Monetary Economics student poster presenters (l to r): Chloe Brown, Aaron Burkhart, Alice de Oliveira Finisterra, Rachel Kopicko, Yaya Sissoko (IUP faculty mentor), Quintin Robison, Jenna Wilt, and Riley Wilson
The Department of Finance and Economics is very pleased that numerous students participated in the twenty-first annual Scholars Forum held at the IUP KCAC on April 8, 2026. We wish to thank volunteer judges, faculty mentors, and the Scholars Forum planning committee who organized this event and gave of their own time and talent to afford our students this exceptional opportunity to participate in a professional conference atmosphere.
FIEC students delivered their own original research and scholarly discovery through podium (oral) and poster presentations. Scholars Forum presentations reflect the outgrowth of projects completed across multiple economics and finance classes and Justice Research Fellowship activities.
Under the direction of faculty mentor Yaya Sissoko, two students delivered podium presentations.
- Aaron Burkhart (MBA) presented “Is the Efficiency of AI Worth the Ethical Concerns in the Insurance Industry?”
- Riley Wilson (BS, Finance and Economics double major) presented “Leveraging Low-Beta Healthcare Equities for Risk-Averse Portfolio Growth.”
Econometrics student podium presenters (l to r): Ryan Little, Nate Kociela, Jackson White, Alice de Oliveira Finisterra, and Jordyn Trusnovic with IUP faculty mentor Jim Jozefowicz
Under the direction of faculty mentor James Jozefowicz, students completing research as part of the ECON 356 Introduction to Econometrics and ECON 456 Advanced Econometrics courses participated in one of two podium presentation sessions.
- Jordyn Trusnovic (BA, Criminology and Economics/Honors double major) and Alice de Oliveira Finisterra (BS, International Business and Economics/Honors double major) copresented “Economic Strain and Crime: Examining the Relationship Between Financial Strain and Criminal Behavior.”
- Ryan Little (BS, Finance and Economics/Honors double major) presented “The Macroeconomic Forces that Affect Equity Returns and Why They Vary Across Equity Sectors” (research conducted with Tyler Blystone ‘25).
- Nate Kociela (BA, Economics/Honors) and Jackson White (BA, Political Science and Economics/Honors double major) copresented “The Attendance Curveball: Examining What Drives Fans to MLB Ballparks.”
- Allison Johnson (BS, Finance and Economics/Honors double major) and Paige Clawson (BA, Economics/Honors and Accounting double major) copresented “Does the Presence of Universities Increase Part II Crime Rates in Pennsylvania Counties?”
- Saniya Metcalf-Harris (BS, Marketing and Economics/Honors double major) and Kaitlyn Donaldson (BS, Finance) copresented “Keystone Crimes: Understanding the Reasons for Crime in Pennsylvania Counties.”
- Kelly Szolek (BA, Economics/Honors) and Brianna Pusateri (BS, Finance) copresented “We Want a Pitcher: Determinants of Regular Season MLB Pitcher ERA.”
Under the direction of faculty mentor Yaya Sissoko, students taking ECON 325 Monetary Economics participated in the poster presentation session.
- Chloe Brown (BS, Finance and Economics/Honors double major) presented “Large-Cap Blue Chip Stocks.”
- Aaron Burkhart (MBA) presented “Is the Efficiency of AI Worth the Ethical Concerns in the Insurance Industry?”
- Alice de Oliveira Finisterra (BS, International Business and Economics/Honors double major) and Rachel Kopicko (BS, Human Resource Management and Economics double major) copresented “Portfolio Strategy and Risk Analysis in a Simulated Market Environment.”
- Quintin Robison (BS, Finance) and Jenna Wilt (BS, Finance) copresented “Portfolio Diversification.”
- Riley Wilson (BS, Finance and Economics double major) presented “Leveraging Low-Beta Healthcare Equities for Risk-Averse Portfolio Growth.”
Under the direction of faculty member Brandon Vick, Jackson White (BA, Political Science and Economics/Honors double major) presented “The Effects of Intermediate Punishment on Recidivism” in the poster session as an extension of work he is completing as part of the Justice Research Fellowship program.
Under the direction of faculty member Angel Alcantara, Kelly Szolek (BA, Economics/Honors) presented “Justice for All? Evaluating Public Defender Effectiveness in Pennsylvania” in the poster session as an extension of work she is completing as part of the Justice Research Fellowship program.
Student podium and poster presenter (l to r): Aaron Burkhart, Eberly College of Business Dean Prashanth Bharadwaj, and IUP faculty mentor Yaya Sissoko
Monetary Economics student poster presenter (l to r): IUP Economics/Finance alumni judge Shagufta Haque ’25 with Chloe Brown
Justice Research Fellowship student poster presenters (l to r): IUP faculty mentor Angel Alcantara with Kelly Szolek and Jackson White
Faculty and IUP Economics/Finance alumni judges (l to r): Jim Jozefowicz, Shagufta Haque ’25, Mike Secrist ’95, and Stephanie Jozefowicz
Faculty and IUP Economics alumni judge (l to r): Stephanie Jozefowicz, John Chernega ’73, and Jim Jozefowicz
Justice Research Fellowship student poster presenter (l to r): Eberly College of Business Dean Prashanth Bharadwaj with Jackson White
Econometrics student podium presenters (l to r): Saniya Metcalf-Harris, Kaitlyn Donaldson, Kelly Szolek, Brianna Pusateri, Paige Clawson, and Allison Johnson
Monetary Economics student podium presenter (l to r): Riley Wilson with IUP faculty judge Yiqin Chen