Ph.D. Alumni
The Department of Economics at Western Michigan University has a diverse student body with students from all over the world. Ph.D. alumni have gone on to establish successful careers and lives.
Class of 2023
Mir Angkur, Assistant Professor of Economics, Southern Utah University, Utah
Ahmad Masudi, Assistant Professor of Economics, Parahyangan Catholic University, Indonesia
CLASS OF 2021
Daniel Mengistu, Model Risk Officer, Comerica Bank, Texas
Chikezie Okoli, Economist/Data Analyst, A2F Consulting, Maryland
Thomas Weinandy, Data Scientist, BlueGranite, Michigan
CLASS OF 2020
Ateeb Syed, Sr. Economic Analyst, Research Department, State Bank of Pakistan (The Central Bank)
Alvin Harris, Sr. Economist, Research Unit, Bank of Jamaica
class of 2019
Riyadh N. Arooq, Department Manager, Ministry of Industry, Baghdad, Iraq
Nardos Beyene, Assistant Vice President, Risk Model Analysis and Validation, Sr. Analyst, Citibank
Dweepobotee Brahma, Associate Fellow in Economics, Brookings Institution, India Center
Pimam Pidalatan, currently on the job market
Class of 2018
Bezawit Agiro, Revenue Economist, Nebraska
Shen Chen, Visiting Lecturer of Economics, Arkansas Tech University
Frank Ofori, Vice President, Credit Risk Modeling, Bank of New York Mellon, Pennsylvania
Rong Shi, Economist, UNDP, China
Wan Wei, Assistant Professor of Economics, Arkansas Tech University
Class of 2017
Ama Abrokwah, Lead Researcher, Ambassador Enterprises, Indiana
Class of 2016
Kofi Acheampong, Senior Risk Modeler, Flagstar Bank, Troy, Michigan
Johanna Attoh, Assistant Professor of Economics, Walla Walla University, Washington
Justin Haing, Category Manager, Whirlpool Corporation, Michigan
Yichin Hsin, currently on the job market
Alexandra Polovinka, Assistant Professor of Economics, Lansing Community College, Michigan
Todd Sarnstrom II, Assistant Professor of Business Administration, St. Norbert College, Wisconsin
James Squires, Assistant Professor of Economics, Franklin College
Class of 2015
Diny Ghuzini, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
Alexander Houser, Quantitative Risk Specialist, TD Bank, Connecticut
Ochas Pupwe, Adjunct Faculty, Davenport University and Cornerstone University
Pei-Ju Sung, Model Validation Analyst-Assistant Vice President, Bank of the West (BNP Paribas group)
Class of 2014
Jyodi Rai, Statistical Data Analyst Schools First Federal Credit Union, Tustin, CA
Class of 2013
Stephen Abrokwah, Vice President and Marketing Actuary, Swiss Reinsurance America Holding Corporation
Shankar Ghimire, Assistant Professor of Economics and Decision Sciences, Western Illinois University
Class of 2012
Tamrat Gashaw, Assistant Professor, Columbia University
Rong Ma, Regulatory Analyst, Bloomberg
Uwaoma “George" Nwaogu, Assistant Professor, Central College
Marc Schaffer, Associate Professor, St. Norbert College
Ibrahim Sheta, Assistant Professor in the Economics Department, Mansoura University, Egypt
Kun Zhao, Seattle, WA
Class of 2011
Jing Cai, Research Assistant, Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
Abeba Mussa, Assistant Professor, Farmingdale State College, New York
Class of 2010
Ivan A. Duran Diaz, Assistant Professor, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Song Gao, Co-CEO, Head of Research, PRC Macro Advisors, Beijing, China
Julio Hernandez-Correa, Assistant Professor, University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus and Researcher, The Agricultural Experimental Station of Puerto Rico
Class of 2009
Elsy Thomas Kizhakethalackal, Associate Professor of Economics and Chair, Applied Sciences Department, Bowling Green State University-Firelands College
Meszaros Matyas Tamas, Statistical Office, Eurostat, Luxembourg
Class of 2008
Sagarika Mishra, Lecturer in Finance, Deakin University, Australia
Tadesse Biru Wodajo, Economist,Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security
Aberra Senbeta, Associate Professor of Economics, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
Class of 2007
Alemayehu Ambel, World Bank, Washington, D.C.
Lezheng Liu, Associate Professor, Central University of Economics and Finance, Beijing
Dawit Senbet, Professor and Chair, University of Northern Colorado
Blen Solomon, Associate Professor of Economics, Flagler College
Class of 2006
Martha Cruz-Zuniga, Associate Professor and Chair of Economics, The Catholic University of America
Peng "Roc" Huang, Associate Professor of Finance and Economics, Arkansas Tech University
Isabel Ruiz, Fellow and Tutor in Economics, International Development, Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Carlos Vargas-Silva, Senior Researcher, The Migration Observatory, Migration and Development, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Class of 2005
Sonila Beliu, Executive Director, CCAR Modeling Head for Auto and SL Portfolios, JP Morgan-Chase
Seife Dendir, Professor of Economics, Radford University
Elias Kedir Shukralla, Assistant Professor of Economics, Qatar University
Yuanlei Zhu, Senior Manager, Investment Strategy and Client Services, Zhang Financial
Class of 2004
Yasemin Bardakci
Mohamed El-Sayed, Senior Economic Advisor, Ministry of Finance, Qatar
Ashraf Galal Eid, Assistant Professor of Public Economics, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Finance and Economics Department, Saudi Arabia
Class of 2003
Md. Habibur Rahman, General Manager, Policy Support Wing, Governor Secretariat, Bangladesh Bank, The Central Bank of Bangladesh, Head Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Rajeev Sooreea, Assistant Professor of International Business, Dominican University of California
Bedassa Tadesse, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Minnesota-Duluth
Sayera Younus, Deputy General Manager, Monetary Policy Department, Bangladesh Bank, The Central Bank of Bangladesh, Head Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Class of 2002
Khaled I. Abdel-Kader, Senior Economist, International Monetary Fund
Fasika Dante Haile, Senior Modeling Manager, Comerica, Dallas, TX
Adugna Lemi, Chair, Department of Economics, University of Massachusetts-Boston
Class of 2001
Dan-Alex Balan
Alketa Hysenbegasi, Managing Director, The Bank of New York-Mellon
Iona R. Mazare, Segment Marketing Manager, United Parcel Service Corporate Offices, Atlanta
Class of 2000
Michael Mamo, Associate Professor of Economics, Westminster College, Salt Lake City
Class of 1998
Catalina Amuedo-Dorantes, Professor of Economics, University of California-Merced, IZA Research Fellow and Research Associate at centrA: Fundacion Centro de Estudios Adaluces, and Fellow at Cream and FEDEA