New Faculty Focus: Megan Doherty Bea

Q&A

 

Megan Doherty Bea, Assistant Professor of Consumer Science

Hometown: Media, Pennsylvania

Educational/professional background: I’m a sociologist by training and I study household finance and economic well-being.

Previous position: PhD Candidate at Cornell University

How did you get into your field of research? While working at an economic think tank after college, I realized that so much of finance is social: individual experiences, friends, family, and social environments all shape how people think about and engage with finance. I wanted to study the social aspects of financial life.

What attracted you to UW–Madison? The vibrant intellectual life and sense of community.

What was your first visit to campus like? A well-organized whirlwind! It was a lot of fun, and I met a lot of people!

What’s one thing you hope students who take a class with you will come away with? That finance permeates daily life, is complex, and is often unequal in terms of access and opportunities, but that we can improve consumers’ financial lives through thoughtful policy solutions.

Do you share your expertise and experiences with the public through social media?  You can find me on Twitter @Meg_Bea.

Hobbies/other interests: Reading whenever I have a few minutes, running, and rock climbing.