Doctoral Dissertations - Chair 

Christopher Barker (MTSU, in progress) 

Sean-Patrick Alvarez (MTSU, in progress)

Macy Scheck (MTSU, in progress)

  • Initial Placement (3rd Year): Visiting Lecturer, Maryville College

Nicholas Reinarts (MTSU, in progress). 

Shamsuddeen Attahiru Nassarawa (MTSU, Summer 2023). 

  • Initial Placement: Visiting Assistant Professor, Oglethorpe University (following this placement, he will return to his position at the Central Bank of Nigeria)

Gabriel F. Benzecry (MTSU, Summer 2023). 

  • Dissertation Title: “Essays on the History of Political Economy and Methodology” 
  • Initial Placement​ (3rd Year): Assistant Professor, Northwood University

Rania Al-Bawwab (MTSU, Fall 2022). 

  • Dissertation Title: "Four Essays on Political Economy"
  • Internships: Central Bank of Malaysia’s International Shari'ah Research Academy (ISRA) for Islamic Finance in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Summer 2020 - canceled due to COVID-19)
  • Initial Placement: Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Central Arkansas 

Bronwyn G. Graves (MTSU, Summer 2022). 

  • Dissertation Title: "Women and Blue Collar Work: Exploring Factors of Women's Low Presence in Men-Concentrated Occupations and Industry”​
  • Initial Placement: Assistant Professor, Linfield University 

Protik Nandy (MTSU, Summer 2022). 

  • Dissertation Title: "Healthcare Occupational Licensing"
  • Internships: Knee Center for Occupational Licensing at St. Francis University (Spring 2021) & American Institute for Economic Research (Summer 2021)
  • Initial Placement: Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota Duluth 

Emilia J. Suggs (MTSU, Spring 2021). 

  • Dissertation Title: "Preference Identification and Political Participation in Alternative Voting Systems." 
  • Initial Placement: Assistant Professor, King University (Bristol, TN) 


Doctoral Dissertations - Committee Member 

Labanyalata Roy (MTSU, in progress). 

​Inhwa Kim (MTSU, 2021). 

  • "Three Essays on Behavioral Barriers for Financial Choices" 
  • Initial Placement: Visiting Assistant Professor, Sam Houston State University 

Sona Kaarl Esona (MTSU, 2020). 

  • Dissertation Title: “Three Essays on Government Size, Corruption, Economic Growth, and Human Economic Development Indicators: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa and the CFA Franc Zone Countries”
  • Initial Placement: Assistant Professor, Florida Gateway College​


M.A. Theses - Committee Member 
Rania Al-Bawwab (Troy University, Spring 2017). 

  • “No Land, No Resources, But Growth? The Puzzling Prosperity of the Venetian Lagoon.”
  • Ph.D. Program Placement: PERI Ph.D. Fellow at Middle Tennessee State University


Undergraduate Theses - Chair

Christopher Cowherd (University Honors College, MTSU, Fall 2019). 

  • “On the Necessary Preconditions for a Just Social Order.”

Samir Qattea (University Honors College, MTSU, Fall 2019). 

Rachel Eccles (University Honors College, MTSU, Summer 2019). 


Undergraduate Theses - Committee Member

Hector Hernandez (University Honors College, MTSU, Fall 2020). 

  • “The Ideal Extent of Social Distancing to Preserve Economic Prosperity when Society is Marginalized”

Nathan Wahl (University Honors College, MTSU, Spring 2020).