When Dr. Kuhelika De talks about economics, her energy is contagious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She leans in, eyes bright, as she unpacks complex ideas like causes of business cycles or the transmission of monetary policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her enthusiasm isn\u2019t just for theory; it\u2019s about understanding how these ideas can inform policy to create a better society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She loves showing students how curiosity and guidance can spark insight and opportunity. Teaching, she believes, has the power to open doors that might otherwise stay closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour teachers make a lasting impression,\u201d she reflects. \u201cBack in high school, I had a great teacher who sparked my curiosity in economics. That\u2019s what set me on this path.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That early spark eventually carried her from classrooms in India to the United Kingdom, and then to the United States, shaping the path of her impressive academic journey. Dr. De<\/a> earned her Bachelor\u2019s (B.A. Hons.) in Economics from the University of Delhi, a Master\u2019s in Economics from the University of Manchester, and her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Georgia in 2017, with a concentration in monetary economics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the University of Georgia, her doctoral advisor, Dr. William D. Lastrapes, was a defining influence in her academic career, giving her both the technical training and the research mindset she now instills in her own students. \u201cI owe my academic success to my doctoral advisor,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having studied in three countries, Dr. De brings a scholarly global perspective into her classroom. She describes her experiences abroad as transformative \u2013 not just academically, but personally \u2013 as she navigated cultural differences, independence, and new ways of thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As an Associate Professor of Economics, she joined Butler\u2019s Lacy School of Business in August 2023 after five years at Seidman College of Business, Grand Valley State University in Michigan. She was particularly drawn to Butler, noting it\u2019s number one ranking in the Midwest region for seven consecutive years<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drawn by LSB\u2019s strong reputation, small class sizes, and highly prestigious business school environment, the faculty member says the move has exceeded expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s such a positive externality here,\u201d she laughs, borrowing an economics term. \u201cThe people around me \u2013 my colleagues, the Dean\u2019s office, senior faculty \u2013 they\u2019ve been incredibly supportive. They push me to innovate, to grow. You want to do more, give more, because you feel so inspired.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n While her background is extensive, Dr. De\u2019s enthusiasm truly shines when she talks about her students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cInteracting with students is the best part of my job,\u201d she says with a smile. \u201cProfessors play a role that goes beyond teaching. We\u2019re mentors and advisors. In some ways, we come next to parents in shaping a student\u2019s future. I am where I am because of my professors. Now, I want to be that person for my students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recently, Dr. De celebrated major milestones in her research. In 2024, she published a paper in Health Economics<\/em> titled \u201cBusiness Cycles and Healthcare Employment<\/a>,\u201d exploring how recessions affect employment in the healthcare industry and highlighting the real-world impact of economic fluctuations on critical industries. From a broader perspective, the study provides new robust evidence that U.S. healthcare employment is not recession<\/em>\u2010proof<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n