Giving

Donate to the Department of Economics 

There are many opportunities to support the activities of the Department of Economics.  From scholarships to teaching awards, you can make a donation that will benefit world-class students and faculty in the department.  It is easy and safe to donate on-line through the Office of Development’s secure site “Give to OSU.”  When you find the fund that interests you, simply click the “Give” icon to go directly to the Development site.  Thank you for your support!

The Ohio State University Fund for Economics

This fund supports various department activities as identified by the Chair to enhance the department, including seminar presentations, graduate student research and travel, & faculty teaching.

Economics Undergraduate Scholarship

To provide scholarships for undergraduates in the Department of Economics.

Department of Economics Career Services Support Fund

Used to provide career services for students majoring in Economics and various programs and activities that support student career outcomes.

Robinson Family Scholarship in Economics 

Provides one or more scholarships to undergraduate students who are enrolled in the College and majoring in Economics.

Stan Hales Graduate Student Support Fund for Economics

Provides support to graduate students who enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences in the Department of Economics. Preference shall be given to students studying during the summer term.

J. Graham Smith Memorial Prize Fund in Applied Economics

Established January 30, 2018, in tribute of Professor J. Graham Smith (1936-2018), former alumnus of the Department of Economics. Awarded annually to a graduate student to support their research in any aspect of applied economics.

Alma Herbst Memorial Lecture Fund

Established August 31, 1994, by Dr. Virgil C. Crisafulli and the late Martha Bair Crisafulli. Provides an annual lecture in labor economics.

The Edward J. Ray Commemorative Research Fund

Established December 1, 1995, by alumni, friends and associates of Dr. Edward Ray, former professor and executive vice president and provost from 1970-1998. Income supports scholarly graduate activities at the Department Chair's discretion.

The Professor Paul G. Craig Graduate Student Assistance Fund

Established February 6, 2009, by Dr. Benson H. Hart and friends. Used to relieve one or more graduate students from one term's teaching commitment to accelerate progress towards a Ph.D. in Economics.

G.S. Maddala Memorial Fund

Established May 7, 2004, by Dr. Maddala's wife, Kay, colleagues, and his students. Provides awards to graduate students for excellence in quantitative research using econometrics, both theoretical and applied.

Gledhill Prize in Applied Economics

Established June 4, 2020, by R. Scott Gledhill (BS 1967). Provides merit-based student awards for best paper written by an undergraduate student in applied economics.

The Michael O’Shaughnessy Endowed Fund in Economics

Established June 9, 2017, by Michael L. O'Shaughnessy (BA 1996). Provides scholarships for undergraduates who are high potential, business-minded students.

Tom Kniesner and Debbie Freund Fund for Student Support

Established April 25, 2018, by Tom Kniesner (BA 1969, MA 1971, PHD 1974) and Debbie Freund. Provides awards to graduate students in econometrics or health economics and scholarships for undergraduate first-generation students with demonstrated financial need.

Chris and Angie Marshall Undergraduate Economics Fund

Established February 10, 2022, by Robert Christopher Marshall (BA 1983) and Angela R. Marshall. Used to provide scholarships to high-potential undergraduate students who are majoring in economics and demonstrate financial need. Preference given to candidates who graduated from a high school in Newark, Ohio.

Harold A. Black Endowed Scholarship Fund for Economics

Established August 31, 2018, by Harold A. Black (MA 1968, PhD 1972). Provides a scholarship to an undergraduate economics student with the potential for graduate work. Special consideration given to students who have overcome substantial educational or economic obstacles.

Economics Advisory Board Support Fund

Supports emerging priorities and needs within the Department of Economics. Expenditures at the discretion of the Department Chair.

Student Impact Stories

Jacob Strang – Economics

I want to start by expressing my gratitude and thanking you for awarding me the Scholarship. After completing my first year in college, I’ve realized just how stressful classes can be at times, and just how expensive life in general can get. The scholarship fund I’ve been awarded here will significantly reduce the financial burden of loans, and it may even make graduating debt-free possible for me. At the very least, I will be graduating with relatively low debt, and most importantly, I will have the ability to put more time and money toward my academic and extracurricular pursuits.

More specifically, there are two programs that Ohio State offers that I am very interested in applying for and pursuing during my undergraduate career. The first of which is a study abroad program that travels to Malawi and aims to study the political and economic outcomes of institutions in the developing world. The second program is the Washington Academic Internship Program, which is a semester-long program where students get the opportunity of studying in Washington D.C., while also working an internship with a federal agency, nonprofit group, or research organization.

My ultimate career goals involve working for some sort of nonprofit or government agency that contributes to policy development for people from disadvantaged backgrounds. I believe that my study of Economics will prepare me for my ambitions by broadening my understanding of the world as a whole, while also giving me an in-depth understanding of the economic and political institutions that people interact with every day in the United States and in the entire world. Receiving this award will have a great deal of influence in my stress levels and my ability to pursue my ambitions. Once again, I am extremely grateful for this award.

Gratefully,

Jacob Strang

Sam Klein - Economics and Political Science

I am deeply grateful to be named the recipient of the William Green Scholarship. To be recognized as an individual passionate about fighting for working people… well, I am simply beyond words. It is truly an honor to focus my education on learning how to best advocate for ideas which seek to uplift the everyday people that make this country so great. And I look forward to dedicating my career to fighting for the working people of our nation.

This journey that I’ve begun seems natural as I am the product of working people and working neighborhoods. My journey honors the tradition of Jewish Americans who have been vital in the unionist movement, not just here in the United States but worldwide. I often find myself awestruck when I think about standing on the shoulders of those who came before me and continuing their fight to better the lives of others. I am on this path not just because it’s something I want to do and like doing, but also because I know it’s the right thing to do. 

This scholarship goes beyond recognition that encourages me to make a difference, it significantly impacts my life by allowing me to reduce the amount of student loans needed to fund the final year of my undergraduate degree. Your generous gift will save me and my family money. As a result, it puts me in a better financial position after graduation. For this, I cannot thank you enough.

Once again, please accept my deepest gratitude for the recognition and, more important, for the work you do in trying to better others’ lives. The fight of the Ohio AFL-CIO to ensure that everyone who wants a union can have a union. I look forward to standing alongside you in the fight for many years to come because together we can, and will, make a difference.

Thank you,

Sam Klein

Ella Todd - Economics, Political Science

My name is Ella Todd, and I am a rising third-year at Ohio State University studying political science and economics. I recently participated in the Global May: Great Britain program and spent a month in London thanks to the generosity of your scholarship. This program consisted of a class that focused on the politics, culture, and history of Great Britain. I was extremely honored to receive this award, and it permitted me to achieve my lifelong dream of traveling to Europe.

I wanted to study abroad because I knew it would be an excellent opportunity to expose myself to new cultures and think critically about global issues. This is especially pertinent because I want to attend law school. I learned about people with different religions, cultures, and customs while directly engaging with them. This is not something that I would have been able to experience if I was not able to study abroad. I learned about how English history has shaped modern-day culture both in the United Kingdom and around the world. These are lessons that I will implement in my future classes, specifically my class next semester on global justice. I will try to examine political issues from a global perspective and consider how American decisions may impact other nations.

This trip taught me a lot about myself and my future goals. I learned independence by exploring the city both by myself and with smaller groups. It would not have been possible for me to participate in this program without your generosity. I will cherish the friendships I made and the places I visited for the rest of my life.

Sincerely,

Ella Todd