Thank You to Our Donors
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Winter 2026 Newsletter
Letter from the chair
Dear Alumni and Friends of the Department,
I am delighted to share a few brief updates as we head into the winter quarter. This newsletter covers activity in the Department of Economics from the summer through the fall, a period that—once again—showcased the breadth and vitality of our intellectual community...
Doyle Family Gift
The Department of Economics wishes to express our deepest gratitude to Jamie and Ruby Doyle, who have made a transformative gift of $500,000 in support of our students and faculty and their ongoing education and research.
A Golden Moment: Joel Mokyr
It's been an exciting time in the Department of Economics since Joel Mokyr was announced as one of three recipients of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences on October 13, 2025.
In Good Company: Peter Howitt
Northwestern Economics was well-represented on the Nobel stage this year when Peter Howitt (Ph.D. '73) was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.
Faculty Updates
Our faculty have been busy this year advancing the bounds of economic scholarship, engaging the world and setting high standards for our students.
Ph.D. Spotlight
Awards for Distinguished Teaching Assistants were given out at our winter department reception. See the full list of award winners and hear from Ph.D. student Nicole Saito on her experiences studying economic history with a Nobel laureate.
Undergraduate Spotlight
Our undergraduate economics students enjoyed a busy fall quarter, whether attending a department bonfire, teaching financial literacy to local school students, or learning about research from their peers. Read about all that our undergraduate students have been up to this fall.
Graduate Research Spotlight
Ph.D. candidate Myera Rashid shares the impact of donor funds on her research.
KEEP IN TOUCH
We would love to hear from you! Please stay in touch and informed of department news by adding us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
The Department has many exciting events happening this winter and spring including a lecture Honoring 2025 Nobel laureate and Ph.D. alum Peter Howitt on March 9, 2026, the annual Susan Bies Lecture on Economics and Public Policy featuring Nobel laureate Michael Kremer from The University of Chicago on April 6, 2026, a Conference on Gender and Household Economics organized by Professor Abi Adams on April 16-17, 2026, a CSIO Alumni Conference organized by Professors Igal Hendel and Vivek Bhattacharya on May 22, 2026, and a Conference in Honor of Joel Mokyr organized by Professor Walker Hanlon on May 29-30, 2026.
If you are interested in speaking to our students about your career (any field) or being featured in our newsletter or Alumni Spotlights page, please reach out to Samantha Westlake-Hart.