Senior economics major Paige Davis ’18 has been accepted into the highly competitive American Economics Association Summer Scholarship Program (AEASP). Davis is the first Oglethorpe student to apply to the fellowship program and to receive the honor.
Economics major Paige Davis ’18 is President of Epsilon Iota Psi Sorority and a member of Oglethorpe University Concert Winds.
The intensive eight-week program, housed at Michigan State University, offers foundational and advanced coursework and exposure to career paths in economics. Students also have the opportunity to develop mentoring relationships with professors, leading economists, seminar speakers and peers, and to explore Chicago and Detroit, including a trip to the Chicago Federal Reserve.
AEASP is all-inclusive, covering tuition, fees, living expenses, transportation, books, and program excursion costs. Plus, all eligible participants receive a $3,250 stipend upon successful completion.
“Paige is an exceptionally bright and motivated student, and an outstanding choice for the summer scholarship program in economics because of her academic strength and focus,” said Dr. Cassandra Copeland, professor of economics, who encouraged Davis to apply. “I believe she will benefit from the added support and guidance the AEASP program can provide to her as well as additional exposure to advanced study in mathematical economics, econometrics, and advanced theory courses prior to enrolling in graduate school.”
Davis plans to pursue a Ph.D. in either behavioral economics, which explores the disconnect between a person’s best choice and the action they take and why incentives don’t garner the expected results, or in applied microeconomics, which uses economic theories to analyze individual’s behaviors and the outcomes they have on society.
“I enjoy both the quantitative side of economics as well as the behavioral aspects,” said Davis. “Everyone knows that I could draw graphs and solve calculus problems all day and be happy, but I also like figuring out why people respond to market changes in the way that they do. I enjoy seeing how everyday people make decisions and purchases just based on instinct.”“My career goal is to be a market research analyst. I would like to help businesses grow by evaluating market conditions—how average wages change, current consumer preferences, how international conditions alter buying decisions—and explain how the conditions impact groups of consumers.”
Since 1974, the AEA Summer Scholarship Program has aimed to increase diversity in the economics field by preparing talented undergraduates for doctoral programs. AEASP provides a strong basis for the professional success of individuals from diverse backgrounds. A lack of diversity can have a profound impact on the outlook and science in the economics profession and result in an absence of important insights and perspectives. As many as 20% of PhDs awarded to minorities in economics over the past 20 years are graduates of the program.
Davis says Dr. Copeland and Dr. Peter Kower, associate professor of economics, “pushed me towards pursuing a Ph.D.” and have been “extremely helpful” throughout her Oglethorpe years.
“Dr. Copeland has opened my eyes to how impactful grad school can be, not only in the workplace but in developing my own ideas more clearly as an economist,” said Davis. “Dr. Kower’s courses have always been more difficult for me—I don’t understand macroeconomics as well as micro—which has pushed me to be a better student. (He)…has always explained the concepts in a way that I could kind of understand.”
“I know that I could reach out to either in the future and not have to wonder if they would be willing to help me succeed.”
A career in Economics…it’s much more than you think
Economics…it’s much more than you think. Much more than finance, banking, business and government, a degree in economics is useful to all individuals and can lead to many interesting career choices.
