Reliable energy is required to keep safe in cold winters and hot summers, making it a matter of national security. There are also vying economic policies to consider, political and financial incentives to navigate, and questions of social and economic inequality.
Experts in Georgia Tech’s Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts examine the challenges we face with the U.S. energy transition, and work to help make it safe, fair, and effective for all.
Read the article on the Ivan Allen College website.
]]>Shatakshee Dhongde, associate dean for academic affairs and professor of economics at the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, has been named treasurer and president-elect of the International Association for Review of Income and Wealth (IARIW). The association, founded in 1947, is one of the oldest and most prestigious organizations in its field.
“I am honored and humbled to be selected as the president-elect of the IARIW and follow in the footsteps of the distinguished scholars who have led the association in the past,” said Dhongde. “I hope to serve the association by increasing its impact and attracting more younger scholars to the field of economic measurement.”
The association, which has members in 80 countries, is dedicated to advancing understanding of income and wealth, particularly ways of measuring and analyzing national income, income distribution, and systems of economic and social accounting and their use for policy.
Dhongde serves on the editorial board of the association’s flagship journal, the Review of Income and Wealth. She also has presented papers and organized sessions at many of the association’s conferences. In March 2025, she presented a paper on multidimensional inequality among the elderly in the United States at a special conference organized by the association in Tokyo. In her new role, she is helping organize the 39th IARIW General Conference, which will take place in Brussels, Aug. 24 – 28, 2026. The deadline to submit an abstract is Friday, Oct. 31.
"Serving a well-known international association in this new role, will help bring greater visibility to the School of Economics at Georgia Tech,” said Dhongde. “I am encouraging my colleagues to participate in IARIW’s conferences as they attract scholars from many different fields in economics around the central idea of economic measurement.”
Agriculture is the largest cause of deforestation. So, it follows that forest expansion efforts would displace agriculture — but new research from Georgia Tech's School of Economics reports that that’s not necessarily the case. And not only that, forest expansion actually increased agricultural output in the study.
These findings can help governments, policymakers, and conservation organizations more accurately assess the costs and benefits of forest expansion projects in the fight against climate change.
“The key policy implication is that there may be co-benefits to using forest expansion as a tool to sequester carbon,” said Matthew E. Oliver, associate professor at the School of Economics and co-author on the paper. Without accounting for them, the net social benefits may be significantly underestimated, the researchers write.
The findings could also suggest alternative paths for aid organizations, Oliver said.
“Development programs don’t have to be in the form of direct aid. This project was about increasing forest areas, but it also supported the local economy in another indirect way.”
The paper, written by Oliver and Dylan Brewer at Georgia Tech and Vikrant K. Kamble at Muskingum University, was published in Land Economics. The project began as Kamble’s Ph.D. dissertation, on which Oliver and Brewer co-advised. They find:
This is some of the first evidence of its kind, and the researchers caution that the results may not hold true everywhere.
However, “our task was to rule out a negative impact on agriculture, and the fact that we're not seeing that and that there could be a positive impact is really strong evidence that we don't see a reverse trade-off,” Brewer said. “When you go back and reforest, it's not going to eat into agricultural resources.”
“Is There a Tradeoff between Forest Expansion and Agriculture?” was published in Land Economics in August 2025. Read more at https://doi.org/10.3368/le.101.3.022924-0020R
Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
]]>The Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts attracts some of the best minds in the social sciences and humanities, scholars and practitioners eager to further Georgia Tech's mission of educating leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. Our newest faculty members are no exception.
This year, we are proud to welcome 13 tenured or tenure-track faculty, 21 non-tenure-track faculty, including Marion L. Brittain Postdoctoral Fellows and new cadre members in our ROTC programs, four research faculty, and 11 visiting faculty.
Explore our search website to learn more about the position, and check back for updates throughout the search process.
Candidates are encouraged to apply by Oct. 31; however, the search will remain open until the position is filled.
Learn more about the job profile, search timeline, and search committee on the search website.
]]>Murdie, the new dean of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts and an expert in international relations, also has extensively studied game theory and finds it incredibly relevant to her work in human rights and human security. Typically defined as the study of mathematical models of strategic interactions, game theory relies on understanding distinctively non-mathematical factors like psychology and cultural norms.
“To make a good game theory model, you have to understand the motivations of individuals, and you can't understand those motivations from only the sciences. You really need the humanistic side,” Murdie says. “If you're going to do anything as a game theorist, you must understand how humans function, and that's more than just the natural sciences or the social sciences. It’s inherently interdisciplinary.”
The liberal arts provide that understanding not just in game theory but in any discipline, says Murdie. “Liberal arts are the lifeline through which all other knowledge flows,” she says.
Murdie’s background in human rights gave her an early appreciation of how many research areas outside of international relations play a key role in improving lives worldwide.
“Coming from a human rights tradition, you always start with an interdisciplinary lens,” she says.
Murdie’s training and research have included a wide range of students, professors, and collaborators — from economics, law, history, sociology, business, statistics, and more. She says human rights and international affairs are not at all unique in demanding an interdisciplinary approach. Solving any complex problem requires knowledge of many direct and indirect factors.
To connect the dots, you need collaborators from a range of disciplines. And to trust and work with collaborators from each discipline, you need at least a basic, working level of knowledge about it, says Murdie.
“How do you respect someone else's method of inquiry and someone else's method of creation? That's something universities don't train students well for unless there’s a truly interdisciplinary focus,” she says.
Whether someone is launching a business, creating a new technology, or negotiating a treaty, connecting the dots is crucial to innovation, as well as staying more than a few steps ahead of AI and automation. The Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts is perfectly positioned to make more of those connections as a liberal arts hub embedded within an institute making the latest breakthroughs in engineering, computing, and sciences, says Murdie, who joined Georgia Tech from the University of Georgia. She calls it the “Ivan Allen Advantage.”
“I think the Ivan Allen Advantage goes in two directions. I think in one direction, our advantage for all Tech students is that they need that liberal arts training in order to be better communicators and actually think about humanity and how technology can be used,” Murdie says. “And I think the Ivan Allen Advantage also is for those of us who are passionate about the liberal arts, who want to focus on the human condition. Doing so in an environment that is tech-informed leads to better student outcomes.”
The College is also well positioned (as a connector of dots) to channel faculty and student research expertise toward solving problems and improving lives, Murdie says. The Center for Advanced Communications Policy (CACP) and Center for Urban Research represent excellent examples of how the liberal arts can act as a hub and facilitator for tackling complex challenges, she adds.
As AI and other technologies accelerate changes in nearly every aspect of our lives, the ability to be creative, lead complex teams, solve problems, and connect with others has never been more important. What better way to master those skills than to enhance your education with the study of literature, languages, history, and culture? Murdie asks.
“We're going to build the liberal arts into what it should be — the best place for people to get training for the future. But that training needs to be informed by technology, and it needs to be informed by the deep understanding of AI and machine learning,” Murdie says.
“If you’re an engineer who can't write or express ideas clearly, it's easier for your job to be taken by AI. It's our ability to be human that keeps us in the game.”
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The cocktail hour and awards ceremony at the Georgian Terrace recognized graduates from each of the six Schools in Ivan Allen College and the three ROTC units. This year’s winners have forged exceptional careers in public health, policy, business, and the Armed Forces.
The event also included the Ivan Allen Jr. Legacy Awards, honoring a standout graduate student, undergraduate student, and faculty member, as well as the Dean’s Appreciation Award, celebrating extraordinary contributions to the College’s advancement, reputation, and mission.
This year’s recipient of the Dean’s Appreciation Award is Amy Phuong, a 2005 graduate of the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and a 2014 MBA from the Scheller College of Business. Among Phuong’s many contributions to the Atlanta community is a clear dedication to her alma mater — she served as student body president in her senior year, is the chair of the Ivan Allen College Advisory Board, and has volunteered with the Nunn School and Georgia Tech Alumni Association boards, as well.
The 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award winners come from many backgrounds and careers but have one important thing in common: a dedication to service, leadership, and excellence in their fields.
Air Force ROTC: Maj. Gen. Kelly K. McKeague (Ret.)
B.S. Industrial Engineering 1981, M.S. Industrial Engineering, 1987
McKeague has served as director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency since 2017, overseeing efforts to account for missing U.S. personnel from past conflicts. He leads research, recovery, and identification operations worldwide, ensuring the fullest possible accounting for families and the nation.
Army ROTC: Brig. Gen. Tom Blackstock (Ret.)
B.S. Civil Engineering, 1987
Over 38 years of service, Blackstock served in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, South Korea, Honduras, and the country of Georgia. He remains active in the Georgia Tech ROTC Alumni Network and the Ivan Allen College Alumni Leadership Team.
Navy ROTC: Maj. Gen. Larry Taylor USMC (Ret.)
B.S. Industrial Management, 1962
In 2008-09, Taylor served as a State Department contractor in Iraq, managing a program for Civilian Police International. He is active with the Reserve Officers Association of the United States, the USO Council of Georgia, the Reserve Forces Policy Board, and the Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Greater Atlanta.
John Wylder
B.S. Economics, 1973
Wylder was a member of the first class to graduate with Economics degrees at Georgia Tech. Now retired, he worked with SunTrust Bank, Hewlett-Packard, PwC, and Microsoft during his career.
Wilson A. (Arnie) Garrett
B.S. History, Technology, and Society, 2024
Garrett is a retired Air Force systems analyst with decades of experience in information technology. After failing to complete a computer science degree in 1982, Garrett returned to Georgia Tech after his retirement to earn a degree from the School of History and Sociology.
Jessica Cox
B.S. International Affairs, 2000
Cox serves as director for defense plans and policy at the U.S. Mission to NATO, where she is responsible for advocating U.S. defense policy within the NATO alliance.
Molly Heacock
B.S. Science, Technology, and Communication 2010
Heacock is the managing director and CEO-elect of UnTold, a public health nongovernmental organization supporting people affected by AIDS in East and Southern Africa.
Yvonne Ploder
B.S. International Affairs and Modern Languages — French, 2015
Ploder leads a Trust and Safety team at Snapchat, dedicated to maintaining platform safety and user protection in New York.
Lynn Austin
Ph.D. Health Policy and Management, 2000
Austin managed operations for organizations with budgets up to $5 billion over the course of her career, holding positions at the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control, among others. Since retiring she has provided executive coaching to more than 500 professionals.
Sanghyun Han is a Ph.D. student in International Affairs, Science and Technology. He specializes in emerging technology, statecraft, international security, and political economy. He co-founded the STAIR (Science, Technology, And International Relations) workshop and was a research assistant at the Center for International Strategy, Technology, and Policy.
Jinxia Loo is an undergraduate student majoring in History, Technology, and Society and minoring in Computer Science. They are a committed member of the Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, involved with undergraduate research and first-generation student initiatives, and have served as the president of Georgia Tech’s Asian American Student Association.
Janet Murray is the Distinguished Professor of Digital Media in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication. She is a pioneer researcher and teacher in women’s studies, digital humanities, interaction design, and game studies. Throughout her career, Murray has focused on how changes in cultural narrative can expand our understanding of what it means to be human. Her best-known work is Hamlet on the Holodeck: The Future of Narrative in Cyberspace.
Congratulations to our 2025 winners!
]]>Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
]]>Associate Dean Shatakshee Dhongde is one of about 50 higher education leaders nationwide recently selected to attend the Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) Leadership Institute.
HERS provides all emerging and established leaders with programming and support to grow their leadership skills, as well as gain a broader perspective on trends and challenges in higher ed leadership across a variety of institutions.
Dhongde, who serves as associate dean for academic affairs in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, said her first weekend session with HERS was an eye-opening experience.
“We had focused sessions with leaders and experts in many different institutions, including R1 and R2 universities, as well as liberal arts colleges. This was a great way to gain insight into the broader spectrum of challenges and opportunities that universities face.”
She added that most of the people in her cohort are serving in associate or assistant leadership positions, which she said is the perfect time to do a program like this.
“We usually think of people approaching executive leadership levels as the target audience for a leadership institute such as this. But it’s also very useful — if not instrumental — to have mid-level leaders train this way,” said Dhongde.
The cohort will meet for two more rigorous three-day sessions, followed by a graduation ceremony in April. Dhongde will also create and complete a yearlong leadership project.
“This experience is not only valuable in my own leadership journey, but it also allows me to bring back fresh perspectives and new skills to the Ivan Allen College and the Institute.”
Jason Lindo, the Mary S. and Richard B. Inman, Jr. Professor of Economics, has been named interim associate chair of the School of Economics.
Lindo joined the School in 2023 and received the Inman Professorship in 2024. His work focuses on women’s reproductive healthcare, social media rhetoric, violent media content, and child maltreatment. He is also the director of the interdisciplinary Health Economics and Policy Innovation Collaborative (HEPIC) hosted with the School of Public Policy.
Haizheng Li, interim Chair of the School of Economics, said he and Lindo will work closely “to ensure a smooth transition for the School and to maintain its upward momentum.”
“I’m honored to support the School’s vital work during this exciting time and look forward to contributing to its continued growth and impact,” Lindo said.
]]>Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
]]>Haizheng Li, associate chair and professor in the School of Economics, will take over as interim Chair of the School on Nov. 1. He replaces Laura Taylor, who held the position from 2018 to 2024 and will remain a faculty member at the School.
Under Taylor’s tenure, the School’s faculty doubled from 19 to 38, and the number of students pursuing economics majors increased by more than 50%. Li says his focus as interim Chair is supporting the School’s continued growth and the “outstanding” faculty, students, and staff who make it happen.
“Innovation, collaboration, and excellence in research and teaching have always been core pillars in the School of Economics,” Li said. “I’m excited to help guide its ongoing success.”
Richard Utz, the interim dean of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, says Li’s extensive service record has prepared him well for the role.
In his more than 27 years at the Institute, Li has served as an academic senate and general faculty assembly representative, information technology director, and the School of Economics Review, Promotion, and Tenure Committee chair, among other roles.
Outside of Georgia Tech, Li is a member of the Advisory Board of China Economic Review and previously served as president of the Chinese Economists Society.
“I’m confident the School’s forward momentum will continue under Li’s leadership,” Utz said. “With his experience in the tenure and promotion processes, I know he’ll be an excellent mentor and advocate for our many recently hired colleagues in the School.”
Li’s teaching and research focuses on applied econometrics, labor economics, and the Chinese economy, specializing in human capital-related issues, such as its measurement, accumulation, and labor market effects.
His work has received numerous awards and distinctions, including the Mary S. and Richard B. Inman, Jr. Faculty Excellence Award, two Gold Star Faculty Research Awards, and the Ivan Allen College Faculty Legacy Award.
Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
]]>Georgia Tech will implement a new model for commencement ceremonies, effective Fall 2024. The Institute’s growing graduate student enrollment has resulted in an increase in the number of degrees that Georgia Tech awards each semester, as well as the required number of Commencement ceremonies.
To maintain a reasonable number of ceremonies and ceremony length, Georgia Tech will host a single Institute-wide Master’s ceremony followed by individual College ceremonies. Ph.D. and Bachelor’s ceremonies will remain unchanged.
The Institute ceremony for Master’s graduates will be held at 9 a.m. at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Please visit the Institute Commencement website for more information.
All students eligible to graduate in Fall 2024 should have received an email in October with instructions to RSVP for both the Institute and College ceremony in Marching Order. Students may reserve up to five tickets for guests through this RSVP. All RSVPs must be submitted by Friday, Nov. 1 to guarantee participation.
For more information, please visit commencement.iac.gatech.edu.
]]>“We are very excited to build on the existing strength of EPICenter, moving it toward recognition as a top ten energy think tank and a major recruiting draw for new faculty in the IAC and across the university,” said Christine Conwell, interim executive director of SEI. “We hope Laura’s leadership will help launch a new era for EPICenter and strengthen its support of the outstanding faculty and students conducting rigorous energy policy research across campus.”
"I’m thrilled to join EPICenter and the SEI leadership team,” said Taylor. “Thanks to our home within the No. 1 public university in the country for energy research, EPICenter is uniquely positioned to lead applied energy policy research and engagement in the Southeast, helping to drive Georgia and our region forward as a national leader in innovation and policy for a sustainable energy future.”
During Taylor’s time as chair, the School of Economics doubled its faculty with 19 new faculty members, and the number of students pursuing a major in economics increased by more than 50%. Economics also expanded its teaching and research in several areas including health, energy, environment, globalization, theory, and data analytics. The School’s bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. programs achieved federal STEM designation in 2019, reflecting the curriculum’s tech-centered approach to liberal arts education and emphasis on using mathematical and statistical models. The School’s undergraduate economics program ranked No. 1 among public universities in Georgia and No. 21 among public universities nationally in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.
“It’s been an amazing six years working with the exceptional students, faculty and staff in the School of Economics. I look forward to continuing to contribute to the School in new ways while leading EPICenter,” added Taylor.
Haizheng Li, professor and the School’s current associate chair, will serve as interim chair of the School of Economics beginning Nov. 1. Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts expects to launch an international search for the new chair of the School of Economics in academic year 2025-2026, after the College’s new dean is appointed.
“The School of Economics has thrived and grown under Dr. Taylor’s outstanding leadership,” said Richard Utz, interim dean of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. “The School is very fortunate to have benefited from her guidance. I am confident Dr. Li will keep that momentum going and will help the school effectively navigate the leadership transition.”
Taylor has 30 years of experience in research, outreach, and policy engagement in the Southeast. Her work uses economic tools to improve environmental and energy systems management and policy. She also has research and policy experience focused on the intersection of energy systems and human health, water resource management, and land use. She has held numerous advisory board positions and is an elected fellow and past president of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists.
Taylor’s research has received funding from a variety of sources, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Interior, and the National Science Foundation.
The mission of the Energy, Policy, and Innovation Center is to conduct rigorous studies and deliver high impact insights that address critical regional, national, and global energy issues from a Southeastern U.S. perspective. EPICenter is pioneering a holistic approach that calls upon multidisciplinary expertise to engage the public on the issues that emerge as the energy transformation unfolds. The center operates within Georgia Tech’s Strategic Energy Institute.
]]>Across all public and private universities and colleges nationally, the School of Economics ranks No. 51 among undergraduate economics programs in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.
“We’re pleased that our School’s teaching and scholarship continues to be recognized among of the best in the nation,” says Laura Taylor, professor and chair of the School of Economics. “We’ve continued to grow and create new courses and programs focused on using the powerful tools of economics to address today’s most important challenges. We’ve created opportunities for students to apply economics to areas they care about including improving health and healthcare, creating a sustainable energy future, addressing climate change, and addressing the economic opportunities and challenges of globalization. Underlying all our programs is very strong training in quantitative and theoretical skills that is highly sought after by employers.”
Economics is a high-demand academic program at Georgia Tech. The number of students pursuing a major in economics has grown by more than 50% in the past five years. The minor is a top-10 minor in enrollment out of more than 70 at Georgia Tech, and a top-five program in total number of minors awarded.
The School’s bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. programs achieved federal STEM designation in 2019, reflecting the curriculum’s tech-centered approach to liberal arts education and emphasis on using mathematical models.
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Established in 2013, the Inman Professorship is awarded to outstanding scholars in the School of Economics to support their ongoing and future research, academic leadership, and professional development.
Lindo’s recent work focuses on women’s reproductive healthcare, social media rhetoric, violent media content, and child maltreatment. He is also the director of the interdisciplinary Health Economics and Policy Innovation Collaborative hosted in conjunction with the School of Public Policy. Lindo plans to use the funds to support research on healthcare access, the determinants of health-related behaviors and outcomes, and the effects of public policies.
“I’m excited about the new opportunities and research avenues these funds will open up for us,” he said.
Faculty hold the Inman Professorship for a period of three years. They are selected by the School Chair in consultation with a faculty evaluation committee and approved by the Dean of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. Professor Tibor Besedes previously held the position.
The professorship is supported by a generous gift from the late Richard B. Inman, Jr., ECON 1973, and his wife, Mary Inman, who were devoted supporters of the School of Economics. Beyond funding the professorship and faculty excellence awards, Inman also served on the School’s advisory board and as an informal mentor to many students who passed through the programs. Read more about his impact on the School.
]]>This year, we are proud to welcome 14 tenured/tenure-track faculty, 26 non-tenure-track faculty, including Marion L. Brittain Postdoctoral Fellows and new cadre members in our ROTC programs, 10 research faculty, and three visiting faculty.
]]>This year, we are proud to welcome 14 tenured/tenure-track faculty, 26 non-tenure-track faculty, including Marion L. Brittain Postdoctoral Fellows and new cadre members in our ROTC programs, 10 research faculty, and three visiting faculty.
]]>Heckman is the Henry Schultz Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago and an expert in the economics of human development. Through the university’s Center for the Economics of Human Development, he has conducted groundbreaking work with a consortium of economists, developmental psychologists, sociologists, statisticians, and neuroscientists, showing that quality early childhood development heavily influences health, economic, and social outcomes for individuals and society at large. Heckman has shown that there are great economic gains to be had by investing in early childhood development.
“He gave us a vocabulary, tools, and methodology with which we could answer some of these policy questions,” said Shatakshee Dhongde, associate dean for academic affairs and professor in the School of Economics, in her opening remarks at the event. “I was inspired by his work. He put poverty front and center within economics research.”
In his lecture titled “The Economics and Measurement of Child Development," Heckman detailed international examples of low-cost programs shown to effectively support early childhood development in places heavily impacted by poverty. Pinpointing the positive impact of these programs on children and the community required a more nuanced measurement of the skills children were learning, said Heckman.
“As I got into the psychology and measurement of skills, I began to have serious doubts about how we were measuring skill … The goal was to understand the mechanisms and measurement of skill formation,” Heckman said.
Measuring skills on a simple scale and using basic indicators such as IQ or other test scores is often arbitrary and provides an incomplete picture. But with the addition of testing over a longer period, assessments of parental involvement, and other measurements, a more complete view of how skills build upon each other emerges, Heckman said.
“If we build a skill base for a very disadvantaged child, later on, as we give lessons to that child … that child will develop those lessons and learn those lessons much more effectively,” Heckman said.
]]>Ioanna Maria Spyrou, a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Economics, uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to predict food insecurity in Africa.
She hopes the tool she’s developing can help policymakers and community organizations implement more timely and targeted interventions to alleviate hunger on the continent.
Other algorithms incorporate machine learning and AI to predict when and where food shortages will occur.
However, Dhongde and Spyrou’s approach is unique because it uses recent data from 2020 to 2023 and includes additional predictors, such as monthly data on conflict, which can be a powerful driver of food insecurity in Africa. (The Africa Center for Strategic Studies says 82% of people experiencing hunger on the continent live in countries in conflict.). Changing weather patterns also means relying on historical data no longer gives accurate information.
“By identifying which factors contribute most to food insecurity in different regions, we can adapt agricultural systems, try new strategies, and build stronger social networks and support systems,” Spyrou said.
Spyrou and Dhongde are working to determine how accurately they can predict food insecurity in Africa with these inputs, and they are optimistic about the results.
They hope the tool can eventually help policymakers, aid organizations, and communities do more with less.
“AI enables us to analyze these large datasets quickly and accurately and create real-time predictions," Dhongde said. "The ultimate goal is to achieve food security and end a crisis that is getting worse and worse.”
After two years in the Peace Corps in Rwanda and a year as a Fulbright Scholar in Brazil, Santos joined the first cohort of master's students in Georgia Tech's Global Development program.
"I wanted to go to the next level in my career, so I knew this was the right time for me to do my master's degree," Santos said. As the one-year curriculum winds down and Santos prepares for graduation, she reflects on her experience and what she plans to do next.
Santos said she chose Georgia Tech because the blend of technical skills and theoretical knowledge was unlike any other program she was considering.
"A lot of global development work in the modern era is very data-based, and you need computer skills to succeed," Santos said. "For example, monitoring, reporting, and evaluating, known as MRE, is a growing field in global development. This program taught me the computer skills to work with data for global development, including statistical analysis, empirical research methods, and geographic information systems."
Santos put those skills to the test in her spring capstone course in Puerto Rico. The Urban Planning Studio, led by Assistant Professor Albert Fuentes in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, traveled to the U.S. territory for one week over spring break.
There, the team combined research, data analysis, and fieldwork — such as talking with community leaders, government officials, industry leaders, and legal aid organizations — to understand the impact of the recent natural disasters in Puerto Rico and what the recovery effort has been like in the public sector. Now, they are finalizing a written report for their clients at the Center for New Economy in Puerto Rico.
The M.S. in Global Development combines courses from the School of Economics, the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, and the School of City and Regional Planning.
Students take five required courses and can choose from over 50 electives to complete their curriculum. Classes range from econometric analysis to urban ecological design to big data and security and can be tailored based on personal interests and future plans.
"One of the things that made the program the best option for me was that it could be done in one academic year," Santos said. "I wanted to study what was most relevant for me and the skills I needed and then re-enter the workforce as soon as possible. And this one-year program enabled me to do that."
Santos hopes to work in U.S. foreign assistance after graduation, but says leaving Georgia Tech and the Global Development program is bittersweet.
"I would love to stay. I'm having a great time, and I'm sorry I couldn't take every single class that was offered," she said. "But I've learned a lot for such a short amount of time."
Ready to embark on your own journey in global development? Explore Georgia Tech's program today!
]]>Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
]]>The speakers will be Nikhil Iyengar, a Ph.D. aerospace engineering candidate; Stefanny Arcos, an undergraduate economics candidate; Rish Desai, an undergraduate computer science candidate; Ritvik Ramakrishnan, a master’s computer science candidate; and Kathleen Devlin, an undergraduate industrial engineering candidate.
One grade in one class doesn't define an academic career. After a disappointing grade on her first differential calculus exam, Stefanny Arcos wondered if she was cut out for Georgia Tech, but help from her advisors and friends gave her a new mindset that powered her through to Commencement — and it's one she intends to share.
"I think imposter syndrome is real, and I want to help remind my fellow graduates that they are enough. It's so important to focus on celebrating our small daily victories just as much as the big ones," she said.
This opportunity gives Arcos a chance to thank those who helped her throughout her journey, and that support is what she'll miss the most. "I have met incredible friends and mentors, and I will always be thankful for my time here. Even at my lowest lows, I was always surrounded by people who comforted and cared for me.”
The Douglasville, Georgia, native will graduate with a degree in economics, and before starting law school, she will take some time off to visit family in Ambato, Ecuador.
This article was originally posted in the Georgia Tech News Center. Meet the rest of the 2024 Commencement speakers here.
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]]>Honoring first-time grants of more than $50,000, distinguished grants, or prestigious fellowships
Recognizing cumulative grants of $250,000 within five years of the first grant
Recognizing cumulative grants of $750,000 within five years of the first grant
Recognizing faculty who secure at least one million dollars in external research and have external funding in the current year
Congratulations to our 2023-24 winners, and all of the IAC community for another year of exceptional service!
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She will speak on “Water Quality, Alternative Beverages, and Economic Development.”
The conference, now in its fourth year, has grown from 15 scholars to nearly 50 researchers from across the country and around the world.
Participants work in fields including economics, international affairs, political science, public policy, and sociology. More than half of the participants are junior scholars, and they will discuss topics such as educational outcomes in children, Latin American economies, productivity and agricultural markets, drivers of conflict, gender and beliefs, and more.
The event will also feature lightning talks given by graduate students.
“This conference provides an important platform for junior scholars to present their research and receive mentoring advice,” said Dhongde, who is also the associate dean for academic affairs in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. “It also highlights the work being done at Georgia Tech’s master’s program in Global Development Studies, which is about to graduate its first students.”
Among the Georgia Tech participants are Dhongde; conference co-organizer Anjali Thomas, associate professor and director of the Global Development program; Associate Professor Olga Shemyakina, and Assistant Professor Robert Gonzalez of the School of Economics; School of Economics postdoctoral researcher Muchin Bazan; and School of Economics Ph.D. students Roshani Bulkunde, Ryan Ellis, Chunting Lyu, Lin Yang, and Ioanna Maria Spyrou.
The conference is made possible by generous support from the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, the School of Economics, and the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs.
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