Christen Black

Ph.D. Candidate in Economics | Howard University | christen.black@bison.howard.edu

Welcome peers, friends, professors and more! I am a Ph.D. Candidate in Economics at Howard University in Washington, D.C. My research sits at the intersection of labor and urban economics, with a focus on the economic role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), wage disparities and unionization. I use large scale datasets and econometric methods primarily in R to study how policy shapes opportunity and inequality.

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Education

  • Ph.D. Economics — Howard University, Washington, D.C. (2023–2026)
  • M.A. Economics — Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA (2021–2023)
  • B.S. Economics — Hampton University, Hampton, VA (2015–2020) · Dean's List 2019–2020

Research

Determinants of Enrollment at HBCUs

Examines the factors that influence student enrollment decisions at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, exploring how economic, social, and institutional characteristics shape enrollment patterns.

Earnings Differentials of HBCU Graduates

Examines earnings differentials between high school graduates who attended HBCUs and those who did not, analyzing their likelihood of earning more than peers who never attended college. Uses restricted-access survey data and regression models to control for selection bias and family background effects.

What Impact Does Right to Work Have on Strikes?

Uses Difference-in-Differences to study the relationship between right-to-work laws and the relative frequency of strikes across U.S. states.

Do Unions Really Help Reduce Inequality?

Focuses on OECD countries to study the relationship between union density and income inequality as measured by the GINI index.

Skateboarding as a Noisy Signal of Romantic Interest: A Valentines Day Question

A Bayesian decision model with risk preferences exploring when "asking for a skate lesson" is and is not a reliable signal of romantic interest. The model shows that because a risk-averse romantic may choose not to ask and a risk-seeking non-romantic may ask anyway, the action is informative but not definitive. ⚠️ Disclaimer: This paper is intended for academic purposes only and does not constitute professional romantic advice. The author assumes no liability for botched confessions, misread signals, unnecessary trips to the skate park, bruised knees, or bruised egos resulting from the application of this model. Bayesian modeling is not a substitute for just telling someone you like them. Please skate responsibly.  PDF

Teaching & Experience

  • Fellow, AEA Summer Program (AEASP) — Howard University / Federal Reserve Board (Summer 2025). Competitively selected; helped students conduct econometrics research and presented findings to Federal Reserve economists and institutions across D.C.
  • Adjunct Instructor of Economics — Hampton University (Summer 2024). Taught Principles of Microeconomics and Macroeconomics; designed course materials and provided academic mentoring.
  • Graduate Researcher — Howard University (2023–Present). Conducts research in labor and urban economics; collaborates with faculty on empirical projects using R for econometric modeling and visualization.
  • Board Secretary & Events Coordinator — Lorton Volunteer Fire Department (2024–Present). Serves on Board of Directors; supports governance, documentation, and community outreach events.

Skills

  • R / RStudio (5+ years)
  • LaTeX (4+ years)
  • Econometric modeling, difference-in-differences, regression analysis
  • Large-scale restricted-access dataset analysis
  • Academic tutoring and instruction (3+ years)