Research Team

We believe in, and practice, a collaborative and inclusive approach to research and learning. Led by Professor Benedict S. Jimenez of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University, the lab works with a diverse group of people, including faculty from other universities and Ph.D. and master’s students.

Benedict S. Jimenez

Benedict is Professor of Public Budgeting, Finance, and Management at Georgia State University. His research interests lie at the intersection of public budgeting and finance, political economy, institutional economics, and organization theory. He has published in the leading journals in public budgeting and finance, public policy and management, and political economy including Public Choice, Public Budgeting and Finance, Public Finance Review, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Public Administration Review, and Urban Affairs Review, among others. He regularly teaches graduate courses in microeconomics for public policy and management systems and strategies. In addition to conducting scholarly research and graduate teaching, he maintains an active international portfolio of public sector consultancies and executive education and training engagements.

Faculty and Professional Affiliates

  • Dr. Altamimi is Assistant Professor in the School of Public Affairs and Administration at the University of Kansas. Her research centers on public and nonprofit management and finance with specific interests in organizational behavior, decision-making, and result-oriented approaches to performance, including performance measurement, auditing, and evaluation.

  • Dr. Liu is Assistant Professor in the School of Public Administration at Florida Atlantic University. His research focuses on public and nonprofit organizations with special interests in financial management, program outcomes, and decision making.

  • Dr. Gadi is a Social Science Research Monitoring and Evaluation Associate at Abt Global. She received her Ph.D. in Public Policy from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. Her areas of expertise are quasi-experimental designs, higher education finance, workforce development, program evaluation, and international development. She is also a certified PMP.

Graduate Research Assistants

  • Laiyang is a Ph.D. student in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. His research interests focus on public budgeting and finance, fiscal federalism, public finance for infrastructure and education, and urban public policy. He holds a master’s degree in International Affairs with a specialization in International Economics from the George Washington University and a B.A. in Political Science from Shanghai University of Polisi and Law.

  • Minji is a Ph.D. student in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. Her research focuses on public budgeting and finance, specifically state and local fiscal sustainability, budget regulations, and the effective use of public expenditures. She worked in an economic research institute in Korea, researching the socio-economic policies and long-term policy strategy.

  • Eun Joo is a Ph.D. student in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. Her research focuses on public finance, education policy, budget uncertainty, and fiscal management. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and philosophy and a master’s degree in public policy from Seoul National University.

  • Yashodhara is an MPP student in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. A national of Nepal, Yashodhara is interested in public finance, infrastructure financing, and energy finance.

  • David Ngbede Egwa is an MPP student at GSU and holds an M.Sc. Finance & Business degree from Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom, and a B.Sc. Economics degree from Benue State University, Nigeria. He is interested in public finance and budgeting, infrastructure finance, and fiscal responsibility and sustainability at local and state levels in developing countries.

  • Pakham is pursuing a master’s degree in Public Administration with a focus on nonprofit management. She is interested in assisting socio-economically disadvantaged people, including people with physical and intellectual disabilities, to access education and employment opportunities through effective and sustainable development projects.

  • Brandon is an MPP student in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. He is interested in the role that data analysis plays in improving outcomes for disadvantaged communities.

  • Zakyyah is an MPP student at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies.