This May, the Center for Growth and Opportunity celebrated the graduation of 19 student research fellows from Utah State University. These students were among the first cohort to conduct research at the CGO. Below is just a sample of the opportunities the student fellows have in store for them after graduating. Click the names below to find out more.
Graduate Students
Josh Smith earned a master’s degree in economics and will continue as a full-time research manager at the CGO. Josh has taken the initiative to mentor other students in the graduate and undergraduate programs while overseeing a suite of research projects. He was also involved with similar research opportunities as an undergraduate student, giving him a unique perspective on what it means to be both the mentor and the mentee.
Brian Isom earned a master’s degree in economics and accepted an offer to work as a full-time research manager at the CGO. As a research manager, Brian will oversee a suite of projects in the CGO’s portfolio and manage a team of students. His expertise on hydraulic fracturing, public lands, and environmental issues will continue to shape partnerships and research publications at the CGO.
Janette Goodridge earned a master’s degree in financial economics and has accepted a position as a lecturer for the Department of Economics and Finance at Utah State University. Janette will teach undergraduate courses starting in August 2018 . During her time as a CGO graduate fellow, Janette worked with a team of financial policy experts to craft recommendations for research priorities. Her knowledge, professionalism, and expertise will continue to provide great value to the CGO.
David Zynda accepted an offer to study as a doctoral candidate in finance at the University of Arizona. David hopes to continue his research and advance the skills he developed as a graduate research fellow with the CGO. While earning a master’s degree in financial economics, David conducted empirical analyses of the economic effects of the Renewal Portfolio Standard.
Undergraduate Students
Samuel Burge earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. Samuel joined the undergraduate research fellowship after completing a state legislative internship with Senator Wayne A. Harper. His work, researching the effect of automobile operation regulation on mortality rates and the Clean Power Plan, will continue after graduation working as a research analyst intern with the CGO. In August, he will relocate to Washington, D.C. to work for the U.S. Oil and Gas Association
Jake Meyer joined the undergraduate research fellowship program in January. He will continue to work with the CGO until 2020, after earning a master’s degree in economics. Jake’s work as an undergraduate focused on the impact of regulation in the transportation sector. He is motivated by mentors who are actively working to change the world around them. He plans to pursue a PhD in economics and then go on to a career in non-profit economic analysis.
Sidney Tate entered the CGO undergraduate research fellowship program as a senior studying economics. He was paired with Professor Briggs Depew to study the impact of the Affordable Care Act on hospital funding. Sidney accepted an offer to pursue graduate work at the University of California at San Diego.
Spencer Cooper majored in economics and minored in music. Spencer joined the CGO undergraduate student fellowship program in 2017. Spencer will be attending the University of Arizona, pursing a master’s degree in economics. His research interests include applied health and labor economics, microeconomics, and economic history.