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Sara Helms McCarty, PhD, is Professor of Economics and Margaret G. Bush Distinguished Professor in the Brock School of Business at Samford University. She is the Brock Scholars Program Coordinator.
Dr. McCarty’s research interests include applied microeconomics and public policy, particularly in the areas of volunteering, charitable giving, education policy and public health policy. She uses both traditional econometric and experimental methods. A list of ongoing and completed research can be found under Research and on her SSRN page. She teaches principles of microeconomics, public policy, econometrics, and MBA microeconomics. More information, including syllabi and course information, can be found under Teaching.
Dr. McCarty has presented her work at the annual meetings of regional, national and international organizations, including the American Economic Association, Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management, Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Activity, Economic Science Association, Southern Economic Association, the American Time Use Research Conference, Association for the Research of Society, Economics and Culture, and at the Institute for Studies of Labor (IZA) in Germany.
Dr. McCarty is a member of the honor fraternities Phi Beta Kappa, Beta Gamma Sigma, Omicron Delta Epsilon and Omicron Delta Kappa.
Education:
PhD: Economics, 2006, University of Maryland
MA: Economics, 2002, University of Maryland
BA: Economics and Mathematics, Summa Cum Laude, 1999, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Awards:
Samford University Brock School of Business Outstanding Service, 2019. 2021
Samford University Brock School of Business Outstanding Scholarship, 2014
Samford University Brock School of Business Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, 2013
University of Alabama at Birmingham Beta Gamma Sigma Professor of the Year, 2009
University of Maryland College of Behavioral and Social Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award, 2003
University of Maryland Department of Economics Teaching Award, 2001 and 2002
Publications:
American Journal of Sociology; National Bureau of Economic Research; Economics of Education Review, Applied Economics Letters; International Review of Economic Education; Applied Economics; Journal of Socio-Economics; Religion and Education; Voluntas; B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy