My path into economics was not a straightforward one. Growing up in Chambersburg, PA and even as a first-year undergraduate student at Penn State, I did not expect to pursue graduate school, much less earn a PhD in economics. Throughout my undergraduate years, I explored a variety of fields, including mathematics, statistics, physics, history, linguistics, and economics, before ultimately finding my home in microeconomic theory.
Much of my motivation as both an educator and a researcher comes from the experiences that guided me into economics. My own path to graduate school was shaped by mentors who saw my potential before I did and encouraged me to consider opportunities I had not considered, including the suggestion of economics as a career path. These experiences have influenced my teaching, mentoring other graduate students, and returning to share my experiences with other rural PA students.
In my free time, I enjoy jogging and playing my guitar, proving in both cases that you do not need to have skill to have fun!