MACON – Mercer University's BB&T Center for Undergraduate Research in Public Policy and Capitalism recently announced the recipients of its 2016-2017 academic grants supporting student research in economics, finance or other related areas.
The Center, established within the Stetson School of Business and Economics in 2009 by a generous grant from the BB&T Charitable Foundation, awarded funding to the following Mercer undergraduates:
Annie Barrett, senior economics major, received up to $2,000 for her project, titled “FDI in Sub-Saharan Africa” Sarah Barry, junior economics, mathematics, and psychology triple-major, received up to $1,000 for her project, titled “Interpersonal Trust in Rural Ecuador” Jordin Post, junior economics and finance double-major, received up to $1,000 for her project, titled “Financial Bubbles” Tom Beatty, senior finance major, received up to $1,000 for his project, titled “Oil Prices and Country Credit Ratings”
“The research grants are the program we are the most proud at the BB&T Center,” said Dr. Antonio Saravia, assistant professor of economics and director of the Center. “By facilitating undergraduate students to pursue their research interests, we achieve two goals. First, students get to work on projects that they present at national and international conferences and potentially publish. This has a significant impact on their vitas and increases their visibility. In the past, students who have received these awards have landed important jobs or gained admission to highly reputed graduate programs. Second, the research grants allow us to fulfill our mission, which is to promote a thorough discussion of the economic and moral foundations of capitalism.”
Barrett and Post will present their work at the Association of Private Enterprise Education conference April 9-12 in Lahaina, Hawaii. Barry and Bates will present their work at the Society of Business, Industry and Economics conference April 19-21 in Destin, Florida.
“Most of these projects have to do with analyzing the benefits of free markets in rich and developing economies,” added Dr. Saravia. “The students who have received the grants this year are highly motivated, and we expect their papers to be of the highest quality.”
For more information on the BB&T Center for Undergraduate Research in Public Policy and Capitalism, visit business.mercer.edu/centers-initiatives/bbt-center.
About the Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics
Established in 1984, Mercer University's Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics is named for Eugene W. Stetson, a 1901 Mercer graduate and business pioneer who leveraged the first major buyout in corporate history. Over the past 80 years, Mercer has granted over 12,000 business degrees, and many of its graduates hold senior leadership positions in companies around the world. Mercer's business school delivers career-focused business education programs and develops entrepreneurial leaders and responsible global citizens. It holds accreditation from the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), which places it among the top five percent of all top business schools worldwide. Mercer's business school has been recognized by the Princeton Review for “Greatest Opportunity for Minority Students” and “Greatest Opportunity for Women” as well as being one of its “Best Business Schools.” In addition, it has been recognized among the “Top 15 Schools in the Nation for Marketing and Accounting.” The School offers the following programs: Atlanta (Evening BBA, Full-Time (One-Year) MBA, Evening MBA, Executive MBA, Professional MBA, Master of Accountancy, M.S. in Business Analytics), Macon (Traditional BBA and Evening MBA), Douglas County and Henry County (Evening BBA). www.mercer.edu/business
