Meet the 2026–27 NABE Scholars

Niyam Acharya is a senior at Drexel University pursuing a dual major in Economics and Data Science as a Drexel Global Scholar. He has professional data analytics experience across the asset management and healthcare sectors, having previously worked at Macquarie Asset Management and Trinity Health. Deeply interested in the intersection of innovation and technology, Niyam has co-authored published research on applying Large Language Models in educational environments and is currently building computer vision machine learning pipelines for race-walking analysis. He also serves as an economics tutor at Drexel University’s LeBow School of Business. And as an AWS Certified Data Engineer, he is passionate about leveraging data engineering to drive economic insights.

Faith Achugamonu is a Senior Economics Research Assistant in the Financial Institution Risk Evaluation Section at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, where she conducts quantitative analysis and data visualization across major regulatory banking datasets. Her work includes co-authoring a published Federal Reserve research note on the impact of rising interest rates on systemic banking resilience. She previously held research positions at the University of Chicago and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Economics from Washington University in St. Louis. As a NABE Scholar, she looks forward to deepening her expertise in financial and macroeconomic policy and connecting with a broader community of economists working at the intersection of research and real-world impact.

Gustavo Acosta Matos is a PhD candidate in Economics at the University of Michigan. His research focuses on applied microeconomics and the measurement of sensitive and underreported behaviors. He is particularly interested in policy-relevant evaluations conducted in partnership with government agencies and implementing organizations.

His current projects examine topics such as gender-based violence in public spaces, vaccine uptake and health decision-making, sanitation and housing maintenance, and the economic consequences of insecurity. Across these projects, Gustavo uses field experiments, administrative data, and survey methods to generate evidence that can inform public policy. Prior to his doctoral studies, he was a predoctoral scholar at Innovations for Poverty Action and Duke University.

Funmilayo A. Ajayi is a doctoral student in Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University. As an applied microeconomist, her research focuses on household and consumer finance, behavioral finance, and the role of non-bank financial intermediaries in shaping consumer decision-making and financial resilience. Prior to her doctoral studies, she worked as a Research Professional at the Development Innovation Lab at the University of Chicago and as an Audit Associate at KPMG. She holds a master’s degree in International and Development Economics from Yale University and earned her bachelor’s degree in Economics in Nigeria, graduating first in her class. As an NABE Scholar, she looks forward to exploring how empirical economic research can inform real-world financial systems and improve consumer outcomes.

Avantika Chauhan is an Associate at Andersen, formerly Rosen Consulting Group, where she conducts economic and real estate market research, quantitative analysis, and forecasting. Her work focuses on analyzing housing and commercial real estate trends, developing market insights, and supporting the firm's economic research and reporting efforts.

She holds an M.S. in Applied Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a B.A. (Honors) in Economics with a minor in Applied Mathematics from the University of Delhi.

As a NABE Scholar, Avantika looks forward to learning from economists across a range of industries and policy areas, expanding her professional network, and gaining new perspectives on the application of economics to real-world business and policy challenges. She hopes the program will help her continue developing as an economist and strengthen her ability to communicate economic insights to diverse audiences.

Micah Clements is a Master of Arts candidate in Economics at Howard University, where he serves as Treasurer of the Graduate Economics Student Association. His interests include applied economics, financial markets, economic development, and public policy, with a focus on expanding economic opportunity through data-driven analysis and financial innovation.

Prior to graduate study, Micah built a career in banking and consumer lending, serving in relationship management and loan advisory roles where he worked with individuals and businesses to evaluate credit needs and develop financing solutions. These experiences sparked his interest in the economic forces that shape access to capital and long-term financial mobility.

Beyond his professional work, Micah has served as a board member for Six Square—Austin’s Black Cultural District, which preserves and promotes the history and economic vitality of Austin’s historic Black community, and the SIMS Foundation, a nonprofit that provides mental health and recovery services to musicians and music industry professionals. These leadership roles strengthened his commitment to community development and evidence-based solutions to social and economic challenges.

At Howard, Micah has developed quantitative skills in econometrics and economic modeling while conducting research on debt and economic growth. As a NABE Scholar, he hopes to deepen his applied economic toolkit, engage with leaders across the profession, and build a career at the intersection of finance, technology, and policy to advance financial inclusion and sustainable economic development.

Yovela Debesay is an economics and international development professional with over five years of experience across the public, private, nonprofit, and multilateral sectors. She recently earned a Master of Arts in International Development from George Washington University, concentrating on economic development and private sector growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, and holds bachelor’s degrees in Economics and International Studies from the University of South Florida.

Yovela’s work sits at the intersection of economic development, policy analysis, and international affairs. She is currently a Research Fellow with the U.S.–Africa Policy Series and Communications Manager for the Sadie Collective. Her experience includes roles with the U.S. Department of Commerce, The Cadmus Group, and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.

In 2026, Yovela was selected as a Princeton in Africa Fellow and will serve as a Research Fellow at the UONGOZI Institute in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Her research focus includes development economics, political economy, diaspora investment, and Africa’s structural transformation, with a focus on inclusive and sustainable economic growth across the continent.

Mustafa Eren is an Economics student at Drexel University's LeBow College of Business, specializing in macroeconomics and financial markets. His research encompasses macroeconometric theory and emerging market financial dynamics, including structural modeling of wages, profits, and capital accumulation across U.S. business cycles and time series econometric analysis of equity price behavior in Chinese capital markets. He served as the financial markets team lead on Drexel's Federal Reserve Challenge team, serves as a teaching assistant for econometrics, international trade, and the senior capstone seminar, and has worked in economic consulting at Econsult Solutions and as a data scientist at SEPTA. His primary research interest lies in macro-financial transmission: how monetary policy, trade shocks, and financial conditions propagate through markets and shape real economic outcomes.

Christian Flores is pursuing a joint MPA at Princeton University and JD at Harvard Law School. He is currently a Good Life Resident Fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, writing about Federal Reserve reform. Previously, Christian worked as an economist at the National Domestic Workers Alliance, an organization that advocates for nannies, housecleaners, and home care workers. Under the Biden Administration, he served a special adviser at the White House Council of Economic Advisers, covering industrial policy and public investment. Earlier in his career, Christian worked as a senior research analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in the Monetary Policy Research Division, focusing on macroeconomic forecasting and labor economics. He earned his BA in Economics and Political Science from Columbia University, graduating with honors in economics.

Briana Hardy is an Associate Economist at Moody’s Analytics, where she contributes to economic forecasting, modeling, and economic analysis for both U.S. regional economies and international markets. She earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Connecticut and has experience supporting country forecasts, regional economic research, business cycle analysis, and the development of economic reports and commentary.

Briana's forecasting work has been recognized by Focus Economics and Consensus Economics. Her forecasts ranked first for Latvia GDP and third for Latvia inflation in 2024. Her Latvia inflation forecasts ranked first in 2025, and her Ghana GDP forecasts ranked first in 2025.

Her professional interests include financial economics, development economics, economic forecasting, and the communication of economic insights to support business and policy decision-making. Through the NABE Scholars Program, Briana looks forward to expanding her professional network, strengthening her technical and communication skills, and learning from economists across a wide range of industries and sectors.

Cansu Isler is a Demand Forecast Analyst at Corning Incorporated and a Ph.D. candidate in International Economics and Finance at Brandeis International Business School. Her work focuses on forecasting and risk analysis, with an emphasis on using mixed-frequency and firm-level data to assess macroeconomic, financial, and business conditions. Prior to her doctoral studies, she worked as a Research Analyst at The Conference Board, where she contributed to the forecasting and analysis of Leading Economic Indexes for major economies. As a NABE Scholar, Cansu looks forward to engaging with economists across industry, policy, and academia while further strengthening her applied forecasting and business economics toolkit.

Vaishnavi Kumar is an Analyst in the Antitrust and Competition Practice at Charles River Associates in Chicago, where she conducts economic and data analysis to support expert reports in high-profile antitrust and competition litigation matters. She graduated from Case Western Reserve University in 2025 with degrees in Biology and Economics. At CWRU, she served as President and Editor-in-Chief of the CWRU Journal of Economics and worked as a teaching assistant. She previously interned with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Microeconomics Team, contributing to research on health economics and the economics of crime. As a NABE Scholar, Vaishnavi is eager to deepen her understanding of applied economics and connect with professionals across the field.

Yanru Lee is a Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, where he works with the Emerging Markets Working Group. His research focuses on international finance, alternative investments, and economic development, with an emphasis on the role of private capital in infrastructure investment and sustainable development in emerging markets and developing economies. His recent work examines the financial viability and social returns of infrastructure projects in these economies, contributing insights to academic and policy discussions on supporting greater business investment and private-sector participation. He received his PhD in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his BSocSci from the National University of Singapore.

Robert Leigh is a research analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. As part of the regional/microeconomics group, his work focuses on the Texas economy and the state’s energy industry. He contributes to various bank publications and co-authored the regional group’s annual state outlook presentation. He also conducts research on education economics. He holds bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and economics from the University of Arizona. After his time at the Fed, he plans to pursue a graduate degree in economics.

Ellen Liaw is a Senior Managing Economist at BRG, where she develops and applies economic and financial models to inform litigation, regulatory, and policy decisions, with a focus on antitrust and competition issues. She earned her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, San Diego, where her research examined the causal effects of place-based housing policies on children’s educational and long-term outcomes. Using quasi-experimental methods and large-scale administrative data, her work showed that access to affordable housing through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit improved student performance and educational attainment. Ellen specializes in applied econometrics and causal inference, translating complex data into clear, decision-relevant insights. As a NABE Scholar, she looks forward to engaging with peers across industry and policy and contributing to conversations at the intersection of research and practice.

Rachel Oduntan is an Associate in KPMG’s Economic & Statistical Consulting Services (ES) group, where she provides economic consulting services to state, local, and federal government clients. Her work includes conducting benefit-cost analyses for transportation and infrastructure projects, leveraging data visualization tools to generate actionable insights for workforce development initiatives, and supporting complex consulting engagements through her expertise in macroeconomics, econometrics, data analysis and Spanish-language communication.

Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in Economics and Public Policy from William & Mary and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Applied Economics at Boston College on a part-time basis. Her research and professional interests include economic development, policy analysis, and the role of natural resources, fiscal policy, and public policy in shaping development outcomes across Africa and Latin America.

Omar Olivarez is a PhD Candidate at Harvard University whose research focuses on labor, organizational, and digital economics. His research investigates how firms organize work and coordinate economic activity within and across organizational boundaries, particularly in response to technological change. As an empiricist, he uses machine learning and causal inference methods on large-scale data to investigate these questions. He hopes his research can help workers and firms better navigate coordination challenges and an evolving technological landscape. At Harvard, Omar has served as the Harvard Business School representative on the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Student Council and has taught coursework on the economics of technology and managerial decision-making. Prior to pursuing his PhD, he worked in product operations at Google, software development at Southwest Airlines, and technology advisory at KPMG.

Ankit Patro is a Research Associate at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. He holds bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Mathematics, and International Relations from Boston University. During his undergraduate studies, he participated in the 2024 AEA Summer Program and worked as a research assistant for multiple professors and research centers, most notably the Global Development Policy Center at BU. His research interests include international macroeconomics, geopolitical risk, and the use of text-based and machine learning methods in economic research. He plans to pursue a PhD in economics, with a focus in the intersection of global finance and economic development. As an NABE Scholar, he hopes to learn from economists working across policy, business, and research institutions, and build a strong professional network committed to economic analysis.

Khanh Pham is a 3rd year Ph.D. student in Economics at the University of California, Irvine. Growing up in Quy Nhon city, Vietnam, Khanh is the first in her family to study abroad and pursue a doctorate. Prior to her doctoral studies, she graduated summa cum laude with double degrees in Economics and Mathematics from Texas Christian University, where she was named a Senior Scholar in the Economics Department. Her research interests are in behavioral economics, experimental economics, and applied microeconomics, with a recent focus on the behavioral economics of AI, studying how AI behaves as an economic agent and its decision-making patterns. As a NABE Scholar, Khanh looks forward to connecting with economists, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss, learn, and bridge the gap between academic research on AI and its implications in business, policy, and the future of the labor market.

Vinh Phan is a Research Associate at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. He holds a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in economics with minor studies in mathematics, statistics, and psychology. He currently conducts research related to inflation dynamics, discretionary monetary policy, and financial payment systems. He has also contributed to bank-related publications on inflation and household spending. Vinh plans to pursue a PhD in Economics, focusing his academic research within the realms of the economics of education, macro-labor, and monetary policy, and to contribute as a university educator.

Drew Phillips earned a B.A. in Economics with a concentration in Business and Data Analytics from Spelman College. As a Global Commerce Research Intern with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, she researched global business trends to support workforce development initiatives, strengthening her understanding of applied economics across technology, public policy, and community development. This fall, she will begin graduate school at Georgia Institute of Technology, where she plans to further explore the intersection of data science, artificial intelligence, and human oversight in ethical decision-making. Drew is particularly interested in leveraging data and emerging technologies to improve organizational effectiveness while advancing safe, responsible innovation that protects the public, strengthens trust, and creates positive societal impact. Through the NABE Scholars Program, she hopes to gain mentorship, expand her professional network, and contribute her perspectives and experiences while strengthening her foundation in applied economics.

Devangana Rana is an Analyst on the Market Solutions and Structured Finance team at the World Bank Treasury. She supports the design and execution of outcome bonds and catastrophe bonds that mobilize private capital for development initiatives including reforestation, wildlife conservation, and disaster resilience. She earned a bachelor's degree in Economics and Government from Harvard University. Her interests lie at the intersection of macroeconomics, finance, and public policy. Devangana is also the founder of Kinare, an organization dedicated to the economic and social empowerment of women entrepreneurs in the Himalayan region of India where she is from. Previously, she worked at the Bank of Thailand, Antler, the Indian Ministry of Rural Development, and Harvard Business School.

Cindy Rojas Alvarado works at the International Monetary Fund, where she evaluates digital public finance reforms and R&D policy using quasi-experimental and machine-learning methods. She graduated as salutatorian from the University of Piura in Peru, studied at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid as a Santander Scholar, and is pursuing a master's in Computer Science (AI) at the University of Pennsylvania. Previously, she worked at the Central Bank of Peru, contributed to a machine-learning anti-corruption study with Peru's Comptroller General and Columbia University, and was a research fellow at the Inter-American Development Bank, working on govtech, financial-inclusion, and firm-growth evaluations across Peru, Chile, and El Salvador. Her work bridges economics and technology, focusing on how data and digital public infrastructure can strengthen transparency, reduce corruption, and support inclusive, sustainable growth.

My name is Mahnoor and I have an undergraduate degree in Economics and a Master's in Business Analytics, I work at the intersection of data and operations turning messy, real-world data into decisions and processes that move the business forward. My experience spans fintech, energy, and consumer goods, where I've improved the accuracy and speed of matching systems, streamlined operational workflows, and built executive dashboards that significantly cut reporting time. I work fluently across Python, SQL, BigQuery, and modern BI platforms to build everything from real-time analytics pipelines to machine learning–driven tools — always with an eye on how the work runs day to day, not just what the data says. What drives me is the problem behind the data: finding what's broken before anyone notices, and building systems and processes that keep it from breaking again. I'm honored to be supported by the NABE scholarship as I continue growing as both an analyst and an operations-minded leader.

Amandine is a research analyst at the International Monetary Fund, working in the African department, covering the Mali and WAEMU teams, conducting quantitative and qualitative economic research. Additionally, her role requires a strong knowledge of political developments and institutions in the region, spanning from security, climate change, religion and history. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Florida and a Master's in International Economics and Finance from Johns Hopkins SAIS. Her career started in finance at a bank and has since evolved into research and policy analysis. Her interests lie in economic development, infrastructure and project financing, econometric methods and labor economics in the African continent.

Kevin Vega is a Research Assistant in the Advanced Foreign Economies section at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, where he monitors global macroeconomic developments, contributes to economic forecasting, and supports economic research. He holds bachelor’s degrees in Economics and International Affairs from the University of Georgia. He participated in the American Economic Association Summer Program at Howard University and previously served as a Data Analyst Intern and Deputy Project Manager at Griffin & Strong, P.C., contributing to economic disparity studies for public-sector clients. His goal is to pursue a career in international economic research focused on global growth, trade, and financial stability. As a 2026–27 NABE Scholar, he aims to deepen his expertise in economics and engage with economists across policy and industry.

Shufan Wang is a PhD candidate in Economics in W.P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University. He has a primary research specialization in applied microeconomic theory, with concentration on economics of uncertainty and information. He obtained his master’s degree in economics in Columbia University and bachelor’s degree in Tsinghua University in China. With the aim of developing insights into Law and Economics under different constitutional systems, his current project examines plea bargaining games under different information structures and legal requirements. Outside economics, he has prior experience conducting sociological research and fieldwork on a variety of topics in China and is very passionate about that.

Aihui Wei is a Ph.D. candidate in Economics at The Graduate Center, City University of New York. Her research focuses on monetary policy, financial economics, central bank communication, and large language models (LLMs). Her job market paper studies how Federal Reserve communication affects asset prices in real time using LLM-derived communication measures and a high-frequency identification strategy. Aihui has gained policy and applied research experience through internships at the International Monetary Fund and the Inter-American Development Bank. As a NABE Scholar, she looks forward to engaging with economists across policy, industry, and academia.

Shewit Woldemichael is an emerging economic strategist and consultant focused on economic development, international markets, and strategic growth. She holds a Master's degree in International and Development Economics from the University of San Francisco and has experience spanning research, business development, stakeholder engagement, and startup consulting. Her work is driven by a strong interest in the forces that shape economic opportunity, particularly across emerging markets, and women-led organizations. She is passionate about building partnerships and advancing initiatives that create sustainable, inclusive growth at both the local and global level.

Christelle is an Associate Analyst at Econ One Research, where she works in litigation consulting on antitrust cases, applying economic and financial analysis, industry research, and data analysis. Prior to joining Econ One, she served as a Research Fellow at the King Center on Global Development at Stanford University, where her work focused on governance and economic development. In this role, she supported empirical evaluations of RCT interventions aimed at strengthening governance institutions through the decentralization of public goods provision in Zambia.

Christelle holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics and a Master's in Finance from Case Western Reserve University, where she served as a teaching assistant and studied abroad at Sciences Po, France. As a NABE Scholar, she looks forward to deepening her understanding of business economics and the many applications of economic analysis in the private sector, while connecting with practitioners and economists across industries.