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Over the interim session between semesters, economics and business major Marissa Moore ’03 (Bethlehem, Pa.) helped Susan Averett, associate professor and associate head of economics and business, complete research for Women in the Economy, an undergraduate textbook on women’s economic issues in the labor force.
Averett is collaborating with Saul Hoffman, professor and chair of the economics department at the University of Delaware. Averett stepped in to co-author the project after the late Leslie Whittington, associate professor of public policy at Georgetown University, perished in the Sept. 11 plane that struck the Pentagon.
“The textbook covers women’s economic issues in the labor force such as marriage, poverty, welfare, fertility, divorce, and social security,” says Moore. “I assisted her with this project by collecting data, laws, statistics, and information for her to use in her writing,” says Moore.
Moore, who plans on conducting an honors thesis and continuing on to graduate school for economics, found the EXCEL work to be good preparation for these future endeavors.
“I’m always looking for new and mentally stimulating experiences, especially involving topics that I love,” she says.
“We’re working on topics such as maternity leave, childcare issues, and the so-called “marriage penalty,” and Marissa is very interested in these issues,” says Averett.
In addition to the subject matter, making a scholarly contribution to the field of economics motivates Moore.
“Knowing that my efforts will culminate in a textbook that other students will be using is very rewarding,” she says. “And knowing that Dr. Whittington’s life’s works will also be present in this text is rewarding. Carrying on her legacy makes her untimely and tragic death seem less in vain.”
Moore is enjoying her time at Lafayette and credits the faculty with helping her strive to achieve her best.
“Lafayette is such a supportive and friendly environment for learning. All of the faculty and staff I have interacted with have always been willing to take the time to help me out and let me bounce ideas off of them,” she says.
“They have given me support in times of frustration and a ‘pat on the back’ in times of celebration. Access to resources is excellent. You definitely don’t feel like ‘just another student’ or a ‘number’ here at Lafayette. I couldn’t have picked a more supportive learning environment. Lafayette is incredible.”
A single mother of a six-year-old son, Moore volunteers for her church and her son’s school, where she is a member of the Moravian Academy Parents Association. She volunteers with Meals for the Homeless through the Landis Community Outreach Center and is a member of the Investment Club. Moore a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.