“I started out as a math education major, but Dr. David Hakes talked me into switching to an Economics major after taking his class,” she said.

Lisa Jepsen, Assistant Professor of Economics, was also very influential in Alicia’s decision to change majors.

“Professor Jepsen has been a constant influence in my decision because of her positive outlook. She creates a positive environment in her classes,” she said.

As an Economics major with a Quantitative Techniques emphasis, Alicia continues to apply the math skills that she has developed through her Statistics and Actuarial Science minor. In the Econometrics course, Alicia has the chance to focus on economics from the basis of mathematical principles. Econometrics is a way to predict outcomes and determine how one decision variable affects other decision variables.

“John Deere, for example, creates a formula to predict how many tractors should be built for the next production year,” she said.

The Econometrics course project opened her eyes to how economics is used to make important business decisions.

“It was a hard project, but I had a real world application of economics when I finished,” she said.

Currently, Alicia is assembling the materials she will need for graduate school applications. Bryce Kanago, Associate Professor of Economics, helps Alicia and other Economics majors in their pursuit of graduate education.

“Dr. Kanago does research for us and suggests programs that best suit our interests,” she said. “He also advises students on references and personal statements that are needed for graduate program applications.”

Another way that Alicia is preparing for a graduate program is by taking additional courses.

“I’m taking a lot of mathematics-based courses that will give me a head start for the type of courses graduate programs will offer to me,” she said.

Alicia splits her time between studies and sports. Not only is she a Provost Scholarship recipient, she also joined the UNI Women’s Basketball Team as a walk-on during her freshman year. She now plays at the point guard position.

As a student-athlete, she was chosen to be a member of the Student Advisory Committee that works with UNI athletes to communicate with administration and faculty. The committee also coordinates Cedar Valley volunteer work for athletes. Along with her committee responsibilities, Alicia continues to juggle her sport with the demands of her coursework.

“It’s a challenge to balance school and sports, but I think it makes me a better student because I have to organize my time,” she said.

Alicia looks forward to the challenges that await her in graduate school, but she suggests that potential Economics majors focus on the basic concepts in introductory economics courses. More importantly, she believes students should avoid becoming overwhelmed with immediate planning for their futures.

“You have plenty of time to figure out what you want to do,” she said. “If you get distracted with wondering what you might want to do, you’ll miss out on enjoying your experience at UNI.”