly workshop meetings in economic theory. The Microeconomic Theory Workshop hosts speakers from Yale and other universities to report on their latest research and to provide overviews of developing research areas. The Micro Theory Lunch enables graduate students, faculty, and outside visitors to present their work at various stages of development. In addition, the program runs a weekly Micro Theory Breakfast, intended primarily for our graduate students to assist them in moving forward with their own research agendas.

Every year, the Economic Theory Program hosts a summer conference to bring together top economists in the field to present new research. Recent conferences have covered a wide variety of topics, such as novel approaches to mechanism/information design, foundations of belief elicitation, information provision in markets and political settings, manipulability of voting schemes, firm coalitions and market structures, robust tools for welfare analysis, organizational culture, and more.

For more information about the Economic Theory summer conferences, see the Cowles Conferences and Workshops page .

Graduate Teaching and Research

The Department offers an intensive two-course sequence for all students in the PhD program: Microeconomic Theory I (Econ 500a) and II (Econ 501b) is a two-course core sequence. Material covered includes consumer and producer theory, choice under uncertainty, general equilibrium theory, game theory, information economics, and mechanism design. The Department also offers two other two-part course sequences for advanced theory students. Advanced Microeconomics I (Econ 520a) and II (Econ 521b) examine in more depth foundational issues in game theory, information economics, mechanism design, and social choice. Mathematical Economics I (Econ 530a) and II (Econ 531b) focus on issues in general equilibrium theory. Typically, these sequences are taken by PhD students in the second year, including both those who will end up specializing in microeconomic theory and those who will do applied research using advanced tools of microeconomic analysis.

For detailed field descriptions, please see the Department’s PhD Program Page .

Thank you for your interest in our program. At this time, we welcome applications for our 2024-25 cohort. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until positions have been filled.

The Tobin Center / Economics Pre-Doctoral Fellows Program at Yale University supports policy-relevant economics research by providing a high-quality education and training experience for individuals with bachelor’s or master’s degrees who are considering pursuing a Ph.D. in economics or a closely related discipline. The Program works alongside other centers at Yale that support a broad range of data-intensive social science research. 

Pre-doctoral fellows work for one to two years as full-time research assistants for one or more faculty mentors and engage in additional education and training activities, including taking for credit or auditing one course per semester, participating in a weekly professional development seminar, and attending department research seminars. All positions are based on-campus, and most fellows work in common workspaces to foster camaraderie and peer learning.

Our program is strengthened when a diversity of backgrounds, identities, and viewpoints are represented. We encourage members of historically underrepresented groups in economics to apply, including women, non-binary, LGBTQ+, Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and first-generation low-income (FGLI) college students, among others. We also encourage applications from individuals with past experience and future aspirations to study issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and identity.

To apply, please review available positions listed below and complete our  common application , which requests personal and educational background information, a ranking of prospective faculty supervisors, and a  single  PDF called "LastName_FirstName_Tobin_Predoc_Application" containing the following material in the order listed:

• Cover letter  describing your interest in the program and specific faculty projects, dates available, relevant experience (including your familiarity with programming languages and prior research experience), and the names, email addresses, and phone numbers for 2-3 references;
• Resume/CV ;
• (Optional)  Diversity, equity, inclusion, and identity statement   describing how your personal background and prior academic, professional, or research experience could contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our program and to the field of economics (up to 250 words);
• Undergraduate transcript  (unofficial is fine);
• Graduate transcript  (if applicable; unofficial is fine);
• Writing sample  (any length is fine);
• Coding sample(s).  One sample is sufficient. You may submit more than one sample, especially if applying to multiple positions with different programming language preferences. A link to your GitHub repository (or equivalent) is also acceptable.

Some faculty supervisors also request application materials directly (see Project Descriptions). In this case, please follow their instructions  and   also   submit the common application .

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until positions have been filled.  New positions may continue to be posted, and filled positions will be indicated. Short-listed applicants may be asked to complete a data or technical exercise and may be invited to interview. 

Most positions will begin in July to coincide with a multi-day orientation and training, although other start dates may be negotiable. Positions last for one year with an option to renew for a second and final year by mutual agreement by the faculty supervisor(s) and the fellow. Salary will be competitive with similar programs at other institutions, and the position includes standard benefits such as health insurance. The University will sponsor visas for accepted international candidates (unless otherwise indicated in an individual project description).

For more information about the program and our application requirements, please read our  Frequently Asked Questions  or contact Olivia Micca at [email protected]

The Tobin Center for Economic Policy and the Yale Department of Economics are member institutions of Pathways to Research and Doctoral Careers (PREDOC), a consortium of universities and research institutions that aims to foster a talented, diverse, and inclusive population in the quantitative social sciences. To learn more about pre-doctoral positions and find additional opportunities, please visit  predoc.org .

Yale University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer. Yale values diversity among its students, staff, and faculty and strongly welcomes applications from women, persons with disabilities, protected veterans, and underrepresented minorities.

Project Descriptions

Assessing Payment Models for Mental Health Faculty Sponsor Susan Busch

Eviction and Homelessness Faculty Sponsor John Eric Humphries and Winnie van Dijk

Experiments to Enhance the Efficiency of Medicaid Faculty Sponsor Chima Ndumele and Jacob Wallace

Migrants and Social Mobility Faculty Sponsor Jose-Antonio Espin-Sanchez

Place-based drivers of midlife mortality: Evidence from migration in Medicaid Faculty Sponsor Jacob Wallace and Chima Ndumele

Reforming Social Security and the Private Retirement Saving System Faculty Sponsor John Geanakoplos and Cormac O'Dea

Research in Empirical Economics and Law and Economics Faculty Sponsor Ian Ayres

Research in Empirical Industrial Organization Faculty Sponsor Kosuke Uetake and Soheil Ghili

Research on Health Care in The U.S. Faculty Sponsor Zack Cooper

Structural Estimation and Machine Learning in Digital Subscription Models Faculty Sponsor Vineet Kumar

The Effects of Incentivizing Electric Vehicles Versus Hybrids on Emissions, Innovation, and Welfare Faculty Sponsor Kenneth Gillingham

Y-RISE Pre-Doctoral Fellow Faculty Sponsor Mushfiq Mobarak

Algorithm is Experiment: Machine Learning, Market Design, and Public Policy Eligibility Rules Faculty Sponsor Yusuke Narita Position Filled

Budget Policy Research Faculty Sponsor Natasha Sarin Position Filled

Climate and Biodiversity Finance Faculty Sponsor Stefano Giglio Position Filled

CSAP Predoc: AI/ML Approaches to The Study of American Politics Faculty Sponsor P. Aronow and Joshua Kalla Position Filled

CSAP Predoc: Behavioral Research with Professors Huber and Gerber Faculty Sponsor Gregory Huber and Alan Gerber Position Filled

CSAP Predoc: Markets and Democracy Faculty Sponsor Kenneth Scheve Position Filled

CSAP Predoc: Meta-Reanalysis of Experimental Political Science Research Faculty Sponsor Alex Coppock Position Filled

CSAP Predoc: Research on American Politics Faculty Sponsor Shiro Kuriwaki and Joshua Kalla Position Filled

CSAP Predoc: The Democratic Party in the Knowledge Economy Faculty Sponsor Jacob Hacker Position Filled

CSAP Predoc: The Politics of Punishment and Participation Faculty Sponsor Allison Harris Position Filled

CSAP Predoc: The Rise and Fall of Publisher-Politicians Faculty Sponsor Kevin DeLuca Position Filled

Development Economics Research Fellow Faculty Sponsor Rohini Pande Position Filled

Development, Trade, and Markets Economic Research Fellow Faculty Sponsor Lauren Bergquist and Amit Khandelwal Position Filled

Fighting Climate Change without Hurting the Poor and Privacy, Fairness, and Regulation of Algorithms Faculty Sponsor Philipp Strack and Kai Hao Yang Position Filled

Global High-Resolution Models Integrating the Economy, Climate, and Weather Faculty Sponsor Tony Smith Position Filled

Innovation and Science Policy in the US and Around the World Faculty Sponsor Song Ma Position Filled

Public Policies and Rental Housing Markets Faculty Sponsor Winnie van Dijk Position Filled

Research in Household Finance and Real Estate Faculty Sponsor Paul Goldsmith-Pinkham and Cameron LaPoint Position Filled

Research in Reporting Regulation, Public Finance, and Corporate Integrity (Yale SOM Accounting Group) Faculty Sponsor Raphael Duguay, Edward Watts, Anya Nakhmurina, Zeqiong Huang, Thomas Steffen Position Filled

Research on the Economics of Education Faculty Sponsor Jospeh Altonji and John Eric Humphries Position Filled

Research with Economics Faculty at Yale SOM Faculty Sponsor Kevin Williams Position Filled

Second-Best Carbon Policy Faculty Sponsor Nicholas Ryan and Samuel Kortum Position Filled

Services and the Promise of Clean Growth Faculty Sponsor Michael Peters and Fabrizio Zilibotti Position Filled

The Long-Run Impact of Early Childhood Education Faculty Sponsor Seth Zimmerman, John Eric Humphries, Christopher Neilson Position Filled

The Past and Future of Inequality in America Faculty Sponsor Lukas Althoff Position Filled

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Yale Economist Philipp Strack Wins 2024 Clark Medal

Recognized as a leading American economist under 40, Strack’s work solves long-standing open questions in economic theory.

Yale Economist Philipp Strack has won the John Bates Clark Medal , widely considered the most prestigious award bestowed on young American economists.

Awarded by the American Economic Association (AEA) , the medal honors an American economist under the age of 40 whose scholarship has made a significant contribution to economic thought and knowledge.

“It’s an incredible honor, and it’s hard to believe,” said Strack, professor of economics in Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences. “I’m just very happy and grateful.”

Strack’s work has “challenged conventional wisdom and significantly pushed the boundaries of theories of decision-making and behavioral economics outward,” the AEA stated in its award announcement . Through his research on the formalization of information cost functions and privacy, as well as new analytical approaches to mechanism design, the AEA praised Strack’s research as representing a new wave of the economics of information.

“Economic theory is a useful tool for so many important questions,” said Strack, who studies economic theory and behavioral economics. “Through precise formalization, we can get much clearer on issues like discrimination, privacy, or climate change. For example, how can we measure whether firms are discriminating against employees? What do we mean by privacy? How do we ensure parties will adhere to climate change agreements? Theory gives us the tools to structure our thinking around these questions, and I’m really excited by the progress we’re making and where the field is headed as a whole.”

Strack is the third Yale economist to be awarded the Clark Medal, and the first since 1969, following Marc Nerlove (1969) and James Tobin (1955).

In its announcement, the AEA called Strack “a deeply creative and prolific microeconomic theorist whose research has enriched our understanding of economics on several fronts.”

“Philipp Strack's mix of creativity, technical skills, and incredible productivity has enabled him to solve long-standing open questions in economic theory while building bridges to a wide range of adjacent disciplines, such as psychology, neuroscience, and computer science,” it stated.

Tony Smith, chair of the Department of Economics, echoed the AEA’s praise.

“The department is very proud to celebrate Philipp’s Clark Medal, in recognition of his creative contributions across a wide spectrum of cutting-edge topics within microeconomic theory,” he said. “Philipp is not only brilliant, but also a wonderful and generous colleague.”

Professor Strack, who joined Yale’s faculty in 2019, was the recipient of the 2023 Bodossaki Distinguished Young Scientist Award for his contributions to the social sciences in economics. He has authored more than 50 publications and working papers, spanning a number of topics in economic theory and behavioral economics. Recent research includes work on the optimal taxation of goods with negative externalities (such as CO2 emissions), how people mispredict their behaviors , and how private information and signals can affect algorithmic fairness, price discrimination, and information design .

View Professor Strack’s full research portfolio here .

In the short time since the announcement, many in the economics community have shared tributes on X :

Congratulations to Philipp Strack of @Yale University, winner of the 2024 John Bates Clark Medal! https://t.co/Aeklxvyp4I — AEA Information (@AEAInformation) April 9, 2024

So proud of my friend @philippstrack85 @Yale , who not only just won the prestigious #JohnBatesClarkMedal , but besides being brilliant is also among the most humble and kind people I know. Herzliche Gratulation! https://t.co/KHHo2UFBUT — Dr. Isabel Z. Martínez #🟦 (@IZMartinez86) April 10, 2024

An amazingly brilliant and prolific microeconomic theorist, Philipp Strack, wins the 2024 John Bates Clark Medal: https://t.co/No09fxDhQK . And one of the nicest people you will meet in the profession. 🥳🤩🫶 His 41 (!) accepted + 13 working papers are here https://t.co/JombzeM2QM — Alex Teytelboym (@t8el) April 9, 2024

One of the most prestigious and eagerly anticipated AEA awards, the John Bates Clark Medal is awarded annually each April (formerly biennially from 1947–2009) to that American economist under the age of forty who is judged to have made the most significant contribution to economic thought and knowledge. If there is a significant body of joint work, the Clark Medal may be awarded jointly to two recipients. Established as an American prize, it is sufficient that the candidate works in the United States at the time of the award and US citizenship is not required . Read the full AEA announcement .

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Yale College Programs of Study 2024–2025

• Yale University Publications /
• Yale College Programs of Study /

Economics (ECON)

Current edition: ycps archive . click to change..

* ECON 002b, Social Issues in America   Rebecca Toseland

This seminar investigates how data and economics can be used to understand and solve some of the most pressing contemporary social issues in the United States. Topics include equality of opportunity, education, health, climate change, criminal justice, and discrimination. In the context of these topics, the course provides an introduction to some basic economic concepts and data analysis techniques. No prior knowledge of economics or statistics is assumed.  Enrollment limited to first-year students.   SO TTh 1pm-2:15pm

* ECON 108a, Quantitative Foundations of Microeconomics   Tolga Koker

Introductory microeconomics with a special emphasis on quantitative methods and examples. Intended for students with limited or no experience with calculus. Enrollment limited.  May not be taken after ECON 110 or 115 .   QR , SO F 9:25am-10:15am, TTh 11:35am-12:50pm

* ECON 110a or b, An Introduction to Microeconomic Analysis   Staff

Similar to ECON 115 , but taught as a lecture discussion with limited enrollment. Enrollment limited to first-years and sophomores.  May not be taken after ECON 108 or 115 .   QR , SO HTBA

* ECON 111a, An Introduction to Macroeconomic Analysis   Staff

Similar to ECON 116 , but taught as a lecture discussion with limited enrollment. Enrollment limited to first-years and sophomores.  May not be taken after ECON 116 . Prerequisite: ECON 108 , 110 , or 115.   SO MW 2:30pm-3:45pm

ECON 115a, Introductory Microeconomics   Staff

An introduction to the basic tools of microeconomics to provide a rigorous framework for understanding how individuals, firms, markets, and governments allocate scarce resources. The design and evaluation of public policy. May not be taken after ECON 108 or 110 .    QR , SO   0 Course cr HTBA

ECON 116a, Introductory Macroeconomics   Staff

This course is an introduction to macroeconomics. We begin by asking why some countries produce so much more output than others. We investigate the role of savings and investment, research and development, and the economic institutions that determine them. We then ask what determines output, unemployment, inflation, and interest rates over time, why they fluctuate over time, and how policymakers affect them. May not be taken after ECON 111 . Prerequisite: ECON 108 , 110 , or 115.    SO   0 Course cr HTBA

ECON 117a or b, Introduction to Data Analysis and Econometrics   Staff

Introduction to data analysis from the beginning of the econometrics sequence; exposure to modern empirical economics; and development of credible economic analysis. This course emphasizes working directly and early with data, through such economic examples as studies of environmental/natural resource economics, intergenerational mobility, discrimination, and finance. Topics include: probability, statistics, and sampling; selection, causation and causal inference; regression and model specification; and machine learning and big data. Prerequisites: ECON 108 , 110 , 115 , or equivalent and familiarity with single variable calculus. Students who have taken ECON 131 may not receive major credit for this course.   QR , SO   0 Course cr HTBA

ECON 121a, Intermediate Microeconomics   Staff

The theory of resource allocation and its applications. Topics include the theory of choice, consumer and firm behavior, production, price determination in different market structures, welfare, and market failure. After introductory microeconomics and completion of Math 112 or higher. Elementary techniques from multivariate calculus are introduced and applied, but prior knowledge is not assumed. May not be taken after ECON 125 .   QR , SO   0 Course cr HTBA

ECON 122a, Intermediate Macroeconomics   Staff

Contemporary theories of employment, finance, money, business fluctuations, and economic growth. Their implications for monetary and fiscal policy. Emphasis on empirical studies, financial and monetary crises, and recent policies and problems. After two terms of introductory economics and completion of the Math 112 or higher.   QR , SO   0 Course cr HTBA

ECON 123a, Intermediate Data Analysis and Econometrics   Costas Meghir

Comprehensive and theoretical examination of econometrics, with further exploration of topics covered in ECON 117 . A term research project addresses a research question chosen by the student, and involves the application of learned methods to a relevant data set. Prerequisites: ECON 108 , 110 , 115 , or equivalent; ECON 117 ; and familiarity with single variable calculus.   QR , SO   0 Course cr TTh 1pm-2:15pm

ECON 125a, Microeconomic Theory   Ryota Iijima

Similar to ECON 121 but with a more intensive treatment of consumer and producer theory, and covering additional topics including choice under uncertainty, game theory, contracting under hidden actions or hidden information, externalities and public goods, and general equilibrium theory. Recommended for students considering graduate study in economics. After introductory economics, and MATH 118 or 120 or equivalent. May not be taken after ECON 121 .   QR , SO   0 Course cr TTh 9am-10:15am

* ECON 126b, Macroeconomic Theory   Joel Flynn

Similar to ECON 122 but with a more intensive treatment of the mathematical foundations of macroeconomic modeling, and with rigorous study of additional topics. Recommended for students considering graduate study in economics. After two terms of introductory economics, and MATH 118 or 120 or equivalent.    QR , SO   0 Course cr MW 1pm-2:15pm

ECON 135a, Introduction to Probability and Statistics   Yusuke Narita

Foundations of mathematical statistics: probability theory, distribution theory, parameter estimation, hypothesis testing, regression, and computer programming. Recommended for students considering graduate study in economics. Prerequisites: Introductory microeconomics and MATH 118 or MATH 120 and MATH 222 ; or MATH 120 and MATH 225 .   QR , SO   0 Course cr MW 4pm-5:15pm

ECON 136b, Econometrics   Ed Vytlacil

Continuation of ECON 135 with a focus on econometric theory and practice: problems that arise from the specification, estimation, and interpretation of models of economic behavior. Topics include classical regression and simultaneous equations models; panel data; and limited dependent variables. Recommended for students considering graduate study in economics. Prerequisites: After ECON 135 or STAT 241 and 242. May not be taken concurrently with STAT 242.    QR , SO   0 Course cr TTh 2:30pm-3:45pm

ECON 159a / GLBL 159a, Game Theory   Benjamin Polak

An introduction to game theory and strategic thinking. Ideas such as dominance, backward induction, Nash equilibrium, evolutionary stability, commitment, credibility, asymmetric information, adverse selection, and signaling are applied to games played in class and to examples drawn from economics, politics, the movies, and elsewhere. After introductory microeconomics. No prior knowledge of game theory assumed.   QR , SO   0 Course cr TTh 11:35am-12:50pm

ECON 160b / GLBL 383b, Games and Information   Benjamin Polak and Jidong Zhou

This is designed to be a "second" game theory course. We build on the learnings from introductory game theory courses like ECON 159 / GLBL 159 , MGT 822 or the SOM core. The course aims to introduce important ideas and tools from game theory, and use them to answer questions in social sciences, law, and business.  For instance, how does information get sold and used to persuade? How do we think about the efficiency and equity of allocations? How do sellers decide the best format for an auction to sell a good? Does requiring unanimous verdicts guarantee that the innocent will not be convicted? What causes bank runs? When do we see price wars? The underlying ideas will include games of incomplete information, mechanism design, common knowledge and high-order reasoning, and repeated games.   Prerequisite: Any introductory game theory course, e.g., ECON/ GLBL 159 , MGT 822 or Game Theory in the SOM Core.   SO   RP   0 Course cr TTh 1pm-2:15pm

ECON 170a, Health Economics and Public Policy   Howard Forman

Application of economic principles to the study of the U.S. health care system. Emphasis on basic principles about the structure of the U.S. system, current problems, proposed solutions, and the context of health policy making and politics. After introductory microeconomics.   SO TTh 2:30pm-3:45pm

ECON 171b / AFAM 146b / EDST 271b, Urban Inequalities and Educational Inequality   Gerald Jaynes

Analysis of contemporary policy problems related to academic under performance in lower income urban schools and the concomitant achievement gaps among various racial and ethnic groups in United States K-12 education. Historical review of opportunity inequalities and policy solutions proposed to ameliorate differences in achievement and job readiness. Students benefit from practical experience and interdisciplinary methods, including a lab component with time spent in a New Haven high school.  Prerequisites: Any course offered by Education Studies, or one course in history or any social science, either: Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology.  EDST 110 is preferred, although not required.   SO TTh 10:30am-11:20am

ECON 182a / HIST 135a, American Economic History   Staff

The growth of the American economy since 1790, both as a unique historical record and as an illustration of factors in the process of economic development. The American experience viewed in the context of its European background and patterns of industrialization overseas. After introductory microeconomics.   WR , SO   0 Course cr HTBA

* ECON 209a / EP&E 313a, Economic Analysis of Law   Robin Landis

This course is intended to provide an introduction to the economic analysis of law. We examine the economic rationale(s) underlying various legal doctrines of both common law and statutory law, as well as the economic consequences of different legal doctrines. Previous coursework in economics, while helpful, is not a prerequisite for the course.   SO T 3:30pm-5:20pm

ECON 210b / EDST 201b, Economics of Education   Daniela Morar

Application of basic economic concepts and empirical methods to the analysis of education. Topics include the economic return to secondary and postsecondary education, the quality of elementary and secondary education, the market for teachers, inequality in education attainment, and school choice. Prerequisites: ECON 108 , 110 , or 115. A prior course in statistics or econometrics is helpful but not required.   SO TTh 11:35am-12:50pm

ECON 251a, Financial Economics   Ben Matthies

Introduction to the economic analysis of investment decisions and financial markets. Topics include time discounting, portfolio choice, equilibrium pricing, arbitrage, market efficiency, equity valuation, fixed-income securities, derivative pricing, and financial intermediation. Prerequisite: Introductory microeconomics.   QR , SO   0 Course cr TTh 1pm-2:15pm

ECON 265a, History of Economic Thought   Staff

The objective of this course is to give an overview of how economic analysis has developed, and an introduction to the varied ways in which some of the great economists of the past have gone about studying how the economy functions. We discuss the relevance of their theories to public policy and the role of the state, and consider the roles of pre-analytic vision, improvements in analytical technique, and external events (such as the Great Depression or Global Financial Crisis) in the development of economic analysis. Prerequisites: ECON 115 and ECON 116 .   SO MW 2:30pm-3:45pm

ECON 326b, Fundamentals of Economic Development   Kaivan Munshi

The objective of this course is to examine some of the fundamental forces that shape the process of economic development. This course is divided into three sections: (i) Market Failure: with an analysis of credit, labor, and insurance markets in developing countries. (ii) Social Response: how community networks emerge in response to market failure. We study the positive and negative consequences of this community involvement for growth and development; in the short-run and the long-run. We also provide economic foundations for the emergence of social norms and identity, as well as the dynamic inefficiencies that they can generate with economic development. (iii) Biological Response: how biological adaptation to economic conditions in the pre-modern economy can have negative consequences for nutritional status and health in developing economies. Apart from providing a particular perspective on development, an additional objective of this course demonstrates the use of economic theory in informing empirical research. Prerequisites: Intermediate Microeconomics, Introductory Econometrics and Data Analysis. Students are expected to be familiar with calculus, basic microeconomics, and basic econometrics.   SO MW 9am-10:15am

ECON 339b, Advanced Competition Economics and Policy   Fiona Scott Morton

Limits that antitrust laws, as applied and interpreted by agencies, courts, and competitors, place on firm behavior. Economic theories underlying antitrust enforcement. Whether legal rules restricting competitive behavior increase social welfare and how they affect managerial choices. The evidence and reasoning advanced in key antitrust cases; how outcomes may affect social welfare and firm strategies. Goals and procedures of US and EU antitrust agencies.     SO MW 8:30am-9:50am

ECON 350a, Mathematical Economics: General Equilibrium Theory   John Geanakoplos

An introduction to general equilibrium theory and its application to finance and the theory of money. Recommended for students considering graduate study in economics, or a career in quantitative finance. Prerequisites: After MATH 118 or 120 , and intermediate microeconomics.   QR , SO   0 Course cr MW 11:35am-12:50pm

ECON 361b, Corporate Finance   Christopher Clayton

Financial management from inside the corporation or operating entity. Topics include capital budgeting and valuation, optimal capital structure, initial public offerings, mergers, and corporate restructuring. Cases and problem sets provide applications. Prerequisites: intermediate microeconomics and econometrics.   0 Course cr MW 2:30pm-3:45pm

ECON 363a, The Global Financial Crisis   Andrew Metrick and Timothy Geithner

Comprehensive survey of the causes, events, policy responses, and aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2007-09. Study of the dynamics of financial crises in a modern economy. Prerequisite: Successful completion of a course in introductory economics.   SO TTh 1pm-2:20pm

ECON 365a or b / CPSC 365a or b, Algorithms   Staff

Paradigms for algorithmic problem solving: greedy algorithms, divide and conquer, dynamic programming, and network flow. NP completeness and approximation algorithms for NP-complete problems. Algorithms for problems from economics, scheduling, network design and navigation, geometry, biology, and optimization. Provides algorithmic background essential to further study of computer science. Only one of CPSC 365 or CPSC 366 may be taken for credit. Prerequisites: CPSC 202 or MATH 244 , CPSC 223 .   QR HTBA

ECON 375b / GLBL 219b, Monetary Policy   William English

Introduction to modern macroeconomic models and how to use the models to examine some of the key issues that have faced monetary policymakers during and after the global financial crisis of 2008–2009. Prerequisites: Intermediate level macroeconomics ( ECON 122 or 126 ) and introductory econometrics.   WR , SO   0 Course cr TTh 1pm-2:15pm

* ECON 407a / GLBL 310a, International Finance   Ana Fieler

A study of the implications of increasing integration of the world economy, through international trade, multinational production, and financial markets.  Topics include foreign exchange markets, capital flows, trade and current account imbalances, coordination of monetary and fiscal policy in a global economy, financial crises and their links to sovereign debt crises and currency devaluations.  Prerequisite: intermediate macroeconomics or equivalent.   SO   0 Course cr MW 9am-10:15am

ECON 409b, Firms, Markets, and Competition   Philip Haile

Analysis of imperfectly competitive markets, focusing on the interactions among firm behavior, market structure, and market outcomes. Topics include oligopoly, collusion, predation, firm entry, advertising, and price discrimination as well as public policy implications of market behavior. After intermediate microeconomics or equivalent.   QR , SO MW 9am-10:15am

* ECON 411b, Economics of Uncertainty and Information   Soenje Reiche

Individual and collective choice in the presence of uncertainty and asymmetric information. Implications of such decision making for economic phenomena. Basic analytical tools for studying decisions under uncertainty. Asset markets, adverse selection, screening, signaling, moral hazard, incomplete contracts, bilateral trade with asymmetric information, and mechanism design. Prerequisites: intermediate microeconomics and econometrics.   SO   0 Course cr MW 4pm-5:15pm

* ECON 412a, International Environmental Economics   Samuel Kortum

Introduction to international and environmental economics and to research that combines the two fields. Methods for designing and analyzing environmental policy when economic activity and pollution cross political borders. Effects of market openness on the environment and on environmental regulation; international economics and climate change. Prerequisites: intermediate microeconomics and econometrics.   SO MW 1pm-2:15pm

ECON 419a, Financial Time Series Econometrics   Xi Chen

This is an advanced course covers basic univariate and multivariate models and methods used to analyze financial and economic time series data and panel time series data. Topics include: classic linear models; serial dependence, autocorrelation in error variances (ARCH, GARCH); methods that allow for nonlinearity, tail dependence, comovements, conditional value at risk, fat-tails, nonstationarity; vector autoregressive models; factor models; Markov switching, latent factors, measurement errors, stochastic volatility; empirical asset pricing models. The aim of the course is to help students write their senior essays and start their own research in economics and finance. Prerequisites: ECON 117 and 123 , or ECON 135 and 136 .   SO TTh 1pm-2:15pm

ECON 424a / GLBL 308a, Central Banking   William English

Introduction to the different roles and responsibilities of modern central banks, including the operation of payments systems, monetary policy, supervision and regulation, and financial stability. Discussion of different ways to structure central banks to best manage their responsibilities. Prerequisites: Intermediate Microeconomics, Intermediate Macroeconomics, and Introductory Econometrics.   SO   0 Course cr MW 1pm-2:15pm

ECON 425a / CPSC 455a, Economics and Computation   Yang Cai

A mathematically rigorous investigation of the interplay of economic theory and computer science, with an emphasis on the relationship of incentive-compatibility and algorithmic efficiency. Our main focus is on algorithmic tools in mechanism design, algorithms and complexity theory for learning and computing Nash and market equilibria, and the price of anarchy. Case studies in Web search auctions, wireless spectrum auctions, matching markets, and network routing, and social networks. Prerequisite: CPSC 365 or permission of the instructor. Familiarity with basic microeconomic theory is helpful but not required.   QR MW 2:30pm-3:45pm

* ECON 426a / EP&E 286a, Discrimination in Law, Theory, and Practice   Gerald Jaynes

How law and economic theory define and conceptualize economic discrimination; whether economic models adequately describe behaviors of discriminators as documented in court cases and government hearings; the extent to which economic theory and econometric techniques aid our understanding of actual marketplace discrimination. This course was formerly listed as ECON 475. Prerequisites: introductory microeconomics and at least one additional course in Economics, African American Studies, Ethnicity, Race, and Migration, or Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. TTh 2:30pm-3:45pm

ECON 431a / AMTH 431a / S&DS 431a, Optimization and Computation   Zhuoran Yang

This course is designed for students in Statistics & Data Science who need to know about optimization and the essentials of numerical algorithm design and analysis. It is an introduction to more advanced courses in optimization. The overarching goal of the course is teach students how to design algorithms for Machine Learning and Data Analysis (in their own research). This course is not open to students who have taken S&DS 430 .  Prerequisites: Knowledge of linear algebra, multivariate calculus, and probability. Linear Algebra, by MATH 222 , 223 or 230 or 231 ; Graph Theory, by MATH 244 or CPSC 365 or 366 ; and comfort with proof-based exposition and problem sets, such as is gained from MATH 230 and 231 , or CPSC 366 . TTh 1pm-2:15pm

ECON 433a, The Economics of Space   Costas Arkolakis

The aim of this course is to analyze the ways that geography determines economic outcomes. We discuss and analyze data on regional economic activity and how economic shocks propagate in space. We pair those data with simple models where geography plays a crucial role in the determination of economic activity and discuss how changes in this geography lead some regions to grow and economic outcomes to diverge. Various policies that affect the spatial allocation of economic activity, such as infrastructure investment, local taxes, and transfers, are analyzed Prerequisites: MATH 118 , 120 , or permission of instructor.   SO   0 Course cr MW 11:35am-12:50pm

* ECON 434a, Labor Economics: Inequality and Social Mobility   Orazio Attanasio

The objective of this advanced course is to study various aspects of inequality and social mobility and to understand their trends over time and their drivers. Although we briefly study some international comparisons, the focus of the course is inequality in the US and, to a less extent, the UK. We consider inequalities among different countries only tangentially. Prerequisites: ECON 121 and Econometrics.   SO TTh 9am-10:15am

ECON 436b, Personal Finance   James Choi

How much should I be saving at age 35? How much of my portfolio should be invested in stocks at age 50? Which mortgage should I choose, and when should I refinance it? How much can I afford to spend per year in retirement? This course covers prescriptive models of personal saving, asset allocation, borrowing, and spending. The course is designed to answer questions facing anybody who manages their own money or is a manager in an organization that is trying to help clients manage their money.   Prerequisites: Intermediate microeconomics and one semester of econometrics. Students should be comfortable with informal mathematical and statistical reasoning and problem-solving.   SO HTBA

ECON 438a, Applied Econometrics: Politics, Sports, Microeconomics   Ray Fair

This course has an applied econometrics focus. Topics include voting behavior, betting markets, and various issues in sports. The aim of the course is to help students prepare original empirical research using econometric tools and to read empirical papers in economics and other social sciences. Students write three empirical papers. The first can be an extension of an existing article, where some of the results are duplicated and then extended. The second is similar to the first with no example provided. The third is an original paper within the range of topics covered in the course, where data are collected and analyzed using relevant econometric techniques. Prerequisites: Two econometrics or statistics courses, one of which has to be ECON 117 . Ideally, ECON 123 should also have been taken, but it is not an absolute requirement. ECON 135 and ECON 136 are substitutes for ECON 117 and ECON 123 . Special permission from the instructor is needed if ECON 117 or ECON 136 has not been taken. Also required is introductory microeconomics.   SO MW 1pm-2:15pm

* ECON 444a, Market Inefficiencies and the Limits of Arbitrage   Michael J Pascutti

The role of hedge funds in the United States financial markets and hedge fund behavior; understanding what hedge funds do, why they exist, and how they are different from other investment vehicles. Study of investment strategies that provide opportunity and risk for investors and study of academic papers analyzing (risky) arbitrage strategies. Prerequisite: intermediate microeconomics and econometrics.   SO   0 Course cr MW 11:35am-12:50pm

* ECON 445b, The U.S. Banking System   Michael J Pascutti

The special functions of banks in the U.S. economy. The benefits but fragile nature of the banking system. Prerequisites: intermediate macroeconomics, microeconomics, and econometrics.   SO MW 11:35am-12:50pm

* ECON 449a / EP&E 244a / PLSC 374a, The Economic Analysis of Conflict   Gerard Padro

In this course we apply microeconomic techniques, theoretical and empirical, to the analysis of internal violent conflict, including civil wars, terrorism and insurgencies, its causes and consequences. Topics include forced migration, ethnic conflict, long-term consequences of war and individual choices to participate in violence. Readings comprise frontier research papers and students will learn to critically engage with cutting-edge research designs. Prerequisites: Intermediate econometrics   SO W 9:25am-11:15am

* ECON 450b, Investment Analysis   Alex Hetherington and Chivetta Amelia

This seminar seeks to introduce the world of investment management to students, across a range of investment strategies from public stocks to private equity and real estate. The instructors, both senior members of the Yale Investment Office, the department that manages the University's $41 billion endowment, guide class discussion in response to assigned reading and guest speaker visits. The distinguished guest speakers, including world-renowned hedge fund managers, venture capital luminaries and Yale's chief investment manager Matthew Mendelsohn '07 are at the heart of the course. These speakers join the seminar for a discussion of how their firms approach the investment landscape and how they seek to achieve market-beating returns. Students are asked to engage with and analyze the speaker's investment strategy and to think about the strategy from the perspective of an institutional investor like Yale.  Registration requires instructor permission.   SO M 3:30pm-5:20pm

* ECON 455a, Economic Models of New Technology   Evangelia Chalioti

Analysis of firms’ incentives to innovate, focusing on the effects of market power on the intensity of innovative activity. Topics include strategic investment in innovation, patent races, the diffusion of knowledge, intellectual property (IP) protection systems, IP licensing, research joint ventures, litigation, venture capital, and conflicts between IP rights and antitrust regulation. Prerequisite: Intermediate Microeconomics or equivalent: Econ 121 or Econ 125   SO W 3:30pm-5:20pm

* ECON 456a, Private Equity Investing   Staff

A case-oriented study of principal issues and investment types found in substantial private equity portfolios. Discussion of enterprise valuation, value creation, business economics, negotiation, and legal structure, based on primary source materials and original cases. Prerequisite: ECON 251 or ECON 252 or ECON 255 .   SO TTh 2:30pm-3:45pm

* ECON 463b / BENG 403b, The Economics and Science of Medicine   Gregory Raskin and Yashodhara Dash

This multidisciplinary class is an exploration of the background of today’s bestselling medicines, their huge commercial impact, and the companies that created them. It focuses on the most compelling aspects of drug development and company formation in the context of topical issues like cancer treatment, gene editing, stem cell therapy, the opioid epidemic, and drug pricing controversies. Prerequisite: Introductory or intermediate microeconomics, introductory or intermediate Biology, Molecular Biology, Chemistry or Biomedical Engineering.   SO Th 3:30pm-5:20pm

* ECON 467a / GLBL 307a, Economic Evolution of the Latin American and Caribbean Countries   Ernesto Zedillo

Economic evolution and prospects of the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries. Topics include the period from independence to the 1930s; import substitution and industrialization to the early 1980s; the debt crisis and the "lost decade"; reform and disappointment in the late 1980s and the 1990s; exploration of selected episodes in particular countries; and speculations about the future. Prerequisities: intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics.   SO M 9:25am-11:15am

* ECON 468b, Institutions and Incentives in Economic Development   Mark Rosenzweig

Assessment of alternative policies and programs designed to promote economic development; examination of fundamental problems of underdeveloped areas and consideration of how and whether such programs resolve them. The roles of indigenous institutions in low-income countries in alleviating problems of underdevelopment. Prerequisites: intermediate microeconomics and econometrics.   SO W 1:30pm-3:20pm

* ECON 471b / EP&E 297b, Topics in Cooperative Game Theory   Pradeep Dubey

The theory and applications of cooperative games. Topics include matching, bargaining, cost allocation, market games, voting games, and games on networks. Prerequisite: intermediate microeconomics. F 9:25am-11:15am

* ECON 472a, Economics of Artificial Intelligence and Innovation   Evangelia Chalioti

This course studies the economics of innovation and the effects of artificial intelligence on different industries. Topics include economics of the intellectual property (IP) protection system; strategic choices in innovation and competition; patent races; measurement and big data; the sharing and digitalized economy; collective intelligence and decisions; online auctions; venture capital; legal and social infrastructure. Prerequisites: Intermediate Microeconomics or equivalent: Econ 121 or Econ 125   SO M 3:30pm-5:20pm

* ECON 478b, The Economics of Internet Markets   Charles Hodgson

Study of online markets with a focus on ongoing policy debates. Students learn about the workings of online markets by studying economic models of platform markets, consumer search, and advertising auctions. Students apply these frameworks to discussions about the regulation of the internet, including net neutrality, privacy, online media bias, and the monopoly power of "big tech." Readings draw from theoretical and empirical academic studies as well as the popular press. Prerequisites: Intermediate microeconomics and econometrics.   SO Th 1:30pm-3:20pm

* ECON 491a and ECON 492b, The Senior Essay   Staff

Senior essays are an opportunity for students to engage in independent, original economic research. Essays are not reviews of the literature, rather each should be an examination of a hypothesis using the tools of economics. In particular, the essay must contain original research and/or analysis. They can be theoretical, empirical or computational. The senior essays that receive A's and are awarded prizes are typically those that use economics tools (and, where appropriate, data) to offer fresh insights on questions.  Students enrolling in this one-term course need to find an advisor. There are no page requirements or formatting requirements. Generally, essays run about 30 pages. Advice regarding bibliographies, graphs, etc. should be given by your advisor.  For further information, including relevant dates and deadlines, please see economics.yale.edu/undergraduate/senior-essay. HTBA

* ECON 498a and ECON 499b, Directed Reading   Giovanni Maggi

Junior and senior economics majors desiring a directed reading course in special topics in economics not covered in other graduate or undergraduate courses may elect this course, not more than once, with written permission of the director of undergraduate studies and of the instructor. The instructor meets with the student regularly, typically for an hour a week, and the student writes a paper or a series of short essays. Junior and senior majors may take this course for a letter grade, but it does not meet the requirement for a department seminar. The application form may be found here: https://economics.yale.edu/undergraduate/forms-documents HTBA

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Five promising leaders from yale named 2024 marshall scholars.

Left to right: Bobby Atkinson, Ayelet Kalfus, Robby Hill, Xavier Blackwell-Lipkind, Olivia Sally

Five Yale College seniors — Bobby Atkinson, Ayelet Kalfus, Robby Hill, Xavier Blackwell-Lipkind, and Olivia Sally — are among 51 recipients of prestigious Marshall Scholarships, which funds up to three years of graduate study in any academic topic at any university in the United Kingdom.

The recipients, who are considered among the most accomplished undergraduate students and recent graduates in the United States, were chosen following an intense selection process and will begin graduate studies at top universities across the U.K. next year.

The Marshall Scholarship program was created by an act of the British Parliament in 1953 as “a living memorial” for former U.S. Secretary of State General George Marshall and the assistance of the U.S. under the Marshall Plan.

This year’s class of Marshall scholars is the largest in the seven-decade history of the program. Half of the 2024 class will pursue degrees in STEM-related fields, including several who will study issues relating to the ethics and advancement of artificial intelligence.

“ This year’s exceptional cohort boasts impressive academic achievement and promising researchers and innovators in a range of fields,” said Peter Abbott, British consul general to New England. “This class of scholars is already making a profound impact on the world, and their contributions will undoubtedly strengthen the U.K.-U.S. relationship and usher in a new era of collaboration — something which the world needs more than ever.”

Brief profiles of the five Marshall scholars from Yale follow:

Bobby Atkinson

Originally from Janesville, Minnesota, Bobby Atkinson is a first-generation college student studying global affairs. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and entered the Special Warfare training pipeline. Shortly after completing United States Army Ranger School, he became the first Air Force member to be selected and directly assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment’s Regimental Reconnaissance Company (RRC). While at RRC, Atkinson conducted multiple combat deployments in both Afghanistan and Iraq, receiving the Bronze Star medal twice. In addition to his military service, Atkinson interned at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, focusing his efforts on illicit drug supply reduction. He is interested in affecting U.S. drug policy, improving access to medication-assisted treatment, and eliminating the domestic opioid epidemic. Next fall, he intends to pursue an M.Phil. degree in evidence-based social intervention and policy evaluation at the University of Oxford.

Ayelet Kalfus

Ayelet Kalfus, a senior from New York, New York, is majoring in physics at Yale. Fascinated by interdisciplinary science, her research experience spans physics, biology, and computer science. Within the Yale STEM communities, Kalfus has served as co-president of both the Yale Undergraduate Quantum Computing Group and Yale Women in Physics+. Deeply committed to the arts, she is working on a mini documentary following undergraduates across their four years at Yale. Kalfus volunteered with Ukrainian refugees in Prague this past summer, and has established a fellowship to fund further volunteers, with the first two students traveling this winter. Currently a first-year counselor, she enjoys academically and emotionally mentoring first-year students in her residential college, as well as volunteering with New Haven Reads. Kalfus plans to pursue the systems and synthetic biology MRes (Postgraduate Research Masters) degree and the artificial intelligence M.Sc. degree at Imperial College London.

Robby Hill is majoring in ethics, politics and economics and receiving a certificate in human rights from Yale Law School. His research interests lie in the role of housing policy as a driver of social and economic inequality. His senior thesis, to be written in the spring semester, measures the effect of the Interstate Highway System in exacerbating New Haven's racial wealth gap. Last summer, Hill received a Liman Undergraduate Summer Fellowship to assist in the defense of low-income clients in Brooklyn's Housing Court. Prior to that, he served as an intern in U.S. Senator Chris Murphy's Washington, D.C. office and as the outreach coordinator for Desegregate Connecticut, where he helped pass the first statewide land use reform legislation in nearly 40 years. He is also the head first-year counselor for Jonathan Edwards College and a former winter tour manager for the Yale Glee Club. Starting next fall, he will pursue an M.Phil. degree in evidence-based social intervention and policy evaluation at the University of Oxford.

Xavier Blackwell-Lipkind

Xavier Blackwell-Lipkind is majoring in comparative literature and writing a year-long senior thesis on Proust and music. A two-time recipient of the Yale English Department’s John Hubbard Curtis Prize, he serves as editor-in-chief of the Yale Literary Magazine , as Phi Beta Kappa president, and as a lead writing partner at the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning. He also tutors French and Portuguese and volunteers as a translator for immigration lawyers. His short stories and creative essays appear in publications including The Threepenny Review, The Drift, Gulf Coast, and West Branch , and he is working on a novel about a composer with a tic disorder . As a Marshall scholar, he plans to pursue an M.St. (Master of Studies) degree in comparative literature and critical translation at Oxford, followed by an M.A. in prose fiction at the University of East Anglia.

Olivia Sally

At Yale, Olivia Sally is pursuing a degree in education studies and political science. Sally, who hails from Oakland, California, spent the summer as a White House intern in the Office of the Vice President, where she served the vice president’s advance team, traveling throughout the country to help execute events. Last spring, she was appointed by New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker as the youngest member of the city’s Commission on Equal Opportunities, the oldest municipal civil rights agency in the United States. Before that, she served as Miss Connecticut Volunteer 2021, where she served as the first woman of color to hold a New England state title in the system’s history. On the Yale campus, she has helped build community for the next generation of students, previously serving as a recruitment chair and social chair of Yale Women’s Rugby and now leading the Yale Society Initiative. She has also served on The Yale Daily News managing board, in two butteries, and, currently, as a student assistant for the Yale Law School’s  Arthur Liman Center for Public Interest Law . As a Marshall scholar, she will pursue a M.Sc. degree in education (child development and education) and a M.P.P. (Master of Public Policy). She is the first Marshall scholar from Yale’s Education Studies Program.

Since 1954, more than 2,200 students have received graduate degrees through the Marshall Scholarship.

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2024 Truman Scholars

The Foundation reviewed 709 files from 285 institutions. Students were nominated by their institution based on their records of leadership, public service, and academic achievement. Our Finalist Selection Committee selected 193 students from 136 institutions to interview with the Foundation’s Regional Review Panels between March 1 and April 4. The complete listing of the 2024 Truman Scholarship Finalists can be found in our News section .

In 2024, we selected 60 outstanding college students from 54 institutions as Truman Scholars. Read more about them in our Press Release . Biographies, provided by the Scholars, appear below.

Kaylyn studies social policy and legal studies and recently returned from Ecuador where she held a Gilman Scholarship. Kaylyn is co-president of the Undergraduate Prison Education Partnership, was selected as a Debarry Civic Scholar, was among GLAAD’s 20 Under 20 LGBTQ+ Activists in 2021, and testified in front of Illinois General Assembly to help unanimously pass a bill to reform sexual assault law. She was appointed by Governor J.B. Pritzker to serve on the Illinois Council on Women and Girls, serves on the advisory board for the National Organization for Victim Advocacy, and serves on the advisory board for The Harbour, a youth homeless shelter. She interned with KAN-WIN, a nonprofit for Asian survivors of domestic violence, and will work for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawai’ians, and Pacific Islanders in spring of 2024. Last summer, Kaylyn worked at the US Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights. She is a Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Resolution Pipeline Fellow and will work in the US Embassy in South Africa this summer. From keynotes to panels, she has spoken across the country about her experiences as a survivor of domestic and sexual violence.    

Daniel Arakawa

Born and raised in the Aloha State of Hawai'i, Daniel is double-majoring in political science and sociology. Inspired by his interest in the criminal justice system and commitment to addressing its inherent disparities, he is dedicated to pursuing a career in public service that allows him to work directly with those affected by these disparities. He intends to pursue a JD focusing on criminal law and prosecutorial experience. While serving in the Lieutenant Governor’s Office and subsequently joining the Governor’s Office of Hawai'i, he developed his passion for public service and an understanding of the political process by working closely with and supporting underserved communities. After graduate school, he plans to continue his commitment to service as an Assistant United States Attorney and aspires to serve as a federal judge. In his spare time, Daniel enjoys cooking, lifting weights, and practicing jiu-jitsu (no-Gi, of course).    

Daniel Block

Daniel is pursuing a double-major in environmental studies and American studies, with a minor in legal studies. He plans to pursue a JD/MEM from Yale, focusing on novel greenhouse gas regulations and the Clean Air Act. Currently, Daniel works as the farm and program director at Zumwalt Acres, a leading carbon-negative farm in rural Illinois that is rooted in Jewish values of justice. His role involves fostering consensus among scientists, farmers, and government agencies to equitably transition the Midwest agricultural landscape toward sustainability. Through connecting farmers to Zumwalt Acres' $5 million US Department of Agriculture Climate Smart Commodities Grant, Daniel has seen how federal policy plays a key role in the transition to a carbon-negative society. Motivated by this, he aims to push the administrative state to adopt innovative, just, and market-based regulatory solutions to climate change. Daniel also serves as the senior content editor for the Brandeis Undergraduate Law Journal, where he authored an article on gender affirming care and religious liberty, with another forthcoming on the administrative state and the major questions doctrine. Daniel is an incoming summer intern for the Honorable Judge Lee Rudofsky of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

Jackson Boaz

Jackson is completing his studies in communications, legal institutions, economics, and government. After growing up in a small town in rural Northern California, he has spent the last half-decade moving around the country working on campaigns, from city councils to presidential races and everything in between. This work has brought him to California, Iowa (three times!), Georgia, Ohio, Rhode Island, and now Washington, DC. He intends to pursue a JD, with a focus in constitutional law, and has a particular interest in democratizing the federal grantmaking process. More specifically, he is passionate about expanding access to technical assistance for small towns and rural communities that need the most support in discovering and applying for much-needed federal dollars. Jackson currently works in digital communications for Representative Adam Schiff’s campaign for the US Senate, as well as in the Congressman’s official office. Past work includes staff roles on the campaigns of US Senator Jon Ossoff, California Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire, Iowa State Senator Zach Wahls (IA 13), Congresswoman Cindy Axne, and many more. When he is not working, Jackson is an avid cook and likes to prepare elaborate dinner parties for friends.

Christian Boudreaux

Christian has always been fascinated by the ocean. He is currently majoring in biology and minoring in environmental studies, Spanish, and chemistry. His goal is to work as a marine biologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He is a passionate environmental advocate and works to promote environmental service in his community. As a freshman, he started an aquatic conservation organization at his institution and became the leader of a tree-planting organization. From leading efforts to clean Mississippi’s waterways and remove invasive species with Aqua Culture, to maintaining a large tree farm and organizing plantings at various locations in his community, Christian has connected hundreds of volunteers with meaningful projects to make a positive environmental impact across his state and in his hometown of Oxford. Aspiring to earn a PhD exploring the genetic components underlying stress tolerance and survival in marine organisms, he plans to continue empowering communities to care for their marine environments and to create management and conservation strategies that can be implemented into meaningful policy. In his free time, Christian enjoys playing soccer, taking photos, kayaking, camping, SCUBA diving, and anything and everything that has to do with nature. 

Allison Boyd

Originally from Washington, Indiana, Allison is a first-generation college student majoring in aeronautical engineering technology and pursuing airframe and powerplant certifications. Once certified, she can conduct, inspect, and supervise air vehicle inspection and maintenance activities, giving her a unique perspective on aircraft maintenance procedures and publications. She intends to pursue an MS in computational analysis and public policy with the goal of ensuring safe and reliable aviation transportation. In 2022, Allison interned on the Lunar Surface Integration team at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Johnson Space Center, where she developed an interest in policy and its impact on safety regulations. On campus, Allison is devoted to serving her local aviation community. She is president of ATEaM, director of activities for Purdue Aviation Day, an ambassador for the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology, and a member of the Aviation Technology Student Council. As Purdue Aviation Day’s director of activities, Allison created initiatives to lower barriers for students entering the aviation workforce, including creating a scholarship and collaborating with the Federal Aviation Administration to increase recruitment opportunities in the Midwest. Her long-term goals are to address aerospace workforce development and tackle aviation safety challenges.

Paul is a student of philosophy and religion. Shaped by his justice-impacted background, he is committed to advocating for marginalized communities, particularly the formerly incarcerated. Paul aspires to a PhD exploring the philosophy of science and cognitive science, with the goal of bridging his research and teaching to influence policy. His seeks to contribute to substantial criminal justice reform through collaboration with prestigious think tanks. Paul honed his research skills in a computational biology summer internship at Princeton University via the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates program. He also serves as an instructor with the First Year Rutgers-Camden Experience Program, as well as a member of the Vice Chancellor's External Affairs Program. Beyond his scholarly pursuits, Paul enjoys exercise and fostering connections with his university peers. 

Elizabeth Caldwell

Elizabeth is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in genetics with a minor in biochemistry. Inspired by her lived experience with an understudied genetic disability, she intends to pursue an MD/MPH and bridge the gap between patient care, policy, and rare disease research. On campus, Elizabeth serves as the co-founder and president of Tigers 4 Accessibility, Clemson’s first disability-focused student group, organizes an annual campuswide Accessibility Awareness Week, and serves on the University’s Accessibility Commission to voice the concerns of students with disabilities. Elizabeth has also conducted extensive rare disease research at Clemson and St. Jude in an effort to alleviate the research deficit on such conditions. She is an active volunteer at the local Free Clinic, where she founded and fundraised for its Mobility Aid Program, which provides durable medical equipment to patients with financial need. Elizabeth plans to dedicate her career to advocating for accessible, equitable healthcare for patients, particularly those with disabilities, and seeking greater understanding of understudied genetic disorders.

Anna Dellit

Anna double-majors in legal studies and Black studies, with a minor in Asian American studies and a certificate in civic engagement. She serves as a lead tutor in Chicago's juvenile detention centers, bringing college preparatory materials to incarcerated students while developing her mentorship pedagogy. Additionally, she conducted research with the Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching to center minoritized student perspectives at a predominately white institution. She remains involved with her hometown of Portland, Oregon, through work with those experiencing houselessness with Blanchet House of Hospitality, and carries that perspective to her advocacy for affordable housing with Evanston’s Connections for the Homeless. Cognizant of how education, race, and poverty operate in context with one another, Anna intends to pursue a JD with an emphasis on civil rights to uproot mass incarceration as a symptom of poverty and anti-Blackness. After studying abroad in Vietnam as the first person in her family to return since the Fall of Saigon, and interning with the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, Anna hopes to bring a transnational lens to her legal and advocacy work and create further space for Black and Asian solidarity. 

Grant Dillivan

Grant studies criminal justice and psychology. Their understanding of the American criminal justice system and the disproportionate imprisonment of the mentally ill have compelled them to focus on a career in correctional psychology. Grant intends to pursue a PsyD in clinical psychology with a concentration in forensic psychology. They are particularly interested in expanding substance abuse treatment available to incarcerated populations. Previously, Grant interned in the Wyoming Department of Corrections (WDOC) central office. They also conduct independent research on public perceptions of private prisons, and how education affects these perceptions. Grant has presented his research findings at the University of Wyoming Thyra and Keith Thompson Honors Convocation, the annual American Psychology-Law Society Conference, and the annual Rocky Mountain Psychology Association Conference. Grant enjoys reading and spending time outdoors in the Mountain West. One of Grant’s most interesting facts is meeting convicted serial killer Robert Joseph Silveria, Jr. – AKA “The Boxcar Killer” - during his WDOC internship. 

Juan is a dedicated individual currently pursuing his bachelor's degree in social work and intends to pursue an MSW. Despite facing abuse, foster care, and a period of incarceration in his past, Juan has overcome this adversity and currently serves as a behavioral health case manager and senior peer recovery support specialist, where he provides crucial support to individuals in need. Juan is a first-generation, nontraditional college student, who is passionate about substance abuse awareness. He served as the student representative on the Substance Abuse Coalition at Rose State College, where he organized a panel discussion, shared his story, and gathered professionals to educate students on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. Beyond academia, Juan is a dedicated single father of two and an active member of his community, where he coaches soccer and volunteers with youth programs. His commitment to service extends to volunteering at the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and aiding post-prison placement. Involved in charitable endeavors like the Oklahoma City Rescue Mission, Juan's journey illustrates the transformative power of resilience and service. His unwavering dedication serves as a beacon of hope, inspiring others to overcome obstacles and effect positive change. 

Alex Drahos

Alex majors in international relations, political science, and urban studies as a Foundation Fellow. He is passionate about reimagining urban systems and structures to better align with human sociology, psychology, and physicality. Alex intends to pursue an MPA focused on urban innovation with the goal of leading a city in implementing equitable policies to improve livability and social connection. This interest prompted him to create a $75 million regional economic development plan with the Center for Advancing Innovation, propose civic infrastructure legislative outreach strategies for a coalition of 100 local nonprofits/governments, and advise a Georgia county commissioner on affordable housing and transportation policies. Leading teams as a University Innovation Fellow, Alex has prototyped smart city technology products, modeled urban economic impact for the National Hockey League, and designed sustainable transportation systems for Delta Airlines. On campus, he researches urban public spaces and hate crimes in post-conflict societies, redesigns class curricula with active learning pedagogy, and helps lead the Georgia Political Review . Alex enjoys backpacking, political history books, playing cello, and board game nights.

Jane Drinkwater

Jane studies political science and digital product (UX) design. Volunteering in low-income communities showed her technology’s vital role in connecting people to government services. Ever since then, she has had a goal to make online government tools more user-friendly so that barriers like disability, digital literacy, age, socioeconomic status, and language do not inhibit Americans’ access to government programs. She is currently a research fellow at the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy and serves as the president of her university’s UX Design Association. In addition to researching the usability of Orem City and Utah County websites, Jane has developed extensive technological experience as the lead UX designer of a software startup (PROPOR) and a language-learning platform (the Missionary Training Center). In the summer of 2024, she will be a user research intern at Vivint. She plans to pursue an MPP/PhD in psychology with a focus on public sector technology. When she has free time, Jane loves to make music and ski in Utah’s beautiful mountains.    

Adelaide Easter

Hailing from Salina, Adelaide studies agricultural economics and global food systems leadership with minors in leadership and international agriculture. Through 4-H, she presented the problem of feeding an estimated 10 billion people by 2050 to the US Department of Agriculture, sparking her passion for food security. Adelaide intends to pursue an MS in food and agriculture law to work at the intersection of policy and development, making agriculture more equitable and addressing the root causes of hunger. Her academic journey is enhanced by her advocacy work. As a Flinchbaugh Food & Agriculture Policy Fellow, she interned at the state and federal levels, including with Kansas Grain Sorghum, National Sorghum Producers, and US Senator Jerry Moran's office (co-founder of the Senate Hunger Caucus), furthering her knowledge of agricultural policy and international food assistance issues. Serving as the basic needs director for student government and a member of the leadership team for Food Security Scholars, Adelaide was motivated to create the Student Basic Needs Coalition to address food insecurity and promote access to resources like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Additionally, Adelaide enjoys supporting K-State sports and spending time with friends at the local coffee shop.

Desaree Edwards

Originally from Mississippi, Desaree is a first-generation college student studying neuroscience and human rights advocacy. After high school, she enlisted in the US Navy as a Nuclear Machinist’s Mate and was handpicked for the initial integration of women into submarines, becoming the first enlisted nuclear-trained female submariner in the Atlantic Fleet. Aboard the USS FLORIDA (SSGN 728), she deployed three times and served as her division leading petty officer and as a sexual assault victim advocate. The challenges she and other female crewmembers faced during the integration motivated her to separate from the Navy and pivot towards a career in advocacy. Combined with her personal experiences, Desaree’s work as a legal assistant for a Judge Advocate General and her internship at a criminal defense firm sharpened her focus towards combatting human trafficking. She seeks to earn a JD with an emphasis on public interest law. Desaree is passionate about advocating for adult survivors of human trafficking by increasing awareness and victim identification, strengthening legal advocacy and support services, and developing survivor-centric policies. In her spare time, she enjoys hosting crawfish boils, making friends with the crows in her neighborhood, and cuddling her lab, Sandy, and pit bull, Ramses.

Ray Epstein

Ray is double-majoring in English (with a concentration in creative writing) and communication and social influence. She has been a committed activist organizing to prevent sexual violence since middle school, and has since become the founding president of Temple University’s chapter of It’s On Us: Student Activists Against Sexual Assault. Through a partnership between her student organization and Uber, Ray secured $350,000 in free rides for Temple students needing to escape vulnerable situations. She currently occupies the first LGBTQ+ Caucus Chair position at It’s On Us National, where she is developing programming to better represent the experiences of queer survivors. As vice president of Planned Parenthood Generation Temple University, she is spearheading an initiative to bring emergency contraceptive vending machines to her campus. She is also an ambassador for Callisto, an encrypted matching system for survivors of sexual violence, and a campus lead for the Every Voice Coalition, where she promotes survivor-based legislation in Pennsylvania. Previously, she interned at Take Back the Night Foundation, Network for Victim Recovery of DC, and Break the Cycle. She intends to pursue a JD and support survivors through further legislative efforts. 

Gavin is an aspiring research meteorologist and climate science communicator. Growing up in rural Southeast Missouri, he was exposed to all types of weather which fascinated him at a young age. He is passionate about the social and economic vulnerabilities exacerbated by extreme weather events, particularly in the American Mid-South. He intends to pursue a PhD in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma focusing on behavioral insights surrounding severe weather preparedness and communication strategies. Gavin intends to inform public policy through the lens of the National Weather Service’s mission to protect life and property in the United States. He has enjoyed volunteering as a SkyWarn Storm Spotter with the National Weather Service and previously interned at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, presenting his research at the American Geophysical Union’s annual fall meeting. Gavin is a first-generation college student at Dartmouth College, where he enjoys fishing, club golf, and taking daily weather observations at the Shattuck Observatory. 

Bitaniya Giday

Bitaniya is a first-generation Ethiopian American residing in Seattle. As a community organizer, she hopes to dismantle internalized carceral logics through storytelling, community care, and healing to incite imaginative capacities for abolition. Her first collection of poems, Motherland , explores her experiences as a first-generation Black woman, reflecting her own family’s path of immigration across the world. As a cultural worker and university student, she works to restore autonomy to history’s originators by researching Black women’s erasure and contradictory relationships to historical geographies. She was heavily involved in the community design and implementation of Restorative Community Pathways a multimillion-dollar juvenile pre-court diversion program based in King County. She also serves as part of Wa Na Wari’s Black Spatial Histories cohort, learning community-based oral history and Black memory work.

Eli Glickman

Eli studies political science and is interested in national security and emerging technologies. As the grandson of a sailor in the US Navy and a mathematician who worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory, he aims to work at the intersection of national security and science and technology. He intends to pursue a master’s degree in security studies with an emphasis on nuclear weapons policy. Eager to expand opportunities for students to engage with national security and foreign policy issues, Eli co-founded and leads the Alexander Hamilton Society at Berkeley and established a fellowship for ROTC and non-ROTC students to bridge the civil-military divide on campus. He was a 2023 Hertog War Studies Scholar at the Institute for the Study of War, interned for both US Senator Tom Cotton and the Coalition Defense of Taiwan Project at the American Enterprise Institute, and is an undergraduate research fellow at the Berkeley Risk and Security Lab. Eli is also an assistant debate coach at the College Preparatory School in Oakland and an Eagle Scout.

Axel Hawkins

Axel is a first-generation college student majoring in history with a minor in political science. Her roots, coming from a family that was lifted out of generational poverty by union jobs in rural, isolated Port Royal, Kentucky, inspired her to pursue a career in the labor movement. She began volunteering with Communications Workers of America (CWA) in 2016, joined as a member herself in 2021, and became a CWA NextGen Lead Activist for Public Sector Workers in 2023. She has also served as both treasurer and vice president of her university’s student government association, and was recently elected president, becoming the first openly LGBT person to win this office. She has also served as a delegate to the 2022 Georgia Democratic Convention, an ex-officio member of the Henry County Democratic Committee, chairwoman of the Young Democrats of Georgia Labor Caucus, and is finishing her second term as president of GCSU Young Democrats. She plans to pursue a JD and work to create pro-union policies to benefit America’s working families. She is also a member of the Delta Gamma fraternity, a devotee of all things “Sex and the City,” a perfume collector, and an avid Dolly Parton fan. 

Lezlie Hilario

Born to Dominican immigrants in Perth Amboy, Lezlie is a first-generation college student pursuing a double-major in political science and global interdisciplinary studies, along with minors in peace and justice and public administration. Lezlie's academic focus is driven by her aspiration to empower low-income communities of color in urban areas through the nonprofit sector. Her policy interests encompass advocating for diversity in K-12 curriculum, expanding college readiness programs, and championing equitable voting laws, particularly within communities of color. At Villanova, Lezlie is actively involved in various leadership roles. She is a cheerleader on the Villanova cheer team, serves as co-president of the Latin American Student Organization, and is a member of the leadership team for BIPOC, a multicultural student-athlete group on campus. Lezlie is an alumna of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, where she worked on Capitol Hill in the US House of Representatives. This summer, she will participate in the Public Policy & International Affairs Program's Junior Summer Institute at Princeton University, further preparing herself for graduate school. Post-graduation, Lezlie aims to pursue an MPA while engaging in community organizing efforts in her hometown. 

Adaure Iwuh

Adaure is a public health honors student in Detroit. Prior to this, she spent several years in Malawi, studying nursing and midwifery at Malamulo College of Health Sciences. Her clinical experiences as a midwife in high-demand, low-resource settings inspired her to pursue systemic work that could improve maternal and child health through policy and institutional reform. Adaure uses her personal, professional, and academic experiences to engage in understanding political institutions and how they interact with sociocultural questions that affect health and societal wellbeing. Adaure was a Mayoral Fellow for the City of Detroit, where she conducted vector and disease surveillance and community health education in the Environmental Health division of the Detroit Health Department. After the fellowship, she continued to work at the Detroit Health Department, where she now pursues outreach efforts in housing, environmental health, and process improvement. She plans to earn an MPH/MPP in community health sciences and health policy to address policy and research gaps at the intersection of housing and maternal health. She is committed to coordinating community-facing activities in Detroit that promote sustainability and efficiency in public health practice.

Rincon Jagarlamudi

As the proud son of two immigrant parents, Rincon majors in biochemistry with minors in medicine, health, and society and data science. On campus, Rincon is the co-president of Next Steps Ambassa’dores, which is the dynamic peer support group for Vanderbilt’s inclusive higher education program for neurodiverse individuals, and serves as the campus policy chair for Active Minds, a group committed to heightening awareness and supporting mental health on college campuses. He founded the flagship ambassador site for the nonprofit Hip Hop Public Health, using hip-hop music and culture to break down cultural barriers to health literacy and equity in Nashville. Rincon intends to enter medical school and earn an MPH degree post-graduation. He aspires to pair his existing role as a disability rights advocate with his eventual status as a physician to care for patients with neurodevelopmental conditions. Outside of advocacy and service, Rincon can be found watching Formula 1 races, singing karaoke, or playing pickup basketball with friends. 

Elijah Kahlenberg

As an aspiring academic and civil servant, Elijah is currently pursuing a degree in government, Middle East studies, and Jewish studies. Elijah intends to specialize in legal, historical, and policy matters impacting conflict de-escalation and conflict resolution in the Middle East. Accordingly, Elijah has undertaken and led various grassroots peace initiatives pertinent to the Middle East. In the summer of 2022, he worked out of a Palestinian farm on behalf of the Roots peace movement, the only organization in the West Bank erecting joint initiatives for mutual understanding and reconciliation between local Jews and Palestinians. For the past two years, Elijah has led Atidna International, an organization establishing joint frameworks for dialogue and peacebuilding between Jewish/Israeli and Arab/Palestinian students on college campuses as the organization’s founder and president. From The Forward to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth, Elijah’s peacebuilding initiatives have been heralded in both print and televised media. He also writes extensively about Middle East and North African politics. To prepare for his future endeavors, Elijah hopes to pursue a joint JD/PhD concentrating on international law, Middle East studies, and international security.

Alyssa Kemp

Alyssa is an environmental engineering student with minors in interdisciplinary problem-solving and climate change. Originally from Cavalier, a rural town in northeast North Dakota, she is passionate about improving climate change resilience and economic development in rural communities. Alyssa's career goal is to become an environmental attorney, focusing on securing cleaner, more affordable energy, revitalizing rural areas, and collaborating with environmental justice partners to drive change. On campus, she is currently a Nina Henderson Provost Scholar, where she builds capacity in local workforce development organizations to implement climate transition job training programs. Additionally, Alyssa develops and teaches undergraduate engineering curricula that incorporate social and environmental justice lessons to empower future engineers to advocate for equitable and sustainable solutions in their professional practice. She has conducted research on community-based heat mitigation techniques, the impacts of increased flooding on various social vulnerabilities, and the use of community gardens to promote access to healthy foods, reduce flooding, and improve economic development. In her free time, Alyssa volunteers at a local after-school program, where she introduces high school students to careers in technology. She also enjoys hiking, stargazing, and cooking with friends.    

Lisa Kopelnik

Lisa studies in the politics honors program and double-majors in economics. As a first-generation American born to Ukrainian-Jewish immigrants, she is deeply committed to public service and making change through law and the justice system. She aspires to focus her career on expanding civil rights, promoting restorative justice, and uplifting values aligned with our democracy. She is passionate about facilitating dialogue across difference and civil discourse, believing that seeking common ground and understanding is a necessary starting point to bringing about change. As the chair of the University Judiciary Committee, she adjudicates Standards of Conduct violations with a focus on restorative and educational approaches that promote safety, freedom, and respect for all students. She cultivated her passion for civil rights as an intern with Equal Rights Advocates, a gender justice policy and legal nonprofit organization based in San Francisco. As a legal intern, she worked with attorneys to provide legal aid to women seeking justice and accountability in discrimination cases, and worked on California policy to provide legal and economic support for women. In her free time, she enjoys attending Jewish community events and spending time with her friends and family. 

Aravind Krishnan

The son of Indian immigrants, Aravind studies molecular & cell biology, healthcare management & policy, and statistics. His backgrounds in community health and basic science motivated him to pursue a career focused on addressing health disparities in under-resourced communities through advancing care for infectious diseases, due to their disproportionate impact on these populations. He intends to pursue an MD/PhD focused on immunology and communicable diseases, and subsequently hopes to work with the National Institutes of Health on continuing this research and also translating his findings by implementing community-informed interventions, with the aim of developing his own lab with these foci. Aravind founded ToxiSense, a research organization focused on creating more cost-effective, sustainable, rapid diagnostics for bacterial toxin contamination and infection. He also helps lead the Shelter Health Outreach Program, an organization of over 100 students alleviating health disparities faced by Philadelphians experiencing homelessness and other barriers to care. They do so through city-wide hypertension screening clinics, partnerships with Penn Medicine and Penn Dental to provide on-site care, case management, community health research, and a permanent free clinic in West Philadelphia. Aravind thanks his mom and dad for being his greatest inspirations, and all his other mentors that have supported him along the way.

Pranav Krishnan

Pranav studies political science and economics and is interested in international security, foreign policy, and strategic competition in an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape. On campus, he leads the Alexander Hamilton Society for Foreign Policy, is an editor for the Wisconsin International Review , and volunteers with the Missing in Action - Recovery and Identification Project, as well as Service to School. Previously, he worked as an international development researcher for Dane County and interned at the Center for American Progress and the US Department of Defense. He plans to pursue an MSc in international relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science before attending law school and seeking a career in public service to promote principled and prudent American engagement abroad in championing democracy, human rights, and international law.

Kayle Lauck

Kayle studies political science with minors in politics, philosophy, and economics, and education, schooling, and society. She has completed research assistantships focused on rural development, domestic agricultural policy, coastal resiliency, Native American history, and stream ecology. Kayle is passionate about improving rural mental healthcare access and worked with South Dakota State University Extension to distribute mental healthcare vouchers and coordinate suicide prevention training. She also co-founded South Dakota College Connections, an organization dedicated to aiding South Dakota high school students navigate the college admissions process. Kayle's commitment to rural development brought her to Washington for the National Farmers Union Legislative Fly-In, where she advocated for small farmers and sustainable agricultural policies. She continued that work during a 4-month internship with the US House Committee on Agriculture. Kayle has also studied and volunteered in Poland, Israel, and Ireland, to further understand histories of oppression, environmental peacebuilding, and agricultural sustainability. While on campus, Kayle has served as a sustainability co-chair in her student government and co-founded the Agricultural Student Association. Kayle intends to return to South Dakota and work to remedy the diverse issues that harm rural populations throughout her home state.

Julie Ann Laxamana

Born and raised in Guam, Julie is majoring in criminal justice and minoring in biology. She intends to pursue an MPA to further her public service around her region and the national community. On campus, she is currently the student regent member on her university’s Board of Regents, and served as treasurer for the Public Administration and Legal Studies Society Club for three years. She uses these platforms to amplify and address her community needs of homelessness and recidivism. In the local community, she serves as legislative secretary for the 34th Guam Youth Congress, and is a recipient of the 2024 Congressional Gold Medal. Julie will intern at the White House this summer. She strives to foster and promote social justices in the interest of those whose voice have been muted in the participation of policy. Julie’s goal is to grow into an educated individual who is worthy of public trust, and who solves problems with the highest ethical consideration while practicing the principles of democracy. When she is not serving the public, she enjoys watching movies, playing with her cats, and taking pictures.

Reese Lycan

Born and raised in Lexington, Reese is a biochemistry and molecular biology major at the Honors College with minors in computer science and public health. As director of government relations, Reese oversaw the crafting of policy proposals that were presented to city, state, and national officials, based in part on a student insight survey she created. She led a student advocacy mission to Washington, where she championed to White House and Congressional leaders for improved resources for first-generation and immigrant students, stricter legislation regarding sexual assault and hazing, and increased higher education support. Reese’s passion for advocacy intersects with her passion for healthcare. She volunteers weekly in her city’s emergency department and is published in the Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Journal as a member of the Simoska Research Lab, where she researches mechanisms of bacteria that affect immunocompromised patients. These experiences have inspired her pursuit of an MD/MPH for a career in medicine and public health policy. Her goal is to work as a physician for underserved populations to build a foundation to lead healthcare policy reform and advocate for rural Appalachia at the federal level. 

Kelsey Monaghan-Bergson

Kelsey studies behavioral sciences, concentrating in sociology, with a minor in diversity and inclusion. Motivated to capitalize on the unique strength of American diversity to outthink US adversaries, particularly through neurodiversity as a key force multiplier, she aims to reform the US Department of Defense (DOD) accessions and retention policy. Her goal is not only to accept neurodiverse (ND) individuals into the military, but also to break down stereotypes and promote greater acceptance and empowerment in society as a whole. She aspires to pursue a master's in social innovation with a concentration in neurodiversity studies before serving as an information operations officer in the US Air Force (USAF). She plans to continue her joint research on astro psychiatric artificial intelligence and apply her education across the full spectrum of military operations to influence relevant actors' perceptions, behavior, and actions through gray zone tactics. Kelsey is an action officer for the USAF's ND Initiative, a DOD Intellectual Edge Alliance Fellow, and a Certified Professional Innovator from the University of Michigan College of Engineering. Outside of the military, Kelsey loves drawing, hiking, Garfield the Cat, and Pokémon.

Alexandra Mork

Alexandra studies political science and history. On campus, she served as editor-in-chief of the Brown Political Review , the largest political publication in the Ivy League.  Currently, she is conducting research on voter registration in high schools as a fellow for the Taubman Center for American Politics. Motivated by her interests in education, democracy reform, and criminal justice issues, she has interned for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, the Center for American Progress, the Rhode Island Center for Justice, Organize New Hampshire, Public Citizen, and Loyola’s Project for the Innocent. She also serves as a tutor for system-impacted students in Rhode Island and a coach for debate students in California. Particularly passionate about access to legal services for low-income people, she founded the Student Legal Association Supporting Housing, which organizes Brown student volunteers to assist Providence tenants in their eviction proceedings. Alexandra hopes to earn a JD/MPA to pursue her interest in legal justice and ultimately work as a civil rights appellate lawyer. 

Jackson Morris

Born and raised in Omaha, Jackson studies biomedical engineering with a minor in applied math and statistics. His experiences as a disabled student and observation of the lack of representation in STEM professions has led him to advocate for the rights and aspirations of disabled Americans. He is especially interested in improving higher education for disabled students. As part of a Biomedical Engineering Design Team, he is creating a better ventricular catheter for hydrocephalus patients and will be leading his own team next year. Jackson is a Lime Connect Fellow and gratefully serves his peers as vice president of the his university’s student government association, co-chair of its university-wide student advisory body, and chair of advocacy and activism for Advocates for Disability Awareness. After graduation, Jackson plans to pursue a JD with an emphasis in disability law. In his free time, he performs acrobatics, runs, and enjoys hanging out with his friends and Design Team.

Laila Nasher

Born in Aden, Yemen, and raised by a single mother in Detroit, Laila is an immigrant whose experiences push her to fight for impoverished communities like her own. Having grown up beneath the poverty line and as a product of school closures, Laila believes education is a fundamental civil right. She plans to pursue a JD/EdM and aims to protect access to an equitable K-12 education through legal and public office in her home city. Over the past eight years, Laila has dedicated herself to understanding how education inequity differently impacts disparate communities like her own. She bridges the gap between policy and people by both working with local policymakers and mentoring young Detroiters. Laila runs bazaars for Yemeni migrant women and is currently creating a scholarship to encourage Yemeni-American girls to pursue college. At Harvard, she studies history and anthropology, is a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, and acts as a liaison between the campus’s first-generation students and administration. Through this role, Laila has founded some of Harvard’s most impactful first-generation student initiatives. In her free time, you can find her trying new cafes and reading.     

Yudidt Nonthe Sanchez

Originally from Mesa, Yudidt is a first-generation college student studying public service and public policy. She comes from Indigenous descent from the Otomi people from Mexico. After graduating high school, Yudidt interned in Washington, volunteered as a missionary in Brazil, and studied international relations as a US Department of State Gilman Scholar in Sydney, Australia. She served as student body president at Mesa Community College and interned at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum and Smithsonian National Zoo. As a community organizer for the Arizona Education Association, Yudidt advocated for higher pay for teachers. She is a former IGNITE National Fellow, Andrew Goodman Ambassador, and Smithsonian Young Ambassador. She intends to pursue a JD at Arizona State University with an emphasis on gender equity and immigration policy. Dedicated to inspiring the next generation of women leaders, she aspires to serve as Mesa’s first Latina mayor. In her spare time, Yudidt likes to visit her friends who live in other countries and regularly volunteers at College Bound AZ, which helps students apply for college. She enjoys practicing yoga and likes to listen to Billie Eilish.

Tej is studying molecular biology, healthcare management & policy, and statistics. Inspired by his experiences as an advocate and volunteer, Tej seeks to make healthcare systems more equitable and cost-effective. Focused on health economics, radiation oncology, and human-algorithm collaboration in clinical care, his research has been published in Nature Medicine , JAMA Health Forum , Journal of National Cancer Institute , IJROBP , and Journal of Clinical Oncology . Tej co-founded the Social Equity Action Lab, a youth-led think tank that brings together students, institutional partners, and policymakers across the country to inform legislation on key issues such as America’s mental health crisis, value-based payment reform, and healthcare decarbonization. On campus, he is the director of the Locust Bioventures group, coordinator for the Netter Center High School Pipeline Program, and policy/outcomes researcher for the Shelter Health Outreach Program. He also interned with the Mongan Institute for Health Policy and Institute for Healthcare Improvement, working on projects covering Medicare Part D policy and alternative payment models. Following graduation, Tej intends to pursue an MD/MPP and leverage insights from medicine and policy to improve nationwide care delivery.

Yadira Paz-Martinez

Originally from Clinton, North Carolina, Yadira is the proud daughter of Mexican blue-collar and farmworker immigrants. She is studying public policy with a minor in history and a certificate in human rights. As a first-generation low-income student, Yadira serves as the Duke Student Government vice president for equity and outreach, addressing equitable fees, aiding DACA students, and advocating for marginalized students. Yadira is also the co-president of Duke Define America, leading a team that supports immigrants at Duke, in Durham, and beyond. Advocating for farmworker justice, she was an Into the Fields intern for Student Action with Farmworkers and currently serves on their theater committee. In the summer of 2023, Yadira worked for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in the office of US Representative Yadira Caraveo and learned about systemic barriers within the agricultural industry. She is also a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, researching the socialization of farmworkers in rural North Carolina based on the influences of geopolitical power that impact their experiences. Yadira aspires earn a JD to advance labor rights for farmworkers and low-wage workers.

CJ Petersen

Born and raised in southwest Iowa, CJ is hard of hearing and grew up using American Sign Language at home. Living at the intersection of the LGBTQ+ and disability communities, CJ strives for inclusion and acceptance for all who want to participate in the political process. Whether he is running for Iowa Senate, leading a rural queer working group, or clerking for Representative Sami Scheetz in the Iowa Legislature, strengthening civic engagement among rural Iowans is the priority for CJ. He is pursuing a degree in political science while serving as communications director for the Iowa Auditor of State, Rob Sand (IA 05). CJ and his husband live on a small farm in rural Audubon County, where they are active members of the Iowa Farmers’ Union and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. CJ is passionate about working toward climate solutions as part of a robust rural economic development agenda.

Jay Philbrick

Jay is passionate about evidence-based policy to promote equitable economic opportunity. He currently studies economics, applied mathematics, and computer science. Growing up in rural Maine, Jay saw firsthand the life-changing impact of public investment in education and defense. Inspired by this, he has interned with the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers, the US State Department's Office of Monetary Affairs, and in Maine's Governor's Economic Recovery Committee, helping save Americans nearly $4 billion and guiding $1 billion in effective investments in broadband and workforce development. Jay has also conducted research at Yale Law School, the Federal Reserve, and Brown University, focused on evaluating retirement, rural development, and social safety net policies. He has presented his research to executive and legislative branch policymakers, as well as academics. Jay also stays involved politically, serving on his county and state political party committees, a Maine gubernatorial campaign, and as a presidential elector in 2020. He intends to pursue a JD and a PhD in economics to analyze and implement evidence-based policy as a researcher and policymaker in Maine. In his free time, Jay enjoys playing trivia, promoting inclusion, running, and traveling with friends and family.

Marley Ramon

Raised in Albuquerque, Marley is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in political science and art, with a minor in English as a National Merit and National Hispanic Scholar. Merging traditional and unconventional backgrounds for a legal occupation, each discipline intertwines to drive her focus on presentation and individual expression within the political world. Leading university groups focused on representing student voices, Marley is passionate about nurturing a sustainable community and does so as her university’s chief editor and Phi Sigma Alpha political science honor society president. Inspired through her work interning with the executive director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, Marley intends to pursue her JD with concentrations in constitutionality and civil rights. Previously, Marley interned with the Air Force Research Laboratory. Outside of class, Marley enjoys writing creative fiction and poetry, making jewelry, and playing water polo for her university. 

Thomas Riggs

TJ Riggs is a student activist studying political science and Spanish. He has spent his life moving both internationally and around the United States, inspiring his interest in the ways different communities overcome setbacks. His freshman year, he was tasked with reviving Samford University’s chapter of Amnesty International, which served as his introduction to the world of human rights activism. TJ became involved with death penalty advocacy in Alabama and was asked to serve as Amnesty International’s Alabama state death penalty abolition coordinator. In his role, he has worked closely with local legislators, partner organizations, and international human rights groups to advance the fight for abolition in the state. Outside of his activism, TJ is a varsity policy debater for his university’s team and has earned three consecutive bids to the National Debate Tournament. TJ also serves as the head coach of a youth outreach debate program through ImpactAmerica. He intends to pursue a JD and continue his death penalty work through both legislative activism and on-the-ground legal representation. In his free time, TJ enjoys spending time with friends, researching for debate, and visiting local restaurants

Camila Rios-Picorelli

Camila is majoring in secondary education with a concentration in history and social sciences and a minor in human rights studies. Since childhood, she knew she wanted to be a teacher and dreamed of someday opening her own school. Her background in education, combined with her human rights studies, inspires her to work to make a quality education accessible for everyone. Camila intends to pursue a master's degree with an emphasis in educational psychology and learning design. Camila is particularly interested in how people learn, including how best to design curricula, materials, and learning spaces to better support that learning process. As part of her honors thesis, she is creating a manual to guide educators in Puerto Rico to incorporate social-emotional learning in their classrooms. 

Edwin Santos

Edwin, from Northern Virginia, is a first-generation Salvadoran-American majoring in legal studies within the Politics, Policy & Law Scholars Program. He is also in the Community-Based Research Scholars Program and the School of Public Affairs Combined Program concurrently earning his MPA. On campus, he co-founded Latinos En Acción, which is a chapter of United We Dream, the largest immigrant youth network and serves as student body president. Off campus, he is involved in organizations centered around immigration, such as the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition and Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), and gained experience in state and federal government. Edwin has been selected for the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship, the Henry Clay College Student Congress, and the Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute at UC-Berkeley. He plans to attend law school to become an attorney and support low-income families at the intersection of criminal and immigration law. Years later, he hopes to serve his community as an elected official dedicated to creating inclusive and representative policies.

Diego Sarmiento

Born and raised in Santa Ana, Diego Antranik is the proud son of Bolivian and Mexican immigrants. From a young age, his mom, dad, and aunt instilled in him the value of public service, education, resilience, and community. Over the past four years, Diego has mobilized thousands of his neighbors to engage and vote in local politics through community organizing. Interning at the Orange County Board of Supervisors’ office, Diego helped push forward an unprecedented homelessness prevention program. The pilot program provides $400 a month to 100 single-parent households and senior citizens on the brink of losing their homes. Diego hopes to continue the fight to give his community a political voice through his “Santanero Voter Initiative,” a program to increase voter turnout among Latino youth. He is committed to a life of public service, believing that politics should be responsive to everybody, not just large corporations, and that every person is entitled to basic needs such as healthcare, housing, and a life of dignity. Diego studies political science and public affairs and intends to pursue a JD/MA in economics.

Isaac Seiler

Isaac is driven by a love for public service and a commitment to community. His career in advocacy began when he organized hundreds of students to protest his former college’s decision to fire a professor for officiating a gay wedding. Isaac organized protests, events, and petitions, working to support and protect queer students along the way. He then pursued a year in politics and government, starting as a congressional campaign intern before being promoted to oversee digital operations and strategy. Isaac played a pivotal role in a landslide victory. At just 20 years old, he went on to direct the creation of a new congressional office and served as communications director, building an entire program from the ground up in a matter of months. Isaac also has substantial formal research experience, writes for student publications, and consults for political campaigns. He is completing his BA in sociology and political science and plans to earn his JD to enforce tax law and drive tax reform. Isaac intends to eventually run for public office, working to represent his community and advocate for positive change.

Albiona Selimi

Albiona is pursuing a major in political science, with minors in justice and women’s studies. As a daughter of Macedonian-Albanian immigrants, she grew up knowing the value of an individual’s vote in America. Her interest in voting rights and civic engagement inspires her to advocate for voting rights in her future legal career. She intends to pursue a JD with an emphasis on public interest and social justice. On campus, Albiona previously served in student government and currently serves the university as student regent on the University of Alaska Board of Regents. In her free time, she loves to read, scrapbook, and listen to podcasts. 

Jahneé Smith

Jahneé is a dedicated community organizer and cultural worker, passionate about empowering youth. Currently a full-time youth organizer at Miami Homes for All, Jahneé mobilizes youth with firsthand experience of housing insecurity. They have organized around homelessness nationwide through internships with organizations like The Bronx Defenders and Causa Justa: Just Cause via the Center of Third World Organizing’s Movement Activist Apprenticeship Program. Committed to combating discrimination based on having a criminal record, Jahneé actively contributes to Beyond the Bars as a member, advocating for fair access to employment and housing. As a 2023 Changemaker with The Alliance for LGBTQ+, they led a banned book and people’s history campaign, establishing little libraries of banned books across Miami-Dade County Public Schools zones. Expressing art and passion through zines and poetry with Art for the People South Florida, Jahneé integrates personal experiences as a homeless, justice-impacted, queer, Latine individual to challenge the status quo. Majoring in global studies and women and gender studies, Jahneé aspires to earn an MPA and a PhD in community well-being.    

Jaiden Stansberry

Growing up in the National Park Service encouraged a dedication to natural resources for Jaiden. She is currently studying forestry with a minor in fire sciences and management and has worked as a wildland firefighter for the National Park Service for the past two years. Her experience inspired her to focus on prescribed fire implementation and challenges. She intends to pursue an MS in natural resources stewardship with a concentration in forest sciences to expand her knowledge of the influence of policy in forest management. Jaiden is particularly interested in designing prescribed fire programs for the National Park Service to support natural disturbances on a landscape while mitigating fuel to protect property and life. She hopes to encourage collaborative efforts between National Parks and local tribes to perform burning in areas with cultural significance. In her free time, Jaiden can be found flyfishing the Blackfoot River and traveling to different National Parks.

Sophia Stewart

Sophia studies political science, foreign area studies, and Japanese. Her background in policy development and personal understanding of sexual crimes has compelled her to focus her undergraduate studies and research on sexual crimes and justice. She intends to pursue an MS in data science. Sophia is focused on data collection and effective prevention education and plans to use her further education to support the development of these goals. Sophia has previously conducted research on sensitive-subject surveying to evaluate the effectiveness of current military sexual crime prevention efforts with the Office of Labor and Economic Analysis, as well as conducting personal and team research projects with both the Academy and Stamps Foundation. Sophia also enjoys Brazilian jiu-jitsu, volunteering with children and young adults with learning disabilities via The Resource Exchange, and supporting the Academy’s Public Affairs projects. 

Anitvir Taunque

Anitvir is currently studying biomedical science and is passionate about health literacy, particularly how it impacts the ability of patients to receive and follow through with prescribed medical care. He founded the Columbus chapter of Red Saree, a nonprofit organization devoted to raising awareness for and decreasing the prevalence of heart disease within ethnically diverse communities. For the last several years, Anitvir has also been an involved volunteer in multiple free clinics and spent a summer abroad in India volunteering at a mission hospital surgical center. He built ServUS, a sustainability start-up devoted to empowering and incentivizing students to engage in service. He is currently pursuing a fellowship through the Asia Foundation’s LeadNEXT ambassadors program focused on global leadership and collaboration. He hopes to pursue a combined MD/MS with a concentration in health policy management to guide health literacy decision making. In his free time, Anitvir enjoys playing basketball, playing chess, and trying all kinds of different food.

Alex Taylor

Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Alex is majoring in political science. He serves as vice president of the Columbia Political Union, program coordinator for the Eric H. Holder Jr. Initiative, and justice intern for the Brennan Center for Justice. During his freshman year of college, Alex co-founded "Reachout!" an initiative to empower marginalized high school students with the resources to create competitive college resumes. A current Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholar, Alex has a broad interest in movements to end mass incarceration. His background in prison volunteering, interning as an investigator for The Bronx Defenders, and researching death penalty litigation at Columbia Law School inspires him to pursue a career in criminal justice reform. He plans to pursue a JD with an emphasis on progressive prosecution. After graduating, he aspires to work as an assistant district attorney with an emphasis on appeals and helping youth offenders in his hometown. In his free time, Alex enjoys cooking, attending jazz shows, and reading science fiction novels. 

Born in Queens to migrant workers and then living several years in Asia, Wena’s experiences drive her political and legal advocacy for migration labor and diasporic communities as well as an understanding of the uniqueness of transnational identities. A proud first-generation student, Wena studies race & ethnicity studies and history with a specialization in political economy. She is a Laidlaw Scholar and serves as a university senator. Educated in New York City Public Schools, she has served as a director of the educational equity nonprofit IntegrateNYC and been involved in local elections. Inspired by the immigrant street vendors who nourish the hearts of New Yorkers, she has worked since high school with the Urban Justice Center’s Street Vendor Project on policies to accommodate licenses and legal resources for vendors. Her dedication to labor rights has been nourished by experiences as a White House intern, Columbia Law Review DEI director, and a research assistant exploring the legal history of immigration. Wena intends to pursue a JD/MPP to reconcile the gaps in labor law that have historically excluded protections for migrant workers. In her free time, she enjoys writing prose, practicing the Chinese harp, and building intergenerational friendships with street vendors on food crawls around NYC.

Mikayla Tillery

Mikayla majors in urban studies and Black studies and commits her time to housing justice advocacy and racial justice activism. She hopes to pursue a career that makes material differences for those disadvantaged by housing discrimination, neighborhood segregation, and redlining. She has worked to transition Black first-year students to Stanford through New Student Orientation programming, produced policy memos on tenant protections that influence the US Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, and other legislators to center frontline, renter communities in the energy transition, and served on the Stanford Board of Trustees to advocate for equitable land use. These experiences teach her that a future where affordable, climate-conscious housing as a human right is within reach. In her free time, she enjoys pottery, reality television, and traveling.

Grace Truslow

Grace is a dedicated honors student majoring in political science and minoring in sustainability. She aspires to earn a JD and to work in the federal government as an environmental lawyer, ensuring equity in land use policy implementation. She is particularly interested in applying lessons from the past to create a future of community-informed infrastructure development during the green energy transition. Originally from Rhode Island, her interest in public service was sparked through environmental work in local advocacy, nonprofit, and research spaces. In Washington, Grace has expanded her policy knowledge in transportation, financial services, energy, and agriculture through a multitude of internship opportunities, including with US Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg, US Senator Jack Reed, and former Representative David Cicilline. During the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, she reviewed grant applications for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program and assisted in developing a report on the US Transportation Decarbonization Blueprint. Grace is an active member of her academic community as a leader of the University Honors Peer Advising Program, an editor for the Undergraduate Review , and an undergraduate research assistant. 

Lee Waldman

Lee is pursuing a degree in sociology and the study of women, gender, and sexuality to inform his activism in housing justice. He is a founding member of Ithaca’s Youth Action Board, a group of young people working to fight youth homelessness in their community. Lee, along with his team, won the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program grant, a multimillion-dollar grant dedicated to elevating youth voice in service provision. Lee has been a central force in grant execution, helping found a Temporary Living Project and a Permanent Supportive Housing Project for youth in need of assistance in Tompkins County. He focuses on the safety of LGBTQ+ disabled youth, as protecting marginalized populations is the root of equitable policy. Lee is a community advocate and a member of the Ithaca Continuum of Care, a network of organizations and stakeholders working together to end homelessness. In his role, he uplifts the voices of people with lived experience of homelessness, ensuring that people at the heart of policy are not lost in the discussion. Lee plans to pursue an MSW/MPP with the goal of achieving a radically safe future for his community.

Ella, an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, is from Crookston, Minnesota. She studies public policy. Her community-based advocacy centers around the 15 nuclear missile silos housed on her Tribe’s reservation, which will soon be modernized, generating extensive environmental, public health, and safety concerns. To raise awareness about this injustice, Ella published an investigative podcast series “The Missiles on Our Rez” with Scientific American . She also works for Nuclear Princeton and Princeton’s Program on Science and Global Security, where she investigates nuclear assaults against Tribal communities. Ella previously served on the Minnesota Young Women’s Initiative Cabinet and the National Council of Urban Indian Health Youth Council. Outside the classroom, she aims to grow institutional support for Native students. She served as president of Natives at Princeton and led Princeton’s Indigenous Advocacy Coalition, where she worked with the administration, alumni, and students to hire Native faculty and organize events. She intends to pursue a JD with an emphasis on federal Indian law and environmental justice. After graduating, she will pursue community-engaged policy and journalism to empower Tribes to enact legislation that aligns with their wants and needs.

Trenton White

Trent is a driven first-generation Roan Scholar, majoring in political science with a minor in public administration. Fueled by a deep-seated passion for public service and a keen interest in higher education policy, he aspires to build a career in politics and law. Trent envisions pursuing a JD with a focus on public policy, ultimately aiming to empower underserved individuals in the Appalachian region by providing legal counsel, safeguarding the rights of the marginalized, and helping develop legislation to enrich educational opportunities within rural communities. Trent has worked tirelessly to foster a positive campus environment and provide greater opportunities for students. He founded and currently serves as president of his university’s mock trial team, and is also president of the student government association. He interned with the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce, where he gained insights into the intricate workings of local governance, and served as a constituent services intern for US Senator Bill Hagerty – a role that reflects his commitment to understanding and addressing regional needs at the federal level. Beyond his academic and professional pursuits, Trent enjoys spending quality time with friends and indulging in a shared passion for horror movies.

Mielad Ziaee

Mielad is passionate about eliminating health disparities among racially and economically marginalized communities. Coming from an immigrant family in Texas, he aims to leverage research to inform – and reform – health policies and systems. He conducts health equity research as a National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Scholar and collaborates with hospital leadership at the Kennedy Krieger Institute on food insecurity research as a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention John R. Lewis Scholar. Noticing gaps in his research on how large institutions respond to community needs, Mielad advocates at a systemic level, currently serving as Governor Greg Abbott’s appointed student regent of the University of Houston System. He is also the first youth member of the board of directors of the American Red Cross, Houston Chapter. Mielad intends to pursue an MD/PhD with a focus on data-driven health policy and management. He hopes to ensure all Americans can access healthcare regardless of their background. In his free time, Mielad enjoys morning runs, baking, and visiting farmers markets.    

Zane studies sociology, political science, and gender, sexuality & women’s studies. Their interdisciplinary background has helped inform their understanding of social justice and equity. Zane intends to pursue a JD/MA in human rights studies, eventually working in public interest law to protect the interests of queer communities and dismantle the inequity inherent in our current systems. They are putting themself through school and are the first of their siblings to attend college. Zane is currently working on a thesis that investigates and subverts recent legislative attacks on the queer community. In 2023, they were awarded the Brennens Summer Research Fellowship from the University of Vermont in order to study how to make queer history more accessible to demographics impacted by recent legislative bans on it being taught in schools. They are currently interning at the Vermont Statehouse for a state senator, and are a Dru Scholar and a Pedro Zamora Scholar. Zane enjoys yoga, gardening, and curating inclusive social settings.

Some entries have been edited for length or clarity.

Yale Economic Growth Center

Agriculture and Development: Highlights from the 2024 Kuznets Mini-Conference

The Economic Growth Center hosted the Kuznets Mini-Conference on Agriculture and Development on April 5, 2024, bringing together early-career researchers studying agricultural markets in low- and middle-income countries. Sagar Saxena, a postdoctoral associate at the Economic Growth Center, describes the event and highlights the key takeaways from the conference.

EGC hosts the 2024 Kuznets Conference on Agriculture and Development

By Sagar Saxena April 10, 2024

Agriculture continues to be an important sector for low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), serving not only as a source of food but also a major employer and income-generator for a majority of households. Economists interested in development have long studied various aspects of agriculture to address issues such as low yields, limited adoption of mechanization and other productive inputs, rigid land tenure systems, and the impact of these factors on farmer incomes, nutrition, and rural poverty. 

As we head deeper into the 21st century, not only do these issues remain, new challenges have emerged. Climate change has become a major concern, with erratic weather patterns, droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events threatening agricultural productivity and food security. At the same time, new opportunities are arising with the advent of digital technologies, mobile phones, and e-commerce platforms that could potentially revolutionize agricultural markets and supply chains in developing countries.  

Against this backdrop, the Economic Growth Center (EGC) at Yale University hosted a mini-conference to showcase the latest research in agriculture and development, co-organized by Christopher Udry and EGC faculty affiliate Lauren Falcao Bergquist . The tone for this event was set by Udry's 33rd Kuznets Memorial Lecture, delivered on April 4, 2024, the evening before the conference, which drew attention to the puzzling decline in agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Udry attributed this decline to a reduction in labor participation in agriculture, sparking discussions on the dynamics of agricultural productivity, labor use, and household welfare within the broader context of economic development in Africa and elsewhere. 

33rd Kuznets Memorial Lecture: "Structural Change & Declining Agricultural Productivity"

Christopher Udry of Northwestern University delivered the 33rd Annual Simon Kuznets Memorial Lecture, "Structural change and declining agricultural productivity: Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa," on April 4, 2024.

The 2024 Kuznets Mini-Conference on Agriculture and Development featured a series of sessions and a plenary panel that delved into a range of topics from technology adoption and input markets to intermediation and supply chains. Researchers presented fresh insights from recent and ongoing studies looking at the determinants of agricultural productivity and market efficiency, and their implications for welfare-related outcomes in LMICs.

Session 1: Technology Adoption

The first session of the day featured papers which provide guidance for improving the design of agricultural technology adoption programs. 

Kyle Emerick (Tufts University) presented co-authored work studying the design of subsidies aimed at encouraging use of water-saving technologies among rice farmers in Bangladesh. The paper highlighted the importance of the structure of water markets in determining the effectiveness of these subsidies, revealing that such subsidies are more effective when targeted at water sellers rather than water buyers. 

Hope Michelson (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) shared research on the impact of mistrust in the quality of agricultural inputs on technology adoption in Tanzania, showcasing the role of information in influencing farmer decisions. An intervention that provided farmers with information about the quality of fertilizers led to increased adoption of fertilizers on both the extensive and intensive margins. 

Brian Dillon (Cornell University) wrapped up the session with insights into factors influencing the adoption of new storage technologies like pest-resilient Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags, which can be used to store crops for longer periods. As part of this study , Dillon and coauthors conducted an experiment to elicit farmers' willingness to pay for these bags, and found that the brief exposure to this technology via the experiment led to sustained effects on usage of PICS bags and reduced storage losses among farmers.

Session 2: Input Markets and Rural Poverty

The second session delved into the relationship between agricultural inputs, such as land, soil quality, and machinery, and development outcomes like incomes and child stunting. 

Lorenzo Casaburi (University of Zurich) opened the session with insights from ongoing research on land markets in Sub-Saharan Africa, utilizing newly digitized administrative data on Uganda's land registry. Economists have long recognized the importance of land markets for development outcomes, but systematic evidence on these markets has been limited. Preliminary evidence from this study shows that rainfall shocks tend to reduce land transactions, likely due to negative liquidity shocks, which lower demand for land. 

Leah Bevis (Ohio State University) rounded off the session by discussing the link between soil nutrients and child stunting discovered in studies conducted in Nepal and India. In an ongoing study into the impact of Green Revolution on nutrition outcomes, Bevis and coauthors are exploring how changes in farming practices combined with the structure of local agricultural markets may have influenced health outcomes in India.

Plenary Panel: Doug Gollin (Tufts University), Mark Rosenzweig (Yale University), and Christopher Udry (Northwestern University)

The mini-conference was punctuated by a plenary panel featuring Doug Gollin , Mark Rosenzweig , and Christopher Udry , who emphasized the continued importance of studying agriculture in the context of development. The panelists expressed concerns about the relative lack of attention paid to agriculture by mainstream economics in recent years, highlighting the need for more research and knowledge generation in this critical sector. They also underscored the importance of understanding farmers' constraints and learning from their experiences, noting that farmers have historically demonstrated resilience and adaptability in the face of changing conditions. The panel wrapped up with calls to explore topics such as land tenure systems and other frictions in land markets, as well as more research on understanding whether investments should be targeted at improving agricultural productivity or funneled into other adjacent sectors to drive development.

Session 3: Intermediation in Supply Chains

The final session of the mini-conference featured papers studying frictions in agricultural supply chains and the behavior of intermediaries in these chains.

Meredith Startz  (Dartmouth College) presented research on the impact of reducing search costs for traders in Uganda through a mobile phone-based agricultural commodity marketplace called Kudu. The study found that introducing Kudu significantly increased trade flows between markets, reduced price dispersion between surplus and deficit markets, and provided indirect benefits to smallholder farmers as large traders passed on higher prices to them. 

Concluding the session, Jie Bai (Harvard University) discussed ongoing work on the incentives of coffee farmers in Uganda to invest in quality upgrading. Bai and coauthors' findings suggest that such incentives are small since these farmers are not directly exposed to export markets and receive a smaller premium for quality compared to downstream markets. Part of this discrepancy is due to the presence of a small number of intermediaries who prefer to pay lower prices upstream and engage in quality upgrading themselves to capture better prices downstream.

An enduring focus for development economists

The papers presented, and the discussions and conversations they sparked during the conference underscored the enduring importance of agriculture in economic development. "I don’t know how you could study economic development without looking at agriculture," said Mark Rosenzweig, echoing the sentiment shared by many at the conference. Rosenzweig also noted that the Economic Growth Center has a strong historical link to agricultural economics, dating back to the time when Robert Evenson served as the Director of the EGC in the 1990s. Evenson, who left farming to become an economist, exemplified the deep connection between agriculture and development economics that continues to be a cornerstone of the EGC's work.

• The Simon Kuznets Memorial Lecture Series
• 33rd Kuznets Memorial Lecture: "Structural Change & Declining Agricultural Prod…
• The 32nd Kuznets Memorial Lecture: Changing Harmful Norms
• The 31st Kuznets Memorial Lecture: Political Distortions and Economic Developme…

• Faculty & Staff
• Prospective Students
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Colorado State University

Graduate opportunity in indigenous knowledges and federal land management.

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The Climate Adaptation Partnership at Colorado State University is recruiting a graduate student (MA/MS or PhD) to conduct research focused on the integration of Indigenous knowledges in co-management of public lands. The graduate student could start as early as Fall 2024 or in 2025. The student would be co-advised by Dr. Courtney Schultz (Forest & Rangeland Stewardship) and Dr. Lindsey Schneider (Ethnic Studies). Depending on the student’s background and interests, they could work towards a degree in either the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship (which offers an MS and PhD in Forest Sciences) or in the College of Liberal Arts (graduate programs include anthropology, history, political science, and sociology). Specific research topics are flexible but could include Indigenous land relationships, Indigenous data sovereignty, institutional research policies, relationships between tribal nations and government agencies, co-production of knowledge, history/development of management policy and approaches, climate adaptation, planning, ecological resilience, or tribal sovereignty, all with a connection to federal land management.  

We have two years of GRA funding; for a PhD student, additional teaching assistantships and research funding will be sought to provide a full four years of support. Regardless of their program of study, the student will be able to take courses across a variety of disciplines. In addition to standard graduate level work of literature reviews, developing research questions, and fieldwork/analysis, the student will have opportunities to engage with tribal communities, help develop training and guidance for researchers/practitioners, and participate in communicating their findings to policymakers. We are particularly interested in recruiting a Native American/Indigenous student and are prepared to support them appropriately. As a Native scholar, Dr. Schneider has over a decade of experience in mentoring Indigenous students and working with tribal nations. Dr. Schultz has mentored Native students over the last year, in partnership with other Indigenous scholars in her home department who would be likely committee members for a student. The incoming student would find a strong community of Native graduate students within the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship. Please see, for example, the Indigenous Land and Data Stewards website for more information. CSU has made an institutional commitment to Native American/Indigenous issues, including a VP of Indigenous and Native American Affairs and Native American Advisory Council, and the student would be joining a strong intertribal community at CSU and in the Fort Collins area.  

We are seeking a student with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree closely related to Indigenous studies, natural resource management, human dimensions of natural resource management, public administration, political science, or other relevant programs. Experience working with tribal communities is strongly preferred. Students should be excited about the research focus, comfortable working as part of a team, and interested in a career path that can be supported by this project.

To apply, students should submit materials by May 1st for admission in Fall 2024. If a student is interested in admission in 2025, please send a CV and Statement of Interest nonetheless so we can consider our best applicants (we are happy to delay the start date if appropriate).  Please send: Curriculum vitae w/ three references to contact (1 reference can be a community member)Statement of Interest (2-page max)Unofficial transcriptsAcademic writing sample (10-20 pages)Materials should be via email to [email protected] and [email protected]. Please feel free to contact either of us with any questions!

The Budget Lab at Yale Launches to Provide Novel Analysis for Federal Policy Proposals

The  Budget Lab at Yale , a nonpartisan policy research center, launched on April 12 to provide in-depth analysis for federal policy proposals impacting the American economy. For too long, according to the center’s founders, policy analysis has been narrowly focused on short-term cost estimates, or traditional budget scores, according to the center’s founders. The Budget Lab aims to fill a critical gap in policy evaluation, particularly focusing on the long-term effects of proposed policies on the economy, the income distribution, and recipients. The Budget Lab’s initial analysis , released today, examines both the Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) through this broader lens.  

The Budget Lab is co-founded by leading economic advisors and academics whose goal is to bring fresh ideas and new methods to policy making. 

• Natasha Sarin, Co-founder and President, is a Professor of Law at Yale Law School with a secondary appointment at the Yale School of Management in the Finance Department. She served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy and later as a Counselor to the U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. 
• Danny Yagan, Co-founder and Chief Economist, is an Associate Professor of Economics at UC Berkeley and a Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research. He was the Chief Economist of the White House Office of Management and Budget.
• Martha Gimbel, Co-founder and Executive Director, is a former Senior Advisor at the White House Council of Economic Advisers, Senior Policy Advisor to the U.S Secretary of Labor, and Senior Economist and Research Director at Congress’s Joint Economic Committee. 

“For many of the greatest policy challenges of our time — investing in children, combating climate change — their most important impact is not on short-run GDP. We need to understand the effects on poverty, on emissions reduction, on the income distribution,” said Sarin. “We are excited to share the tools we have built to analyze the fiscal and social impacts of government policies so policymakers can make better choices.”

The Budget Lab’s work will look at issues not included in current budget policy assessment methods, particularly in evaluating the full scope of costs and returns related to policies including the child tax credit, tax cuts, paid family leave, deficit reduction, and universal pre-K. The Lab’s innovative approach bridges this gap by offering a combination of existing open-source models and our microsimulation tax model to provide fast, transparent, and innovative estimates that unlock deeper insights.

“Our approach implements a new lens to improve existing conventions for distributional impacts by showing how policies affect families over time,” added Yagan. 

One key aspect of the Budget Lab’s commitment to transparency is its open-access model code. The code used to produce analysis is publicly available, fostering trust and allowing policymakers to understand how the Budget Lab arrives at its results. It also allows for the infrastructure of the budget model the team is developing to be leveraged by others interested in similar analysis. 

“Our aim is to provide rapid responses to important policy questions with the ability to think not only about the costs of policies but also about benefits and the return on investments,” said Martha Gimbel.  “Our tax microsimulation model, budget estimates, and interactives will paint a broader and more realistic picture of how Americans will benefit from proposed government initiatives.”  

The Budget Lab is hosting a launch event at the National Press Club on April 12 where the leadership team will share new research on budget scoring for TCJA and CTC. The event will include remarks by Shalanda Young, Director of the Office of Management and Budget and a panel discussion with Joshua Bolten, former Director of the Office of Management and Budget and White House Chief of Staff for President George W. Bush; Doug Holtz-Eakin, former Director of Congressional Budget Office and economic policy advisor to Sen. John McCain; and will be moderated by Greg Ip of The Wall Street Journal .   

Budget Lab Team

In addition to the Budget Lab co-founders, the team includes leading economists who have extensive experience in the public sector. 

Ernie Tedeschi, Director of Economics, was most recently the chief economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisors. Rich Prisinzano, is the Director of Policy Analysis, previously served at the Penn Wharton Budget Model and for over a decade as an economist in the Office of Tax Analysis in the U.S. Department of Treasury. John Ricco, Associate Director of Policy Analysis, is an economic researcher with a decade of experience building microsimulation models to inform public policy debates and was formerly with the Penn Wharton Budget Model and also a research analyst at the International Monetary Fund. Harris Eppsteiner, Associate Director of Policy Analysis, was a Special Assistant to the Chairman and research economist at the White House Council on Economic Advisors. 

In the Press

Silencing trump with a gag order is hopeless — a commentary by stephen l. carter '79, trump’s tax cuts expire soon. let’s be smarter about what comes next — a commentary by natasha sarin, an indiana court ruled that jews have a religious liberty right to abortion. here’s why that matters — a commentary by michael helfand '07, the postmodern revolution and why it provides the key to biden’s reelection — a commentary by bruce ackerman '67, related news.

Joint Conference with NYU Law Celebrates Professor Robert Post’s Book on the Taft Court

Plights of the Postmodern Era

Shaping the Future of Artificial Intelligence

A Chronicle of My Global Network Week in China

Shwetha Ramanathan ’24, a student in the Master of Advanced Management program, takes a look back at a Global Network Week at Renmin Business School focused on decoding China’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Experiencing a Global Network Week at Renmin University in China was a transformative journey that broadened my perspectives, deepened my understanding of China's digital economy, and enriched my cultural awareness. The highlight of the trip was undoubtedly the immersive learning experience combined with exploring the vibrant city of Beijing.

The course, Insights and Opportunities: Decoding China’s Digital Economy, provided invaluable insights into China's rapidly evolving digital landscape. From e-commerce to innovative tech startups, we delved into case studies, participated in discussions, and engaged with industry experts to grasp the nuances of China's digital ecosystem. Learning about digital payment platforms like WeChat Pay and Alipay was particularly enlightening, showcasing China's leapfrogging advancements in fintech.

Moreover, company visits offered first-hand exposure to China's tech scene. Touring tech hubs and meeting with executives provided valuable insights into corporate strategies and market dynamics. Visits to companies such as Byte-dance, Baidu, and Beike allowed us to witness innovation in action and gain a deeper appreciation for China's entrepreneurial spirit.

Immersing myself in the local culture was an integral part of the experience. From exploring historic landmarks like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City to savoring authentic Beijing cuisine, every moment was an opportunity to appreciate China's rich heritage and traditions. 

One of the most memorable aspects of my trip was a friend from Yale SOM who came to Beijing from Shanghai to visit me and offered to show me around the city. This experience underscored the importance of connections and networking, highlighting the collaborative nature of business school education across nationalities and boundaries.

Overall, my exchange program at Renmin University was a truly enriching experience that not only expanded my knowledge of China's digital economy but also fostered personal growth and cultural appreciation. It reinforced the importance of embracing diversity, building connections, and seizing opportunities for cross-cultural learning in today's interconnected world.