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Riley Acton

My Approach to Teaching and Learning

At ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú, we follow a teacher-scholar model, which means we believe that teaching and research can and should complement each other. We believe that our teaching is enhanced when we are involved in cutting-edge research in our fields, and our research is enriched when we involve our students in the process. As an economics professor, I am always looking for examples of current research to bring into the classroom to clarify concepts, to show students how the topics we are covering relate to phenomena they might observe in business, public policy, and their own lives, and to expose them to the wide array of topics that economists study (it’s much, much more than just money and stocks!). Watching students connect what they have learned in the classroom to their own lives and interests is one of the most rewarding parts of my job and often inspires new ideas for how I approach my teaching and my own research!

My Teacher-Scholar Journey

Many students enter economics courses without a clear understanding of the diverse range of topics that economists study. As an applied microeconomist who specializes in the economics of education, I enjoy demonstrating how economic concepts taught in the classroom can be applied to a sector that students are already familiar with – higher education. For example, in my intermediate microeconomic theory course, we examine the concept of "price discrimination" – the practice of charging different prices to customers for the same good or service. We explore how colleges engage in price discrimination by offering various net tuition rates to students through financial aid and scholarship programs. We also analyze data to understand how extensively this practice is used across different types of institutions. This topic has motivated one of my students to collaborate with me on an honors research project that will examine how changes in the information colleges collect on families in the financial aid process affects the financial aid packages they offer and the students they enroll. If all goes well, we will publish this project in a scholarly journal together.

Knowledge is Power

“I was drawn to ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú because of its emphasis on undergraduate education and its dedication to incorporating a robust liberal arts environment into a public research university. As a former student of a small liberal arts college, I valued the intimate class sizes and close connections I had with faculty. Now, as a professor, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to develop similar relationships with my own students while simultaneously pursuing innovative research. It truly is the best of both worlds!”

Education

Ph.D. Michigan State University
M.A. Michigan State University
B.S. Ursinus College

More About Me

I joined ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s faculty in 2020 after completing my Ph.D. in economics at Michigan State University. I teach undergraduate and graduate courses in microeconomics and research topics related to the economics of education. My work has been published in top scholarly journals and covered in outlets such as The Economist, Forbes, and The Chronicle of Higher Education.