Two Economics PhD Students Nominated for Susan Deese-Roberts Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award

Departmental News

Posted: February 12, 2026

The Economics Department is proud to announce that two of our PhD students, Casey Leek and Samuel Asare, have been nominated for the Susan Deese-Roberts Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award. This award, offered by the Center for Teaching and Learning, honors their excellence in teaching and significant contributions to the department.

Casey Leek is a fifth-year PhD student who has been teaching undergraduate courses since Fall 2023, including Health Economics, Personal Investing, and Microeconomic Principles. Her research focuses on military families and the impact of military bases on the local economy. 

Samuel Asare is a fifth-year PhD student who has been teaching undergraduate courses since Fall 2024, including Macroeconomic Principles and Math Models in Economics. His research interests lie in environmental and natural resource economics, with a focus on non-market valuation, water economics, and environmental equity.

Congratulations Casey and Samuel!