Tharayil to Present on Personal Financial Experience as Inspiration for Research
SHERMAN, TEXAS — Dr. Ashley Tharayil ’10, Chair of the Economics & Business Administration and Associate Professor of Economics, will present a lecture titled “Preferences, Savings, Investing – How My Personal Story Made its Way into My Research in Economics,” at Austin College. A reception will begin at 4:30 p.m. on March 6, with the lecture following at 5 p.m. in Wright Campus Center’s Mabee Hall. The event, sponsored by the Bernice S. Melvin Sabbatical Lecture Series, is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.
Tharayil is a 2010 graduate of Austin College with a bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics, subsequently earning a master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The Bernice S. Melvin Sabbatical Series honors the late Professor Emerita of French, Dr. Bernice Melvin, who taught at Austin College from 1980 until her retirement in 2015. As a department chair, dean of Humanities, and Johnson Center director, Bernice was an indefatigable supporter of faculty autonomy and research, and fostered a collegial environment of scholarly creativity and innovation across all Austin College divisions and disciplines.
The Johnson Center for Faculty Development and Excellence in Teaching schedules a number of events throughout the year, with presentations by Austin College faculty and guest lecturers.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.