Highlight on Students

We have about 280 students, stock, as of Summer Semester, 2008. The average age of our students is 26 years. In May, 2008, we had 70 graduates. Here are some stories from our students:

Jared Bebee, a research assistant at the International Monetary Fund, believes that the program has been an outstanding complement to his undergraduate studies. He writes: "The diverse and experienced faculty present stimulating material that I have applied in my work. Already the core macroeconomics course has given me deeper insight into the Global Economy Model (GEM), used by the Fund to gauge the effects of a wide array of economic events on the global economy. I am confident that the Applied Economics Program will provide me with the practical skills and deeper knowledge I will need to develop any economics related ventures I may choose to undertake in the future."

Greg D'Angelo is a Policy Analyst at the Center for Health Policy Studies at The Heritage Foundation, a nonpartisan think tank. Having received his bachelor's degree in political science and public policy from Duke University, his work mainly consists of research and writing as well as briefing key policymakers in Washington and the States. "The program at Johns Hopkins," Greg remarked, "has given me the necessary economic tools for policy analysis which I draw upon day-to-day to effect positive changes in public policy."

Joe Fizzarotti is a Licensed Financial Consultant with PNC Bank. According to Joe, “The Johns Hopkins Applied Economics graduate curriculum is outstanding. Our courses have allowed me to develop the quantitative skills necessary to enhance my ability to analyze and interpret economic relationships and educate my clients, many of whom rely on economic data to manage capital assets. The program further provides an excellent opportunity to gain access to and interact with a diverse group of professors who have a tremendous amount of practical experience from working in the field.”

According to Molly Garber and Courtney Reed, economists at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, our program has achieved a good word-of-mouth reputation there because it is challenging but manageable, and teaches a balance of theory and practical knowledge. Molly writes: "I especially appreciate that the instructors often relate the concepts we cover in class to their own professional experience. It shows that what we are learning really matters and has real-world applications. Courtney puts it like this: "Who better to teach about fiscal and monetary policy than an economist who works at the Fed?" They add that the diverse professional backgrounds of the instructors and students alike also provide a valuable networking opportunity.

Arif Haque is a special assistant to Congressman John Conyers. "The program has been a great experience. Nearly every class has covered issues that I encounter at work. Hill staffers cover many complex topics and the professors offer useful perspectives from their diverse work experiences. For example, in my trade class I was exposed to theory, economic history, empirical data, and case studies. As a result, I gained sharper analytical tools which better prepared me to brief my Congressman on pending trade legislation."

Suneye Holmes is a statistical analyst at the Bureau of the Census. She writes: "The Applied Economics Program allows me to supplement my duties with relevant theory and practice from coursework. I work extensively with data and prepare daily analyses of real-world events. The program provides a competitive advantage and is a challenging and rewarding segway to a future in the economics discipline. After undergrad, I wanted to continue studying Economics, but I also wanted to gain work experience. This part-time program makes it possible to pursue both goals and enables me to work more effectively."

Julie Kalishman is a researcher at the Committee for Economic Development. Our program has given her a chance to hone her quantitative skills, especially in the area of econometrics, she writes. "Now I can critically evaluate other economists' research, as well as run my own econometrics experiments. The substantive course work, too, complements my research. The practical classes helped me obtain a deeper understanding of how public policy helps or hinders economic success. Finally, the Applied Economics program has introduced me to a great group of young professionals, who I would not otherwise have had the opportunity to meet. I now have colleagues in the public and private sector in addition to people who work in the world of think tanks."

Petya Kehayova is a research assistant at the Urban Institute, where she works with large-scale databases on the finances and operational activities of U.S. public charities, private foundations, and other tax-exempt organizations. She writes: "Through my courses in Applied Economics, I am learning how to take that heavy-load data, and run statistical and regression analyses on it to answer social policy research questions. For pursuing my career goals, I must say I made the right choice with the Applied Economics program." Her sister Vera Kehayova, who works at the World Bank, joined the program in Summer,'07.

Andres Pizarro is Senior Transportation Specialist at the World Bank. He has been successfully working in his field for more than 15-years. His education has been in Civil Engineering and Urban Planning, but at the World Bank, the economics emphasis has been greater, so it became essential to get a greater grip on economic theory, its application and language. He writes: "The program has surpassed my expectations. Not only has the content met my needs, but the instructors all come from a practising background, thus adding examples from their current projects to the theoretical teachings. I am now at ease in any conversation with economists, and I can read the most dense economics research paper with little difficulty. No doubt more essential aspects of my work performance will also be positively affected."

Aditi Sen has pursued the MA in Applied Economics while working, initially in the Bureau for Africa at the U.S. Agency for International Development and currently as a research assistant at the Center for Global Development, a Washington think tank. “Economics is at the heart of the most challenging and interesting aspects of the field of international health and development,” she writes. “I was looking for a rigorous, but manageable, program that would give me a solid foundation in economic theory and applications and I found it here. The insights and skills I acquired have allowed me to take on greater research responsibilities at work and have given me a platform from which to consider further graduate work.”

Michelle A. Wyant is currently a law clerk to the Honorable John Philip Miller and will begin as a General Attorney in the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition in the Fall of 2008. At the University of Georgia School of Law, she acquired the legal training required to practice antitrust law, and entered the Applied Economics Program to acquire the economic training to do so effectively. In addition to the program’s practical applicability, the economic theory gained will provide her with an enriched perspective from which to analyze legal issues at work and in her scholarship. She currently has articles accepted for publication in the Richmond Journal of Global Law and Business and the San Diego International Law Journal.