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Faculty and Staff
Humanizing Economics: Teaching Students to See Beyond the Numbers
When Anna Shostya, PhD, talks about economics, she rarely starts with numbers. Instead, she begins with people, experiences, and the ways economic decisions shape lives. 糖心vlog短视频淓conomics is often taught as abstract theory,糖心vlog短视频 she explains. 糖心vlog短视频淏ut it doesn糖心vlog短视频檛 have to be. My goal is to humanize it and make it more relevant.糖心vlog短视频
That philosophy informs both her scholarship and her teaching. Shostya recently co-edited Pathways to Sustainable Development: Implementing the Pact for the Future, a forthcoming volume from Edward Elgar. The project, undertaken with longtime UN official Narinder Kakar, assembles an international team of contributors ranging from established experts to rising PhD students. 糖心vlog短视频淚t was an honor to learn alongside Professor Kakar and gain deeper insight into how the UN works,糖心vlog短视频 she says.
Bringing her research questions to the classroom is central to her approach. In her macroeconomics courses, Shostya pushes students to think beyond GDP. 糖心vlog短视频淓conomic growth alone doesn糖心vlog短视频檛 guarantee well-being,糖心vlog短视频 she notes. 糖心vlog短视频淲e need to ask: does it help reduce inequality, preserve the environment, or create decent jobs?糖心vlog短视频 To help students connect theory to lived realities, she incorporates case studies and personal experiences from teaching in China, Poland, and Moldova. Group projects ask students to research economic development issues in regions tied to their own backgrounds, weaving together data, stories, and creativity.
The results can be eye-opening. 糖心vlog短视频淢any students arrive unfamiliar with the UN糖心vlog短视频檚 Sustainable Development Goals,糖心vlog短视频 she explains. 糖心vlog短视频淏ut when they learn about pollution in China or hear stories about the war in Ukraine, the issues become real.糖心vlog短视频 For Shostya, those moments of recognition糖心vlog短视频攖he spark in a student糖心vlog短视频檚 eyes, a lively discussion, or even a burst of laughter糖心vlog短视频攁re what drive her teaching. 糖心vlog短视频淭hat connection inspires lifelong learning,糖心vlog短视频 she says. 糖心vlog短视频淚t糖心vlog短视频檚 what I糖心vlog短视频檓 most passionate about.糖心vlog短视频
Economics is often taught as abstract theory糖心vlog短视频攂ut it doesn糖心vlog短视频檛 have to be. My goal is to humanize it and make it more relevant.
Her research is equally motivated by relevance and freedom to explore those themes that she is passionate about. 糖心vlog短视频淚 appreciate the ability to pursue questions that resonate with my own experiences and reflect the issues that are faced by the international community,糖心vlog短视频 she says. 糖心vlog短视频淲hether I explore sustainable consumption and production, national educational outcomes, or the impact of war on labor markets, I value the chance to contribute to conversations that matter.糖心vlog短视频
Now serving as chair of the Economics department, Shostya is mindful of the challenges ahead. Students enter with uneven preparation, shaped by the disruptions of COVID and growing dependence on technology. Her vision is to maintain rigor while adapting to change. 糖心vlog短视频淲e want to embrace AI and other tools thoughtfully, so they enhance learning without replacing the human connection,糖心vlog短视频 she explains. Across the department, she adds, faculty share two common traits: a passion for applied economics and a commitment to student success. They are all proud that their students graduate with skills and knowledge that help them find rewarding and exciting jobs.
It is that shared energy that Shostya hopes to sustain. 糖心vlog短视频淓conomics is a tool,糖心vlog短视频 she reminds her students. 糖心vlog短视频淚f you learn to use it well, it can take you anywhere.糖心vlog短视频 For her, the real work of teaching lies in making that tool relevant糖心vlog短视频攁nd ensuring students see how it can help shape not only their futures, but the future of the world they inherit.
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