Jen Smith is one of the most enthusiastic graduate students I have ever had the opportunity to teach. She approached her studies with great joy and was constantly looking for new and interesting ideas from conventional and unconventional sources. She certainly surprised me on more than one occassion with her source of ideas she wanted to explore. But upon examination the unusual source of her course of study would often lead her to intriguing points and suggestive directions of research.
Jen successfully defended her PhD thesis today (see picture on the left with Prof. Richard Wagner and Dr Frederic Sautet who were on her committee with me). Her work addresses the contrast between tribal orders and the extended order of modern society. In the process she tackles fundamental questions in anthropology through the lens of economics. Jen also suggests ways in which the economic analysis of development can be improved through addressing questions of the minimum values and norms that underpin the social order of a modern market economy. Congratulations to Jen.
Jen has recently accepted a job as a research analyst at the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington, DC. This is a relatively new "think-tank" and Jen will be responsible for economic policy research. Good luck to Jen and others at CEPA in their important work on studying the future of Central Europe and the EU.
Congratulations Jen!!!
Posted by: Neel | April 17, 2007 at 04:47 AM
well done Jen
Posted by: AJE | April 17, 2007 at 05:05 AM
Congrats on the defense and the job, Jen!
Posted by: Steve Miller | April 17, 2007 at 01:01 PM
Is that Bernard Laporte and John Candy in the picture?
Posted by: Sleeper | April 18, 2007 at 10:40 AM
I think few people in America know Bernard Laporte ! Perhaps should they (or not). But I heard he wasnt a good economist...
Posted by: dandy | April 22, 2007 at 04:06 AM
Wonderful article, thanks for putting this together! "This is obviously one great post. Thanks for the valuable information and insights you have so provided here. Keep it up!"
Posted by: thesis paper | August 17, 2009 at 02:42 AM