Dr. Öztürk earned her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and undergraduate degrees in Sociology and Economics from Koç University in Istanbul. Her research focuses on labor economics, public policy, health, and education, with work on food assistance programs, employment, wages, and computerized testing. She has contributed to The Conversation and has been cited by The Wall Street Journal and NPR for her insights on policy-related issues. A passionate traveler, she  leads a study abroad program to New Zealand.

Dr. Brown earned her B.S. in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Notre Dame, followed by an M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from Princeton University. Her research focuses on public and labor economics, with a special emphasis on the economics of the child care market. Her published and ongoing work explores topics such as how the child care market responds to changes in the macroeconomy and to policy changes, including immigration enforcement, public pre-kindergarten, and the minimum wage.

Dr. DeBacker holds a B.B.A. in Management Information Systems from the University of Georgia and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin. His research focuses on public finance, firm dynamics, and political economy, with publications examining tax cuts, audits, and the evolution of American political parties. He has served as an economist at the American Enterprise Institute and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. His work has been cited by The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Bloomberg, Forbes, and The New York Times.

Dr. Hauk earned his Ph.D. from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and a B.S. from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. His research covers international trade, foreign direct investment, economic growth, and political economy, with publications in journals such as The Journal of Economic Growth, Journal of Macroeconomics, and Economics and Politics. He also writes for public outlets like The Conversation and has been featured by Time, Bloomberg News, and Australia’s ABC News. Dr. Hauk directs the Moore School’s nationally ranked Professional MBA program and the occasional bout of medieval rapier fighting.

Dr. Watson holds a B.G.S. from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Ph.D. in Economics from Texas A&M University. Her research interests include experimental economics, applied microeconomics, and economic education and pedagogy, with publications on price reservations in auctions, case-based decision-making, and innovative approaches to teaching economics. She is especially interested in how people make decisions in uncertain or game-like environments. When not working, Dr. Watson can usually be found embracing various forms of geekery—most often running Dungeons & Dragons campaigns or exploring fantasy video game worlds.

Dr. Woodworth holds a B.B.A. in Economics from Wichita State University and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Florida. Her research interests center on health economics, with a focus on hospital settings, patient outcomes, and disparities in care. Her work has explored the effects of emergency room crowding on mortality, racial mismatch between patients and doctors, and the impact of “Baby-Friendly” hospital initiatives on breastfeeding rates. She uses quasi-experimental methods to examine real-world healthcare policies and practices. Dr. Woodworth enjoys baking, gardening, volunteering with her church, and frequent visits to Mr. Bunky’s Market.

Dylan Burke is a Columbia native with deep roots at the University of South Carolina. After earning his B.A. in Economics and an M.A. in Economics from USC, he went on to complete a second M.A. in Public Policy at the University of Virginia. Now pursuing his Ph.D. in Economics at USC, Dylan focuses his research on the economics of education and labor markets, with a particular interest in educational outcomes for South Carolina students. As an affiliate of the Education Policy Initiative at Carolina (EPiC), Dylan actively collaborates with policymakers to assess and improve education initiatives across the state. His long-term goal is to apply his research expertise in D.C., contributing to evidence-based policy development.

Abby Townsend is a junior at the University of South Carolina Honors College, pursuing a B.A. in Russian Language, Literature, and Culture, and a B.A. in Economics. Her academic interests focus on the intersection of language, international relations, and economic policy, with an emphasis on post-Soviet states. With language experience in Russian, Spanish, and Latin, Abby combines strong communication skills with analytical training to explore how cultural context shapes global economic policies. She has distinguished herself through interdisciplinary coursework and a commitment to global engagement. Abby plans to pursue a graduate education in Russian and Eastern European studies, aiming to contribute to cross-cultural understanding and diplomacy. 

Summer Schwedes is a McNair Scholar and Honors College student at the University of South Carolina, where is pursuing a B.S. in Business Economics, Finance, and Management. Her academic interests include healthcare economics and early intervention policy. She works as a research assistant in the Department of Economics, contributing to two faculty-led projects: a cost-benefit analysis of early Alzheimer’s diagnosis and a study on the impact of public equity firms on childcare facilities. She also serves as a University Ambassador and holds an internship at the South Carolina Department of Insurance. Summer plans to pursue graduate studies in economics, with the potential to earn a Ph.D.