Ph.D. Student at Penn State University
Q: What were some of your favorite things to do in the OC? (i.e. restaurants, parks, day-trips, night life, etc.)
I loved the proximity to everything. As someone who enjoys a variety of entertainment options, the OC was perfect. It offers great restaurants with diverse cuisines, beautiful hiking trails in the hills or by the beach, and numerous conventions and concerts. I truly enjoyed spending two years of my twenties in SoCal.
Q: What was your educational/career background before you joined the program?
I majored in mathematical economics during my undergraduate studies and then earned my first MS in economics on the East Coast. Determined to pursue research in behavioral studies, I joined the MSBCE program. I am thankful to Dr. Rassenti, who provided valuable insights about the program before I moved here.
Q: What was your favorite aspect of the program?
The opportunity for in-depth research with senior faculty was my favorite aspect. The program offers both research-intensive and industry-focused paths, and I chose the research side. Under the supervision of Dr. Kovenock, I was exposed to cutting-edge work in contest theory. He generously shared his knowledge, experience, and insights, and devoted significant time to our project discussions. I never imagined that, as a master's student, I could engage in such advanced economic theory research. I also cherished the cohort experience, where I found peers with similar interests, built long-lasting friendships, and potentially future coauthors. Additionally, the program allowed us the freedom to pursue our specific interests. As my interest in marketing grew, I reached out to Dr. Coskuner-Balli. We developed a mentorship and coauthorship, and our paper was accepted into the APACR conference 2024. She also nominated me to be the Argyros College Graduate Research Fellow for the 2023-2024 school year. During my PhD application process, I received tremendous support from both of my advisors, Dr. Kovenock and Dr. Coskuner-Balli, and the entire MSBCE community. Special thanks to Ms. Dumas, Dr. James, Dr. Kaplan, Ms. Luetje, Dr. Porter, Dr. Rassenti, Dr. Shachat, and Dr. Song for their invaluable assistance, for which I am profoundly grateful.
Q: What are you doing now and how did ESI help prepare you?
I am about to begin my PhD in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing at the Smeal College of Business, Penn State University.
Q: Any words of advice for future students?
Discover your interests, find your collaborators, and take responsibility for your work. The MSBCE community is always there to support you.