7 outstanding economics students chosen to mentor peers

Students selected for the Undergraduate Economics Instructional Scholars program will receive faculty mentorship while tutoring peers.

The W. P. Carey Department of Economics is proud to announce this year's Undergraduate Economics Instructional Scholars (UEIS), seven economics students nominated by professors to serve as peer tutors for that faculty member's 300- and 400-level courses during fall 2026 and spring 2027.

The UEIS program offers ASU students online and in-person tutoring services through student learners who have excelled in their studies. Selected scholars have the unique opportunity to mentor fellow students while receiving mentorship from the faculty member who nominated them for the position.

Constance Jones

Question: How did you end up in economics?
Answer: After taking my first economics course in college, Microeconomic Principles with Dr. Girante, I found that economics was much more interesting than I had originally expected. Dr. Girante brought the subject to life for me and showed me how economics can be seen in our lives every day. I became fascinated by the idea that economics affects every individual, whether they realize it or not, and wanted to understand how decisions are made that can shape society as a whole. That experience inspired me to add Economics as my second major.

Q: What do you like most about economics so far in your academic career?
A: I love how economics combines analytical thinking with creativity. I've always enjoyed problem-solving and am motivated by challenges, so economics gives me the opportunity to think critically while finding new ways to interpret and interact with information. I also love seeing the real-world impact of economic decisions on a global scale. It's fascinating to see how every choice comes with trade-offs, and I believe studying economics has truly changed the way I approach decision-making in my own life.

Q: What is your future career aspiration?
A: After graduating, I hope to work in economic consulting, helping companies and government entities solve complex problems, optimize outcomes, and make well-informed decisions. Over the long term, I'd love to apply that experience to decision-making on a global scale, particularly in areas involving international economics and foreign relations.

Payne Crouch

Q: How did you end up in economics?
A: I've always been interested in learning how the world works, and I originally planned to become a history teacher. After taking an introductory economics course, I became fascinated by how economics provides another lens for understanding the world and the decisions people make. That interest ultimately led me to switch my major to economics.

Q: What do you like most about economics so far in your academic career?
A: There are many aspects of studying economics that I have thoroughly enjoyed throughout my academic career. One of my favorite experiences has been learning about data analytics and how it can be applied to economic questions. That experience sparked my interest in the quantitative side of economics. It also motivated me to pursue a minor in mathematics, which has further deepened my understanding of economics.

Q: What is your future career aspiration?
A: After graduation, I plan to continue my studies at ASU by earning an M.S. in Economics. Once I complete my graduate degree, I hope to begin my career as an analyst in the financial sector, where I can apply the economic reasoning and quantitative skills I have developed.

Jacob Betz

Q: How did you end up in economics?
A: I initially fell in love with microeconomics class in high school. My economics teacher was amazing and showed me how interesting the subject was. From there, I started learning more about the topic, and I ended up also taking macroeconomics with her as well. This cemented my love for the subject and pushed me to major in it.

Q: What do you like most about economics so far in your academic career?
A: What I love about economics is how varied the subject is, and how it can be applied to so many different fields and even day-to-day life. Additionally, as a math minor, I appreciate the analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving nature of the field. However, the thing I like most about majoring in economics at ASU is the faculty. They all offer diverse and interesting approaches to the subject from their varying fields of research, and are always willing to explain challenging concepts.

Q: What is your future career aspiration?
A: My long-term goal is to go to graduate school to earn a PhD in economics and pursue a career conducting economic research. I'm interested in being able to apply the economic theory and quantitative methods I have learned to help answer important economic questions through my research. At the same time, I'm also interested in learning more about consulting and banking and the prospects they have to offer, as these fields would also allow me to perform economic analysis with real-world problems.

Josh McBrayer

Q: How did you end up in economics?
A: I changed my major several times throughout my academic career, but I kept coming back to my love for problem-solving and my interest in the economy. I love how elegant economic theory is, how everything ties into everything else. Not many other disciplines have this same elegance.

Q: What do you like most about economics so far in your academic career?
A: I love that the problems we solve in economics have meaning beyond mathematics itself. That is, it is not math for math's sake. Every problem, from simple supply and demand to consumer optimization, has an answer that connects to the real world. That makes problem-solving extremely satisfying.

Q: What is your future career aspiration?
A: I plan on attending Columbia Business School or the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania for an MBA with a concentration in Economics. I ultimately hope to work in consulting, helping firms solve complex financial and strategic problems, with a particular interest in firms that support veterans.

Luka Karlovic

Q: How did you end up in economics?
A: I added economics as a double major during my fall 2024 semester. I did this because I enjoyed my ECN 212 and 221 classes during my first year, and business law alone did not fulfill my desire for more quantitative work.

Q: What do you like most about economics so far in your academic career?
A: My favorite part about economics in academics is the variety of types of work you do in a given class. There's a mix of statistics and analytical reasoning, and, since economics is applicable everywhere, you can look into and research a wide field of real-world subjects.

Q: What is your future career aspiration?
A: My future career aspirations start with post-graduate education. Once I have a master's and/or PhD, I want to work in research (either public or private work for me).

Samuel Jawer

Q: How did you end up in economics?
A: I began my university career studying a biological subset of chemical engineering. Climate change and ecological sustainability have long been a personal interest of mine, and I wanted to look for possible solutions through the lens of science and engineering. Over time I found myself increasingly interested in a bird's eye view of the problem – is it even possible to organize communities and societies in a way that is sustainable without giving up the idea of growth? This question (and my own love of history and cultural development) naturally led me to economics.

Q: What do you like most about economics so far in your academic career?
A: I've particularly appreciated the classes that have imparted knowledge of fields I knew nothing about (looking at you, macro/money and banking). More broadly, my study of economics has given me another lens to view the world and human activity at scale; I value new paradigms through which I may gain insights and work to solve challenging problems, and economics is pretty wonderful in how it combines mathematics, history, and psychology to try to evaluate future possibilities.

Q: What is your future career aspiration?
A: I would like to do some kind of data analysis early in my career, just to get a “boots on the ground” feel for the statistics and methods behind higher-level analysis being made. Long-term, I want to work in environmental/ecological economics, perhaps as a consultant, which would let me explore the great variety of challenges currently facing the field. Alternatively, international economics would be fascinating, particularly roles that permit a deep comparative investigation between the U.S.'s and an international counterpart's economic modes of operation.

Edward Moore

Q: How did you end up in economics?
A: I really enjoyed learning about business and math, so I felt like economics was a great way to combine those and learn more about the why of business.

Q: What do you like most about economics so far in your academic career?
A: My most enjoyed course was a class I took on international economics. Even though it wasn't quantitative, I found the content fascinating.

Q: What is your future career aspiration?
A: I'm planning on working in data analytics after graduating.