Jennifer A. Davidson

Jennifer A. Davidson is an Associate Professor of Practice in Economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's College of Business. She serves as President of the Nebraska Council on Economic Education and holds the Nebraska Bankers Association Faculty Fellowship. Her work bridges academic research with statewide economic education initiatives, focusing on K-12 financial literacy programs and teacher training.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2020)
• Master's in Education with Economic Focus, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2010)
• Bachelor's in Economics, California State University-Bakersfield (2005)

Dr. Davidson's research centers on economic education efficacy and financial behavior development, with emphasis on in-school savings programs and teacher professional development. She employs mixed-methods approaches to evaluate long-term impacts of financial literacy interventions, particularly in elementary education settings. Her work consistently addresses practical implementation challenges in Nebraska schools through partnerships with banking institutions and state agencies.

Recent publications reveal a strategic focus on measuring program effectiveness across multiple dimensions: longitudinal studies of elementary savings programs (2020-2022), innovative delivery methods like live webinars for public employees (2024), and comprehensive curriculum development for entrepreneurship and global economics education. This research trajectory demonstrates increasing sophistication in evaluation methodologies while maintaining strong connections to Nebraska's educational landscape.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Nebraska Council on Economic Education Council of the Year (2019)
• UNL Women Center Women of Character, Courage, and Commitment (2019)
• Certificate of Recognition to Students (2015, 2019)
• Excellence in Teaching Award Nominee (2017, 2018)
• Future Business Leaders of America Nebraska Business Person of the Year (2017)
• Rising Star Award (2016)

Dr. Davidson has administered over $1.8 million in grant funding from 2015-2022, with annual allocations ranging from $209,977 (2015) to $380,259 (2022). These resources support statewide initiatives including the Nebraska Council on Economic Education's teacher training programs, in-school banking operations, and legislative-mandated financial literacy assessments. Her grant management directly enables evidence-based program expansion across 300+ Nebraska schools.

She leads multiple high-impact teams including the Nebraska Council on Economic Education (serving 25,000+ students annually), the College of Business Dream Big Academy (serving 500+ middle schoolers), and the Women in Economics Symposium. Her outreach initiatives connect university resources with K-12 classrooms through events like the Exploring Careers in Economics Lunch and Learn and Middle School Intro to Business Day.