Danielle Aron
Hometown: California Bay Area
Program: MA in Global Development Economics
Graduation Year: December 2020
Why did you choose to come to BU for your graduate degree?
BU has one of the best economics faculties in the country, and I was excited by the program because many of the master’s level courses are taught by faculty members who are on the frontier of economics research. I also really liked the Research Assistant/Mentor program that was offered.
What were your favorite spots on the BU campus and in Boston?
My favorite spot on campus was the café on the second floor of the Law building (likely to the dismay of actual law students) – it’s one of the best spots for collaborative studying on campus and the lighting is great! Off campus, I love walking around Coolidge Corner and the surrounding tree-lined neighborhoods of Brookline, which are especially nice to walk through in the fall.
What were you involved in on campus or in Boston, aside from your coursework?
I liked trying different classes at FitRec. I did classes for women’s self-defense, swing dancing, kickboxing, and yoga – I loved them all!
What is one unique opportunity you have had because of your choice to study at BU?
I was able to be a research assistant to Thomas Pearson, an economics PhD candidate at BU. Thomas has been an incredible mentor to me for technical skills and other advice. The experience taught me a lot about the research process and helped me improve my coding skills. I also feel incredibly lucky to have studied under Professor Mahesh Karra, who has been an inspiration in my career aspirations and who spent a generous amount of time with me outside the classroom to understand my goals and offer career advice and connections.
What are you doing now that you have graduated?
I am planning to do some short-term consultancy work for the World Bank after graduation. My dream career is to run a firm that works with NGOs to monitor and evaluate their development programs. Right now, I’m looking forward to beginning a career where I can help promote evidence-based policies and programs for development.