Demonstrating the powerful potential of undergraduate research, junior Economics major Diletta Mungo and senior Interdisciplinary Studies major Wayeera Robertson, who is pursuing an Economics minor, have achieved significant recognition in the field of economics.

Working closely with Dr. Jingze Jiang, a seasoned data scientist and professor of Economics and Quantitative Analysis, the pair transformed their Applied Economics class projects into compelling research papers, earning them highly competitive selections to present at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland’s Economic Scholars Program on April 21.

“The number of presenters is limited, and the competition for these spots was significant,” Dr. Jiang said. “This global economic research conference draws talented undergraduate students from large R-1 research institutions and even Ivy league universities. The Fed's decision to feature our students speaks volumes about the quality of their work.”

The selection process involves a rigorous peer-review process involving economists from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and other universities

“Federal Reserve staff commended the rigor and insight of their research proposals,” Jiang said. “I was informed by Fed staff that our students were ranked at the very top of the applicant pool by their economists.”

Mungo, a member of the women’s tennis team at PennWest California, conducted insightful research that investigates the relationship between female leadership and company performance. Utilizing a comprehensive 2024 dataset encompassing 105 publicly traded companies across seven diverse industries, her analysis explores whether a greater presence of women on boards of directors correlates with stronger financial outcomes.

“Working with Dr. J has been truly inspiring,” Mungo said. “Having a professor so dedicated and supportive made a big difference throughout this journey. This opportunity means so much to me, and I believe it will help me grow both personally and professionally. I’m happy and proud to share this moment and take a step closer to my future career.”

Robertson's impactful research examines the critical issue of residential electricity rates in the United States, examining the effect of private ownership and deregulation. Through sophisticated regression analysis of a substantial dataset comprising 37,762 average retail rate observations spanning from 2005 to 2022, her study uncovered significant findings.

“I conducted this research on private electric utilities and residential prices because I was interested in understanding the dynamics between private ownership in essential markets and how that impacts everyday people,” Robertson said. “Preparing for the conference and attending all the training sessions has been very exciting. I have learned a great deal about being a professional researcher and how to develop and refine a project from start to finish.”

This academic milestone will be celebrated by both students' families, with Mungo's parents making the journey from Italy to attend the event.

Building on her strong quantitative foundation, Robertson has been accepted into the highly selective joint Master of Science in Quantitative Economics and Master of Public Administration program at the University of Pittsburgh, where she will commence her graduate studies in the fall.

Dr. Jiang's research expertise spans energy, environmental economics and people analytics, and she is deeply passionate about guiding students in conducting rigorous economics research through the application of sophisticated quantitative analytical skills. She has been a dedicated faculty advisory board member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland Economics Scholar Program since its inception in 2021.

Students interested in pursuing an Economics degree at PennWest can reach out to Dr. Jiang at jjiang@pennwest.edu or admissions@pennwest.edu.