Economics Department Celebrates Student Achievement

The Economics Department at St. John's University marked the near-end of the semester with its now-traditional gathering of majors, combining academic presentations, departmental updates, and the induction of new members into the prestigious Omicron Delta Epsilon honor society.

Held on April 16, the event brought together students and faculty for an afternoon centered on undergraduate scholarship. While brief faculty updates were shared, the highlight of the meeting was a trio of research presentations delivered by student-scholars, showcasing the breadth and depth of inquiry within the department.

Katheryn M. Peloquin, a senior Economics major and Thomas J. Cox Honors student, presented “Enforcement and Inequality: The Labor-Market Consequences of Recent U.S. Immigration Policy Shifts,” examining how policy changes shape labor outcomes and disparities. Jack Ippolito, also a Thomas J. Cox Honors student, shared his study “Inequality and Intergenerational Persistence Across Developing Regions: an OLS Regression Study,” which explores structural inequality across global regions. Notably, Ippolito’s work recently earned first place in the 2026 St. John’s University Student Research Conference Panel Presentation.

Rounding out the session, Mokshada Choudhary presented “ECOSOC's Global Imprints,” offering an analysis of the United Nations Economic and Social Council’s international impact. Choudhary's creative video was fast-paced and informative, intended to get young audiences engaged in economic awareness.

In addition to celebrating academic achievement, the department formally inducted nine students into Omicron Delta Epsilon, recognizing their excellence in economics:

• Oluwatobi Osoba
• Charlotte Roodenburg
• Ryan Farron
• Abigail Bautista
• Stefanos Spiratos
• Laquay Wollaston
• Sienna Villalona
• Jack Ippolito
• Michelle Esabunefe

With a strong showing of undergraduate research and recognition of academic excellence, the Economics Department’s end-of-semester meeting underscored its continued commitment to fostering scholarly engagement and student success.