Joshua Eubanks at UCF: A Profile in Economics and Student Success
Joshua Eubanks is a prominent figure in the Economics Department at the University of Central Florida (UCF). As Associate Chair and an Instructor, Eubanks plays a vital role in shaping the academic experience for UCF's Business Knights. His journey at UCF is a testament to his dedication and the opportunities the university provides.
From Student to Associate Chair
Eubanks' connection with UCF began as a transfer student in Spring 2015. He is a two-time Knight who earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at UCF. After completing his M.S. in Economics with a focus on business analytics, he began teaching as an adjunct instructor in Fall 2019 while working at Siemens. In Fall 2022, Eubanks transitioned to a full-time teaching position and has since been appointed Associate Chair of the Economics Department.
Acknowledgment and Recognition
While Eubanks humbly states that he hasn’t received official awards, his efforts have been consistently recognized throughout his academic and professional career. During his first semester at UCF, he was selected to be a teaching assistant for a course with 1,600 students. His exceptional performance as a TA for ten different courses, coupled with his contributions as a research assistant and his strong academic record, earned him a full-ride scholarship for graduate school. These accomplishments paved the way for him to teach as an adjunct and eventually assume his current role as Associate Chair.
Passion for Teaching and Practical Application
Eubanks' enthusiasm for teaching stems from his ability to connect economic principles to real-world applications. He enjoys learning about his students' interests and finding ways to incorporate those interests into his lessons. Drawing upon his experience at Siemens and in consulting, he provides students with an insider's perspective on the relevance of economic concepts.
He finds it rewarding to witness his students' successes, citing an example of a former labor economics student who is now working as an Economic Research Associate at the Florida Department of Commerce, analyzing employment data. Eubanks clearly enjoys having practical answers to the question, “When will I ever use this?”
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The Importance of Economics in Business
Eubanks emphasizes the fundamental role of economics in the business world. He draws an analogy between economics and physics, stating that "economics is to business what physics is to engineering: you cannot be a good engineer without understanding physics, and you cannot be a good business person without understanding economics." He believes that studying economics equips students with valuable decision-making skills, regardless of their chosen career path. It helps individuals frame decisions effectively and enables leaders to create the right incentives for achieving better outcomes. He underscores the versatility of economics, highlighting its applicability across various fields.
Beyond the Classroom
Outside of UCF, Eubanks dedicates his time to supporting his daughter at gymnastics competitions. This commitment reflects his dedication to family and his life outside of academia.
A Memorable UCF Moment
Eubanks' favorite UCF memory is his Bachelor's degree graduation. Despite the three-hour-long ceremony, his family insisted that he participate in the walk. The moment was made even more special when a family member handed him his one-year-old daughter as he was leaving, and he carried her out.
Advice for Business Knights
Eubanks offers valuable advice to aspiring Business Knights, urging them to learn a programming language such as Python or R. He explains that modern datasets are too large for traditional tools like Excel, which have limitations on the number of rows and columns they can handle.
The UCF Economics Faculty: A Diverse and Accomplished Group
Joshua Eubanks is part of a diverse and accomplished faculty within the UCF Economics Department. Other notable members include:
- Dr. Izenwasser received his BS in Economics from the University of Central Florida in 2019 and his Ph.D. from Florida State University in 2024. Before coming to UCF, he taught classes at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. He is an applied microeconomist specializing in urban, transportation, and public economics.
- Stacey L. Brook is a Lecturer who teaches Quantitative Methods for Business II (Business Statistics) and Sports Economics.
- Dr. Dean Jens is an Assistant Professor whose research focuses on behavior under strategic and exogenous uncertainty and the function of markets, particularly market thickness/liquidity. He completed a Ph.D. in Economics from Rutgers University.
- Dr. Lealand Morin is an Assistant Professor whose research interests lie in empirical and theoretical techniques in econometrics. He completed a Ph.D. in Economics from Queen’s University in Canada.
- Dr. Michael Tseng is an Associate Professor with expertise in Mathematics and Economics. He completed a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Pennsylvania State University, and a second Ph.D. in Economics from Simon Fraser University in Canada. He also was a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Swiss Finance Institute, E´ cole Polytechnique Fe´de´rale de Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Roberto Burguet joined UCF after spending most of his academic life in Barcelona. He also has been a visiting professor at the University of Illinois, University of Arizona, University College Dublin, INSEAD and Colegio de Mexico, as well as Stony Brook University, his alma mater, where he graduated in 1988. Academic history PhD in Economics, Stanford University, 1983 MA in Economics, Stanford University, 1981 BA in Economics, Yale University, 1976 Expertise Antitrust Industrial Organization Law and Economics Sports Economics Prior positions Professor of Economics, Henry B. Tippie College of Business, The University of Iowa, July 2012 - May 2019 DEO, Department of Economics, Henry B.
This diverse faculty brings a wide range of expertise and experience to the UCF Economics Department, contributing to a rich and dynamic learning environment for students.
Student Perceptions of Economics Faculty
Student ratings provide insights into the teaching effectiveness and popularity of various Economics faculty members. Here's a summary of the ratings for some of the instructors mentioned:
- Joshua Eubanks: Has a quality rating of 1.7 out of 5, with 19% of students indicating they would take his class again. The level of difficulty is rated at 4.3 out of 5.
- Sami Alpanda: Has a quality rating of 3.8 out of 5, with 77% of students indicating they would take his class again. The level of difficulty is rated at 3.1 out of 5.
- Dean Jens: Has a quality rating of 2.0 out of 5, with 17% of students indicating they would take his class again. The level of difficulty is rated at 3.7 out of 5.
- Jordan Izenwasser: Has a quality rating of 2.9 out of 5, with 49% of students indicating they would take his class again. The level of difficulty is rated at 3.7 out of 5.
- Nora Ann Underwood-Caputo: Has a quality rating of 2.9 out of 5, with 37% of students indicating they would take her class again. The level of difficulty is rated at 3.8 out of 5.
These ratings offer valuable feedback on the student experience and can help prospective students make informed decisions about course selection.
