The Department normally holds an Awards Luncheon ceremony in early May, in which the awardees are recognized and celebrated in person. Because of the pandemic, this year there was no luncheon. However, awards were made and we want to have the achievements of our faculty and students that these awards recognize noted on this page. This year’s awards are as follows. Hearty congratulations to all awardees!
Student Awards
Norman and Ruth Sun Award
Recipient: Veronika Konovalova
This award is given annually to the graduating senior whose academic achievements and service to the Economics Department and Temple University best exemplify the ideals of the department.
This year’s winner is Veronika Konovalova. Veronika is a MathEcon major who is currently enrolled in our 4+1 BA/MA Program. She has served as a peer instructor, been an active member of the Temple Economic Society and the Women in Economics group. She has played a part in pretty much everything that has happened in the department over the last 3-4 years.
Undergraduate Writing Prize
Recipients: Collin Wardius, Steven Hamilton, Han Hong Gia (Julie) Pham, Joe Salzer
This year brought an unusual outpouring of outstanding undergraduate research. In the words of Undergraduate Director Moritz Ritter:
“This year’s crop of papers is the best we have ever had. Each one of them could have been a winner, and all of them have the potential to end up as published papers in good journals.”
The Second Prize Winners are:
Steven Hamilton
“Social Welfare Functions: Suggestions for Social Planning” (Advisor: Dimitrios Diamantaras)
Han Hong Gia (Julie) Pham
“Business Cycles and Adolescent Mental Health: Evidence from Suicide Rates”
(Advisor: Catherine Maclean)
Joe Salzer
“Institutional Responses to State and Local Appropriations” (Advisor: Douglas Webber)
The First Prize Winner is:
Collin Wardius
“The Relationship Between Teacher Turnover and Student Performance: Evidence from Pennsylvania’s Publicly Funded Schools”
(Advisor: William Stull)
Outstanding teacher of record among graduate students
Recipient: Cynthia Cao
Winning this award is something of a habit for Cynthia, as it is the second time in a row that she has received this award. Cynthia has accepted a visiting position at Villanova University for the coming academic year.
Top Teaching Assistant
Recipient: Luke Mafrica
As was the case for Cynthia Cao, Luke has now won this prize for two consecutive years. This year, his award was for his work in Economics 1102, Microeconomics Principles.
PhD Students who Defended their Dissertations in 2019-2020
Afrouz Azadikhah Jahromi; dissertation advisor: Brant Callaway
David Ratigan; dissertation advisor: Doug Webber
Emmanuel Tsyawo; dissertation advisor: Brantly Callaway
Eric Wilkinson; dissertation advisor Catherine Maclean
Fox School’s highest GPA in the Economics major
Recipient: Erica Hall
Starting in July, Erica will be working for Citygroup in its Public Finance Department here in Philadelphia.
CLA and CST Economics and Mathematical Economics students graduating with distinction in major
Recipients:
Benjamin Aitoumeziane
Michael McMahon
Joseph Conroy
Daniel Ramey
Joseph Donahue
Sean Starosta
Jack Fang
Isaiah Taylor
Harsimran Gill
Thanh Tran
Olivia Huczko
Collin Wardius
Tyler Hyatt
Holly Zimmerman
Faculty Awards
Outstanding Graduate Teaching by a Full-time Faculty Member
Recipient: Dr. Charles Swanson
Dr. Swanson receives this award for his many years of single-handed service to the graduate program as the only macroeconomics instructor and mentor during our lean decade prior to moving to CLA.
Outstanding Service by a Full-time Faculty Member
Recipient: Dr. Shreyasee Das
Dr. Das receives this award for her stellar, all-hands-on-deck service (including “happy hours”) as online consultant to everyone in the department (students as well as faculty) during the past semester.
Outstanding Research Paper by a Full-time Faculty Member
Recipient: Dr. Douglas Webber
Dr. Webber receives this award for his co-authored paper “The Returns to College Persistence for Marginal Students,” published in the Journal of Labor Economics showing the importance of college completion for weak students.
Outstanding Teaching by an Adjunct Instructor
Recipient: Dr. John McDonald
Dr. McDonald receives this award for his highly successful effort to bring economic history back into the undergraduate curriculum — a significant “missing piece” in our undergraduate offerings for over two decades.