Economics

Five students in Alice Kassens' class attended an economic forum hosted by Pinnacle Bank at Hotel Roanoke, where they networked, connected with regional business leaders and chatted with a guest speaker, American economist Art Laffer. Laffer shared his experiences in the Reagan administration and talked to the group about the effects of tariffs, raising and lowering taxes, and a different perspective on debt. 

Attending the forum allowed students to establish connections with Pinnacle representatives and business owners. It also challenged them to interpret economic principles for everyday life. 

“This opportunity helped me gain valuable insights into how economic principles apply in real-world scenarios, which aligns with my passion for data analysis,” Cody Williams said. “It reinforced my desire to pursue a career where I can use my data science degree to analyze and interpret information that can guide meaningful economic and business decisions.” 

Awesome Bars began as a hobby. Stephanie Melnik '09 and her sister, Leah, cooked up these healthy energy bar concoctions in their California kitchen. Now the bars are sold in coffee shops and natural foods stores nationwide and online.

Melnik gained business acumen at Roanoke, where economics professors mentored her and she helped real-life entrepreneurs write a business plan. Granola sales now drive Melnik's life. "It's what gets me out of bed in the morning," she said.

Economics major Jimmy Bradshaw '13 has taken a job with the Washington Wizards as a video coordinator and playing development assistant. After playing basketball at Roanoke, he worked at Lehigh as assistant with the men’s basketball team while earning a masters degree in economics. He scored an internship with the Wizards and was employed full-time a year later. “I've always wanted to do something with sports...the NBA is tough, but that's the ultimate dream,” Bradshaw said.