Q&A: Are wildfires getting worse?
An environmental economist and former U.S. Forest Service firefighter, W&L’s Cal Bryan discusses what the public needs to know about the current state of wildfire management and prevention.
Economics Archive (131 Stories)
Economics Professor Delivers Keynote Address at the European Society for Empirical Legal Studies Annual Conference
Peter Grajzl’s lecture focused on his research studying the evolution of English law in the early modern and industrialization eras and the law’s impact on the economy.
Staying Involved Through Spring Term
Abroad and on campus, W&L alumni donated their time and shared their knowledge and experiences to enhance several Spring Term courses.
W&L’s Tom Finnegan ’26 Awarded U.S. Teaching Assistantship to Austria
Finnegan is looking forward to sharing his passion for sustainable food systems with the students at a “green” school near Klagenfurt am Wörthersee.
W&L Economics Professor Co-Authors Paper in Science
Cal Bryan and colleagues from the University of California, Davis studied the costs and benefits of using fuel treatments as a land management practice in the Western U.S.
W&L’s Sandrine Uwantege ’27 Receives Davis Projects for Peace Grant
The grant will support Uwantege’s work to empower and expand opportunities for first-time teenage mothers in her home country of Rwanda.
Meet Will Knight ’26
Knight says the opportunity to pursue different extracurriculars, including football, track & field and fly fishing, has been invaluable.
W&L’s Patrick Solcher Awarded Fulbright to Spain
For Solcher, teaching English in Spain is an opportunity to meaningfully immerse himself in a new culture and continue building his language skills.
W&L Announces 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award Winners
This year's honorees will be recognized during Alumni Weekend from April 30-May 3.
W&L to Host “Slices of Research” Program at Salerno Wood Fired Pizza & Taphouse
Newly promoted faculty members will present their research in a PechaKucha format on April 14.
Art Goldsmith to Present Nobel Prize Symposium Talk
The Jackson T. Stephens Professor of Economics will discuss this year’s Nobel Prize winners in Economic Sciences on April 2 in Leyburn Library.
W&L Students Accepted into American Economic Association Summer Training Program
Ayanna Moore ’27 and Charlie Salome Sabines ’28 will participate in the prestigious program this summer at American University in Washington, D.C.
W&L Student Accepted into Public Policy and International Affairs Program
Lucas Kim ’27 will participate in the program this summer at Princeton University.
Meet Luis Chong ’28
Chong loves spending time in nature, especially visiting the gazebo on campus.
Meet Gibson Ward ’27
Ward has found his 'home' on campus with the Shepherd Program.
Change Agents: DeLaney Center Interns Help Drive Social Progress
Eleven W&L students participated in the first full year of programming spread across multiple states.
Meet Gaby White ’27
White has embraced several leadership opportunities at W&L.
2025 Five-Star Distinguished Alumni Awards
These alumni exemplify leadership, service and professional excellence and will be honored during Five-Star Festival, Oct. 3–5, 2025.
Bringing Humanity Into The Conversation
Kate LeMasters ’15 cultivated a career of addressing public health inequalities with marginalized societies.
Campus Kitchen Announces 2025-26 Just Food Series
W&L alumni return to campus as lecturers for the annual event series, which examines how food systems interact with issues of social justice.
W&L Students Learn and Network in New York City
Washington and Lee students interested in finance completed valuable summer internships in New York City this summer.
Economics Professor Interviewed for ‘Marketplace’ Podcast
Linda Hooks was one of three economists who offered their opinions on what Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell would say during an annual gathering in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on Aug. 22.
In the Business of Good Journalism
W&L’s Reynolds Journalism Internship Program places students in newsrooms across the country, where they become fully immersed in the life of a journalist for 12 weeks.
W&L Outcomes: Charlie Mlcek ’25
Mlcek is returning to Capitol Hill as an AI Policy Fellow through the Horizon Institute for Public Service.
Best Practice
Dr. Charles Frankum ’90 lays claim to being one of the few surgeons in the country who flies himself to appointments at rural hospitals.
Aliaa Bassiouny Named to the Board of Directors for Orascom Development Egypt
The Lawrence Term Professor of Finance will serve as a non-executive member of the board for the real estate development company.
Washington and Lee Names Six Faculty Members to Endowed Professorships in The College and The Williams School
These faculty have been recognized for their outstanding teaching, scholarship and service to the university.
Peter Grajzl Presents Research at the Oweesta Native CDFI Capital Access Convening
The John F. Hendon Professor of Economics shared research he jointly conducted with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis’ Center for Indian Country Development.
Ainsley Daigle ’13 Named to Billboard’s Women in Music 2025 List
The vice president at Firebird Artist Management was honored in the multisector category.
W&L Announces 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award Winners
This year's honorees will be recognized during Alumni Weekend from May 1-4.
Four W&L Students to Study Abroad with Critical Language Scholarship
The Critical Language Scholarship Program funds a summer of overseas language and cultural immersion.
W&L Student Accepted into Expanding Discovery in Economics+ Summer Institute
Charlie Salome Sabines ’28 will participate in the program this summer at The University of Chicago.
W&L Student-Run Investment Fund Ranks Among Nation’s Largest
The Williams Investment Society’s $25.5 million assets under management rank sixth nationally according to a survey conducted by the Center for Investment Research.
Economics Professor Interviewed for ‘Marketplace’ Podcast
Linda Hooks’ comments were featured during a March 19 segment on the impact of current interest rates on business and consumer spending.
Empowering Others
After fighting societal norms in India, Rima Kumari ’26 champions education for other women.
President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond to Present H. Parker Willis Lecture
Tom Barkin’s talk will be held March 27 in Stackhouse Theater.
Meet Sofia Iuteri ’27
Iuteri’s work with the Connolly Entrepreneurship Society and business administration professors has led to the expansion and growth of her own nonprofit.
Jacob Strauss ’16 to Present Public Lectures on Energy Policy and Economics
The talks will be held in Huntley Hall 327 on Feb. 12.
Peter Grajzl to Host Nobel Prize Symposium Talk
The John F. Hendon Professor of Economics will discuss the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences presented to Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James A. Robinson.
Warren Stephens ’79 Selected for U.K. Ambassadorship
Stephens, CEO of financial services firm Stephens Inc., is an emeritus member of the Washington and Lee University Board of Trustees.
Twelve W&L Students Awarded Gilman Scholarships to Study Abroad
The Gilman Scholarship Program offers awards of up to $5,000 to U.S. undergraduate students who are Pell Grant recipients.
Meet Jana Hulsey ’25
Valuable connections with professors have opened Hulsey’s world to new subjects and opportunities to make an impact.
W&L Students Attend Diverse Economics Conference at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
The Williams School and Department of Economics provided the opportunity for students to network and explore careers in the field of economics.
Opportunity to Thrive
Adhip Adhikari ’27 spent much of his summer creating a library at a secondary school near his family's home in Katmandu, Nepal.
W&L Outcomes: William Dantini ’24
Dantini was selected to join the seventh cohort of the Virginia Management Fellows program, which aims to cultivate the next generation of leaders in state government.
W&L Alumna Maria Kisker ’21 Selected for Fulbright to Taiwan
Kisker will pursue a master’s degree in political economy at National Tsing Hua University.
Banking on Women
Siya ’27 married her passions for service with her economics and mathematics majors to intern this summer at Grameen Bank in Bangladesh through the Shepherd Program.
Lending a Healing Hand
With the support of a Johnson Opportunity Grant, Sofia Iuteri ’27 is expanding the reach of the nonprofit she founded at 16.
W&L Outcomes: Jackson Hotchkiss ’24
Hotchkiss is spending the next year competing in professional cycling events.
Five W&L Students Awarded Gilman Scholarships to Study Abroad
The Gilman Scholarship Program offers awards of up to $5,000 to U.S. undergraduate students who are Pell Grant recipients.
Washington and Lee Students Selected for Congressional Hunger Center Internships
Sai Chebrolu ’26 and Valentina Giraldo Lozano ’25 are among 13 students chosen for the Zero Hunger Internship program.
Meet Andrew Arnold ’24
Arnold packed his four years at W&L with academic and athletic opportunities, studying abroad and pursuing his interest in broadcasting.
Diwesh Kumar ’24 to Receive the Global Learning Leadership Award
The mathematics and economics double major will be presented the award at the Center for International Education awards ceremony on May 28.
Meet Diwesh Kumar ’24
Mathematics and economics major Kumar says an art history class opened up new avenues of learning.
Leading By Example
Ben Bankston ’25 is finding opportunities at W&L to challenge himself in and out of the classroom.
W&L Student Accepted into American Economic Association Summer Training Program
Janae Darby ’25 will participate in the prestigious program this summer at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
2024 Distinguished Alumni Awards
Washington and Lee University is proud to announce this year's Distinguished Alumni Award winners
W&L’s Benton Copeland ’24 Awarded Fulbright to Taiwan
Copeland has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to teach English in Taiwan.
Record Number of W&L Students Awarded Critical Language Scholarship
The Critical Language Scholarship Program funds a summer of overseas language and cultural immersion.
W&L’s Leslie Frederick to Present at the 2024 AACSB Assessment and AoL Conference in New York City
Frederick will serve as co-presenter for a session that demonstrates the beneficial uses of technology in the curriculum mapping process.
W&L Students Claim First Place at University of Georgia Stock Pitch Competition
A four-person team comprised of John Schleider ‘24, Diwesh Kumar ‘24, Bradford Bush ’25 and Drew Thompson ‘25 claimed the $3,000 top prize for their pitch on CVS Health.
Two W&L Students Awarded Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship
Jessica Pachuca ’25 and Gabe Miller ’25 will attend the PPIA Junior Summer Institute at Carnegie Mellon University this summer.
Meet a Colleague: Peter Grajzl
Peter Grajzl is the John F. Hendon Professor of Economics.
Williams School Executive-in-Residence Howard Rubel ’78 to Speak on the Essential Nature of Equity Research
Rubel’s lecture will be held in Northen Auditorium on Feb. 22 at 5:30 p.m.
Meet William Dantini ’24
A global politics and economics double major, Dantini found his ‘home’ on campus with the University Singers.
2024 Five-Star Distinguished Alumni Awards
Washington and Lee University is proud to announce this year's Five-Star Distinguished Alumni Award winners
W&L to Host “Slices of Research” Program at Salerno Wood Fired Pizza & Taphouse
Newly promoted faculty members will present their research in a PechaKucha format on Jan. 30.
Shamma Alam of Dickinson College to Lecture on Aspects of International Development
Alam will speak on Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. as part of the W&L/VMI Economics Seminar Series.
Peter Grajzl to Deliver Endowed Professorship Lecture
Grajzl’s talk “An Economist’s Walk Through English Legal and Cultural History” will be held on Jan. 25 in Northen Auditorium.
W&L Students Attend Diverse Economics Conference at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
The Williams School and Department of Economics provided the opportunity for students to network and explore careers in the field of economics.
W&L Professor to Deliver Lecture at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Art Goldsmith will deliver the fall lecture for the Richmond Association of Business Economics and the Virginia Association of Economists on Oct. 27.
2023 Distinguished Young Alumni Awards
Washington and Lee University is proud to announce this year's Distinguished Young Alumni Award winners
W&L Outcomes: Harris Hubbard ’23
Harris Hubbard ’23 will attend graduate school at Rutgers University Business School before joining Wells Fargo as an investment banking analyst.
W&L Professor Interviewed for NPR Marketplace Segment
Linda Hooks’ comments were featured regarding the stubborn phase of inflation cooling.
Catching up with Sarah Tilbor ’08
For Tilbor, W&L instilled a healthy curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.
W&L Professor Named President-Elect of the Virginia Association of Economists
Niels-Hugo Blunch was selected for the post at the organization’s annual meeting last month.
Two W&L Students Selected for Internships with the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty
Jana Hulsey ’25 and Jalen Todd ’25 will work with programs in Washington, D.C. for eight weeks over the summer.
Meet Harry Barringer ’23
Barringer appreciates the learning experience he gained during his summer internship, both professionally and personally.
In Memoriam: Todd Lowry, Professor of Economics Emeritus
Lowry taught at W&L for more than 35 years.
Jackson Flower ’25 to Present at the 16th Annual Government, International, and Public Affairs Student Research Conference
Jackson Flower will share his research at The Virginia Commonwealth University on April 7.
2023 Distinguished Alumni Awards
Washington and Lee University is proud to announce this year's Distinguished Alumni Award winners
Hugo Blunch to Deliver Endowed Professorship Lecture
Professor Blunch’s talk will be held in Northen Auditorium on March 29.
Federal Reserve Board of Governors Member to Give H. Parker Willis Lecture
Philip Jefferson’s talk in Stackhouse Theater on March 27 is free and open to the public.
W&L Students Tie for First Place at University of Georgia Stock Pitch Competition
Scott Holcomb ’23 and Josh Fingerhut ’24 claimed a $2,500 prize for their pitch on Diamondback Energy.
Posi Oluwakuyide ’24 Awarded Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship
Oluwakuyide will attend the PPIA Junior Summer Institute at the University of Washington this summer.
2023 Five-Star Distinguished Alumni Awards
Washington and Lee University is proud to announce this year's Five-Star Distinguished Alumni Awards winners
W&L Alumnus Appointed Secretary General of the Financial Stability Board
John W. Schindler will serve a five-year renewable contract with the organization that promotes international financial stability.
Lucy Ortiz ’15 Awarded Luce Scholarship
The scholarship provides young scholars with an immersive experience in Asia through which they can learn to "be comfortable being uncomfortable."
The Art Of: Crushing the Grape
Enrico de Alessandrini ’84, P’23 is the owner of award-winning Sassaia Winery.
W&L’s Nevin Etter ’23 Receives American Mathematical Society Award
Etter plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in mathematics.
W&L Williams School Welcomes Five Additions to its Board of Advisors
New members will serve a six-year term supporting Dean Rob Straughan and the school’s faculty members.
Williams School Faculty Members Present at Social Entrepreneurship Summit in Cuba
Professors Emily Landry and Jim Casey both spoke at the workshop held in Havana.
Williams School Professor Smith Embraces Role as DeLaney Center Faculty Fellow
Chantal Smith, assistant professor of economics, was selected for the one-year position to pursue research and course development.
W&L’s Kristina Lozinskaya ’22 Among 2024 Class of Schwarzman Scholars
Lozinskaya, a 2022 graduate, will receive a master’s degree in global affairs from Tsinghua University in China.
Katie Shester
Katie Shester is an associate professor of economics and a core faculty member for the Shepherd Program for the Interdisciplinary Study of Poverty and Human Capability, as well as Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
W&L Professor to Give Presidential Address at Economic Conference
Art Goldsmith is completing his one-year term as president of the Southern Economic Association.
Washington and Lee’s DeLaney Center Builds Momentum During Fall Term
Center announces new personnel, supports research opportunities and introduces programs for the campus community.
2022 Distinguished Young Alumni Awards
Washington and Lee University is proud to announce this year's Distinguished Young Alumni Award winners
W&L Economics Professor Receives Summer Fellowship
Alice Tianbo Zhang’s research is being used to shed light on the impact of the pandemic on business activities in Indian Country.
W&L Professor Wins Prestigious Economics Prize
Peter Grajzl named a 2022 winner of the Elinor Ostrom Prize.
W&L Chemistry Professor Publishes Article on Remote Research
Erin Gray helped form and reported the results from a collaborative work group
Washington and Lee Politics Professor’s Paper Summarized in Harvard’s Gender Action Portal
Ponce de Leon's paper "Women Want an Answer! Field Experiments on Elected Officials and Gender Bias" was featured in the Harvard Gendar Action Portal
W&L Outcomes: Cole McPheeters ’22
By his sophomore year at W&L, McPheeters knew he wanted to go into investment banking after graduation. Today, he works as an investment banking analyst in Houlihan Lokey's Industrials group in New York City.
Matthew Loar ’07 Selected as Program Director for the Beinecke Scholarship
As director, Loar is responsible for the management and administration of the program
Adding Value
Diwesh Kumar ’24 is developing investment banking expertise at his summer internship at Boxwood Partners in Richmond, Virginia.
W&L Outcomes: Natalie Burden ’22
Burden is taking her talents to New York City to work in strategic planning at advertising agency BBDO.
W&L Economics Professor Publishes Article on Energy Access
Alice Tianbo Zhang's research on energy access was featured in the June 16 edition of Nature Energy
W&L Economics Professor Named Prize Finalist
Peter Grajzl has been named a finalist for the 2022 Elinor Ostrom Prize for two articles he co-authored in 2020.
W&L’s Graham Kingwill ’22 Awarded Fulbright to Uzbekistan
Kingwill has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to teach English in Uzbekistan. He will depart in September 2022 for his 10-month program.
W&L’s Dickinson ’22 Awarded U.S. Teaching Assistantship to Austria
After her USTA program orientation in September, Joey Dickinson will be teaching in a secondary school in Austria through May 2023.
The Williams School Congratulates Class of 2022 Award Winners
The Williams School congratulates the Class of 2022 graduates who received awards and honors for academic excellence during their time at W&L.
New International Finance Peer Tutors Program Enhances Learning Experience for Students
Launched this year, the ECON 271 Peer Tutors program is a weekly drop-in option for students looking for a deeper understanding of course material through interactions with their peers.
Four W&L Students Awarded Gilman Scholarships to Study Abroad
The Gilman Scholarship Program offers awards of up to $5,000 to U.S. undergraduate students who are Pell Grant recipients.
W&L’s DJ Johnston ’22 Awarded Fellowship for Arabic Studies in Egypt
Johnston was recently awarded a fellowship to the Center for Arabic Study Abroad at the American University in Cairo.
W&L’s Smith Elected to National Economic Association’s Board of Directors
Chantal Smith, assistant professor of economics at Washington and Lee University, was recently elected to the Executive Board of Directors for the National Economic Association (NEA).
W&L’s Zhang Publishes Paper in The Journal of Politics
Zhang's paper is titled, "Electoral Backlash or Positive Reinforcement? Wind Power and Congressional Elections in the United States."
Registration Is Now Open for W&L’s 10th Annual Entrepreneurship Summit
The spring event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 29-30 on campus.
W&L’s Casey Publishes Chapter in ‘Teaching Environmental and Natural Resource Economics’
The book will prove invaluable in helping students gain a better understanding of the theory and practice of environmental and natural resource economics.
W&L’s Silwal Publishes Article in Defence and Peace Economics
Professor Shikha Silwal's paper discusses looting and destruction of cultural heritage sites and objects during epochs of violence.
W&L Davies Presents at CPA Papua New Guinea and CPA Australia Conference
Davies' public lecture was titled "The Path to Kina Convertibility: Foreign Exchange Market of Papua New Guinea."
W&L’s Davies Presents Research Paper at the Asian Development Bank
Davies' paper examines recent conditions in Papua New Guinea’s foreign exchange market.
DeLaney Fellows Bring Passion, Diversity to W&L Faculty
Under the Ted DeLaney Postdoctoral Program, Washington and Lee University is welcoming new faculty each year from underrepresented groups.
W&L’s Hooks Featured in Business Insider Article on Monetary Policy
Hooks was quoted in a recent Business Interview article titled “Monetary Policy: How the Federal Reserve Attempts to Control the US economy."
In Memoriam: John McKenzie Gunn Jr. ’45
The Lewis Whitaker Adams Professor of Economics Emeritus was 97.
Meet the Professor: Sakshi Upadhyay
Sakshi Upadhyay joined the Economics Department as a visiting assistant professor in fall 2021.
Davies Presents at International Monetary Fund and Asian Development Bank
Davies work looks at the setting of exchange rates in resource-rich developing countries.
Meet the Professor: Mario Negrete
Assistant Professor of Economics Mario Negrete joined the W&L Economics Department in fall of 2021.
Exploring Appalachia through Data Science
A year after graduating, Tim Pierce ’20 uses data science to map job skills in Appalachian labor markets.
Meet the Professor: Camilo Alvarez
Camilo Alvarez joined Washington and Lee University as the Ted DeLaney Postdoctoral Fellow in Economics in fall 2021.
Meet the Professor: Chantal Smith
Assistant Professor Chantal Smith joined the Economics Department in fall 2021.
W&L’s Hooks Featured in WalletHub Article
Professor Linda Hooks discusses personal loans in a recent WalletHub article.
