Bachelor’s in Economics
Michael Hazboun 23’
What have you been doing since you graduated from Valparaiso University?
I’ve been pursuing my doctorate degree in Industrial-Organization (I-O) Psychology, at the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities
How has your experience in the Economics department at Valparaiso University helped you to navigate your post-graduation academic or professional career?
My economics background from Valpo has definitely aided, so far, in my academic journey. For starter, my quantitative background has definitely helped me during my time in graduate school, be it in helping me pick up new skills or concepts relatively quickly, or simply knowing more than my peers; it has definitely aided me! Furthermore, being the economics department TA definitely helped me be a better instructor/teacher in the classes that I teach now.
What Econ courses that you took as an undergrad were/are valuable during your time at VU and beyond?
Learning and improving my SAS skills in Econometrics has definitely been useful. Funnily enough, a couple of weeks ago one of the faculty came to me asking me for SAS help (I was one of the only people in the department who knew SAS and a colleague of theirs had shared an old SAS data file with them). However, I would have to say that all of my upper-level economics classes have helped me in some way or form in graduate school: be it from seeing some concepts again in a different environment, to generally being more knowledgeable in certain domains. My time with the econ department was very useful.
What advice do you have for current students aiming to follow in your professional path?
The path that I have chosen is definitely unique (being a double major in psychology and economics with a statistics minor in undergrad, and now pursuing a graduate degree in I-O psychology), but one piece of advice that I would say is universal would be: get to know the faculty. Be it the faculty in the economics or the psychology department; both are a group of phenomenal individuals who are incredibly intelligent, and supportive! They will not bat an eye if you want to simply talk to them about their fields of interest for as long as you want! They will also not hesitate to help you with whatever you may need. The faculty at Valpo are amazing and I can’t recommend them enough!
