Alumni Conference
2026 Conference Program
The 5th K-State Economics Alumni Conference will be held virtually on Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. Central Time.
Join the Conference
Join the conference on Zoom
Meeting ID: 958 3311 2975
Passcode: ?yndGY@6
Program Schedule
| Time | Program |
|---|---|
| 9:00–9:15 a.m. | Participant and Organizing Committee Welcome Session |
| 9:15–10:45 a.m. | Concurrent Research Sessions: Microeconomics and Macroeconomics |
| 10:45–11:15 a.m. | Career Talk |
| 11:15 a.m. | Concluding Remarks |
Career Talk Panel
- Sheryll Namingit, Ph.D.
- Jehu Mette, Ph.D.
- Tyson Thomas, Ph.D.
Macroeconomics Session
| Presenter | Presentation | Discussant |
|---|---|---|
| Kamala Guluzade | Macroeconomic Determinants of Business Formation in U.S.: ARDL Approach | George Anaman, Ph.D. |
| Enock Bulime | Fiscal Policy, Education Investment and Human Capital Accumulation: Evidence from Africa | Hedieh Shadmani, Ph.D. |
| Marzuq Y. Ahmed | Impact of Brain Drain on Economic Growth: A Panel Analysis of Sub-Saharan African Countries | Eiman Aiyash, Ph.D. |
| Naafey Sardar | State-Dependent Monetary Policy Transmission: The Role of Private Sector Credit | Jehu Mette, Ph.D. |
Microeconomics Session
| Presenter | Presentation | Discussant |
|---|---|---|
| Seungmin (Mike) Yang | Diversity in Ph.D. Programs: Gender, Race, and Language | Shengnan Fang, Ph.D. |
| Brian Arinaitwe | Unequal Burdens? Partner Health Shocks and Labor Supply Among Immigrant and Native Couples in the U.S. | Tennecia Dacass, Ph.D. |
| Precious Allor | Do Remittances Predict Emigration Aspirations? Evidence that Household Migration Networks Matter More | Yang Jiao, Ph.D. |
| Jules O. Yimga | Outsourcing and Service Quality: Evidence from U.S. Airline Capacity Purchase Agreements | Tyson Thomas, Ph.D. |
Click here for a PDF version of the conference program: Conference Program
Call for Papers
Current and former students of the Economics Department at Kansas State University are invited to submit abstracts for the 5th K-State Economics Alumni Conference, which will be held virtually on Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (CST).
Submissions from all fields of economics are welcome, including both theoretical and empirical research. The conference is free to attend.
Organized by former Economics Ph.D. students, the conference aims to strengthen connections between the department and its alumni while providing graduate students with research feedback, networking opportunities, and job market insights.
Important Dates
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Abstract Submission Deadline | June 7, 2026 |
| Acceptance Notification | By June 16, 2026 |
| Full Paper Submission Deadline | August 8, 2026 |
Accepted papers will be circulated only among conference participants.
Submission Information
Please email your extended abstract to:
Dr. Haydory Akbar Ahmed
St. Edward's University
Email: hahmed2@stedwards.edu
Extended Abstract Requirements
The extended abstract should be approximately 450 words and include:
- A clear statement of the research purpose
- A brief description of the research design, methodology, or approach
- A summary of (expected) findings
- The main contribution or originality of the paper
- Key references relevant to the research
Conference Agenda
9:00 a.m.
Welcome Session
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Research Presentations
11:00 a.m.
Career Development Panel and Q&A
Conference Format
To ensure accessibility for participants across different countries and time zones, the conference will be held virtually.
The Zoom link will be distributed to registered participants as the conference date approaches.
Organizing Committee
- Dr. Haydory Akbar Ahmed (Chair), St. Edward's University
- Dr. Tennecia Dacass, Central Washington University
- Dr. Yang Jiao, Texas A&M University–Texarkana
- Dr. Hedieh Shadmani, Fairfield University
- Dr. Tyson Thomas, McKendree University
- Dr. Jehu Mette, Fannie Mae
- Kamala Guluzade, Kansas State University
Download the 2026 Call for Papers.