Mary Eschelbach Hansen

Mary Eschelbach Hansen is a Professor of Economics at American University, affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences. Her academic career spans roles from Assistant Professor (2002–2008) to Associate Professor (2008–2017) and her current tenure as a full Professor. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a B.S.B.A. from Saint Louis University.

Hansen specializes in U.S. social policy, disability policy, child welfare, bankruptcy law, and economic history. Her research examines issues like gender disparities in bankruptcy, foster care adoption policies, and historical economic trends. Her work has been funded by major organizations such as the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Her scholarly contributions include the book Bankrupt in America and over 50 peer-reviewed articles. Key areas of focus include the historical evolution of bankruptcy law, racial disparities in foster care, and the economic impact of social policies. Hansen has also provided expert testimony on adoption subsidies and foster care economics to legislative bodies and courts.

She has advised numerous Ph.D. students and collaborated on interdisciplinary projects, including roles as Co-Director for Administration at the Institute for Macroeconomic and Policy Analysis (IMPA). Hansen’s awards include the Morton Bender Prize (2011) and the James Soltow Award (2020).