About
WAMIE was founded in 2018 to be an inclusive organization at MSU with the mission to challenge misconceptions about what economics is and who economists are, while promoting diversity within the field. Since then, we’ve grown into a professional student organization that prepares students for graduate school, law school, internships, and full-time opportunities.
From start-ups to some of the largest Fortune 500 companies, local to federal governments, non-profit organizations to law firms, and universities to research companies, our members and alumni work all over the world. Being a part of WAMIE will give you access to this large and growing network of passionate students and professionals, as well as the opportunity to make connections and gain experience that will grant you an advantage upon graduation.
Anna Esenther
The founder of WAMIE
Why did you create WAMIE?
When I was in my fourth econometrics class, a professor referred to the author of an article we were discussing as "she." I honestly thought I heard him wrong at first and it was that jarring experience of hearing a female pronoun in class that spurred me to start WAMIE. I realized I had started to internalize the message that women don't do theoretical econometrics, not through any malice on the part of my (all male) econ professors, but rather through a lack of exposure to women in the field. There are far fewer female economists than male economists (theoretical econometrics is a particularly bad example of a wider trend) and so we hear far more about men's achievements and that can lead us to absorb the idea that economics is for men if we don't make an active effort to counter that narrative. WAMIE is part of that effort.
Minorities similarly lack representation in economics and as a result the profession suffers greatly from the loss of potential talent. Excluding such talent limits the vitality of the field and stifles innovation. WAMIE is one small part of a wider push to broaden our collective perception of who economists are and what they do.
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What was the process like?
I mostly remember sending a lot of emails. The economics department was supportive of the idea, but it took some effort to put together an e-board and get WAMIE off the ground.
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What did you want to accomplish?
I wanted people who didn't have many role models within economics to have a space to connect, to commiserate, to encourage each other, to be inspired, and to feel like they belonged and were valued. I wanted to spark a conversation about the inequities in the field, to learn more about their causes and potential solutions, and to contribute to patching the "leaky pipeline" of women and underrepresented minorities in economics.
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What do you hope the organization will accomplish in the future?
I hope WAMIE will welcome many more members than were in its inaugural cohort and that it will make a difference in encouraging budding women and minority economists. In the long run, I hope WAMIE becomes superfluous as it is the ultimate goal to have women and minorities achieve proportionate representation in economics.