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Author: Jenique

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Dr. Sadie T.M. Alexander

The American Economic Association (AEA), publisher of top Economics journal American Economic Review, has named Dr. Sadie Alexander a Distinguished Fellow for 2022.

According to Dartmouth Professor Erzo Luttmer, this is the first time that the AEA has nominated a deceased economist. The Distinguished Fellow is an honor is awarded to economists for their research and their professional career.

As members of the Sadie Alexander Association, we are proud and delighted to see our namesake honored for her contributions to the field of Economics. Through this posthumous award, we hope that Dr. Alexander's legacy will continue.

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As Martin Luther King Day and Black History Month approaches, we reflect on Dr. King's legacy and his dream for a world in which Black people are not "judged by the color of their skin, but the content of their character." Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement at large fought for equal rights in an America where those rights were not afforded for people of color. The Civil Rights Movement lead to improvements in the quality of life for Black people, particularly through the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 1965 and the dismantling of Jim Crow legislation in the South.

As far as we have come, we still have so far to go. The murder of George Floyd in 2020 and the ensuing social unrest exemplifies this very fact.

While there is work to be done on many levels, SAA strives to make positive change in academia. We hope to create a better learning environment and better career opportunities for underrepresented minority students. No student should feel unsupported or isolated in the classroom or in their search for a career.

As we commemorate Dr. King's legacy, we leave you with an excerpt from his infamous "I Have a Dream" speech:

And if America is to be a great nation, this [dream] must become true. And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania. Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado. Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California. But not only that, let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia. Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee. Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, Black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last. Free at last. Thank God almighty, we are free at last.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "I Have a Dream" speech, Aug. 28, 1963

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In conversations held with the Economics Department's Diversity Committee, SAA advised the Committee to show what economics can offer for underrepresented minority and/or first-gen/low-income students who may have little to no experience with the subject. We advised that this process should happen as soon as possible for first-year students. Well, the Economics Department delivered!

On August 2nd, the Econ Department will be hosting a virtual tour of the department where incoming first-year students will be able to learn about economics and what the Economics Department offers. In addition to an introduction the field of study and a brief overview of what the department offers, you will be able to speak with faculty and current Economics majors about their experiences in economics. Members of SAA will be speaking at the event and taking part in the conversations!

The event will take place from 2pm to 5pm EDT. If you are an incoming student interested, please RSVP at the link provided in the email sent by the department chair, Professor Andrew Samwick.

Welcome to Dartmouth and we hope to see you there!

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As of April 21st, the Sadie Alexander Association is officially recognized by the Council of Student Organizations (COSO)! We are thankful to COSO for recognizing the necessity of a group like SAA for Dartmouth College.

We would also like to thank our faculty advisors Professor Andrew Levin and Professor Claudia Olivetti, and the Economics Department for their support and guidance throughout the process of the formation of this organization.

COSO recognition will give us the ability to reach more people in the Dartmouth community as well as help us host events that will be beneficial to Black and minority students interested in economics.

Visit our Engage Page

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A poster with a background consisting of geometric shapes containing different shades of green. In the upper left corner, text reads 21S. In the upper right corner, there is text that reads Sadie Alexander Association. In the center, there is text that reads "An organization for black and minority students in economics." Below this text is text that reads "Thurs, April 8 at 7pm eastern time".

We are proud to announce the creation of the Sadie Alexander Association (SAA). SAA will strive to encourage Black students and other underrepresented minorities to explore the field of economics, take economics courses, and pursue a degree in economics.

We recognize the widespread perception that studying economics is disproportionately difficult for black, minority, and FGLI students, and we will strive to overturn that view because we believe that understanding and engaging in economic policies is crucial for everyone. We have been inspired by the legacy of Sadie Alexander, who was the first black woman to receive a Ph.D. in Economics. We appreciate the Economics Department’s commitment to tackle these issues, and we are grateful for their support in establishing SAA.

In collaboration with the faculty and staff of the Economics Department, SAA believes that existing barriers to diversity can be eliminated. SAA will provide a place for Black students and other minorities to find support and solace while navigating the field of Economics. SAA will help students make connections with peers, faculty, graduate students, and alumni. And we are eager to get started, so please come join us for our inaugural meeting on Thursday, April 8th, 2021 at 7 PM EST! We hope to see you soon! 😎

Laura Francisco ’22, Mothibi (Tibi) Penn-Kekana ’22, Jenique Richards ’22, and Tinotenda (Tino) Kuretu ’22