Riley Acton

Welcome! I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at Bowdoin College and a Research Fellow at the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

My research focuses on the economics of education, but frequently spans topics in labor, public, and health economics as well. Broadly, I am interested in how students, families, and institutions make decisions about education, how those decisions interact with public policy, and what they mean for inequality and economic mobility. 

It is a privilege to bring this research background into the classroom, where I have taught courses in microeconomics, labor economics, and policy evaluation, and regularly have the pleasure of mentoring students as they conduct their own research. 

Before joining the Bowdoin faculty, I was the Frank H. Jellinek Jr. Endowed Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at Miami University (yes, the one in Ohio). I earned my Ph.D. in economics from Michigan State University (Go Green!) and my B.S. in economics and mathematics from Ursinus College, where I was captain of the women's gymnastics team (Go Bears!).