Jeremy Thornton

Jeremy Thornton is an Associate Dean and Professor of Economics at Samford University’s Brock School of Business. He serves as the Dwight Moody Beeson Chair of Business and coordinates the Social Entrepreneurship Program, which was nationally recognized by the U.S. Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE). His academic work bridges industrial organization and nonprofit economics, with a focus on social enterprise finance and donor market dynamics.

• Ph.D. in Economics, University of Kentucky
• M.S. in Economics and Economic Development, Eastern University
• B.A., Asbury University

Thornton’s research explores market competition in nonprofit donor markets, governance, and philanthropy incentives. He has published in journals like International Journal of Industrial Organization, Nonprofit & Voluntary Sector Quarterly, and Applied Economics, often analyzing the impact of government grants and religious observance on nonprofit behavior. His recent work examines fiscal shocks and nonprofit employment trends.

Notable awards include the Brock School of Business Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award (2018) and the Outstanding Scholarship Award (2007). He has contributed to academic discourse through experimental studies on intertemporal choice and donor behavior, frequently collaborating with researchers like Jay Lecy and Bridget Helms.