Research

I am an economics professor, and I study public finance.

• I am interested in (a) tax policy and administration, (b) aging, retirement, and social security, (c) college enrollment and workforce development, (d) social safety net programs, and (e) the economic mobility and self-sufficiency of low-income earners.  

• My approach is to collaborate with federal, state, and local government agencies to understand institutional environments, build internal research capacity, conduct scientific peer-reviewed research, and inform policymakers. I work side-by-side with government partners to design and evaluate randomized controlled trials (RCTs or field experiments) and analyze administrative data using quasi-experimental econometric techniques.

• My research papers are available on my CV+Papers page.  

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Teaching

I focus on classroom learning, experiential learning, job search, and career development. 

• I teach applied econometrics in the Masters in Public Policy and the Masters in Data Science for Public Policy programs. In this class, I emphasize coding, writing, and presenting skills for producing and consuming data analyses. The course highlights data analysis techniques to establish causal effects, strategies to clarify and evaluate assumptions behind quasi-experimental research designs, and data visualization to communicate quantitative results. 

• I teach tax policy and administration in the Masters in Public Policy. In this class, I emphasize quantitative analyses, writing, and presenting ideas related to fiscal policy. The course highlights how to complete a tax return, how income taxes are designed, and how income taxes relate to broader public policy.

• To develop experiential learning related to the income tax system and public policy, I am setting up a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site at the McCourt School of Public Policy and Georgetown Law Center. 

• I co-organize the Georgetown Tax Law and Public Finance Workshop, a seminar series that is joint effort between Georgetown Law Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy. 

• Course lecture notes and syllabi are available on Georgetown University's Canvas platform.