Joy Han ’24, an economics major, is now applying her love of data to the Ph.D. degree she’s pursuing at Florida State University. Beginning this new chapter, she looks back on the individuals who guided her path.
One thing factored into the decision to attend Berry: she sought a college where students build lasting connections. “I wanted an environment that would foster mentorship relationships,” Joy says. “Safe to say, I got more of it than I ever anticipated.”
Initially interested in political science, Joy switched majors when she found a home in the economics department. Their dedication made all the difference.
“The economics faculty here actively consider the growth of their students and try their best to nurture them so that they are sufficiently prepared for their goals,” she explains. “They encouraged me to keep on trying new things, including public speaking, research and tutoring.”
Through this close mentorship, Joy had the opportunity to assist with significant projects. Participating in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows program, or SURF, in 2021, she worked alongside Lauren Heller, dean of the Campbell School of Business, and Frank Stephenson, Henry Gund Professor of Economics, as they examined the economic impacts of the Iowa Caucus. Joy later developed her Honors thesis, which focused on the link between elections and mental health.
She presented her SURF 2021 findings at the Academy of Economics and Finance’s 59th Annual Meeting Virtual Conference in February 2022 and her Honors thesis at the Southern Economic Association’s 93rd Annual Meeting in November 2023.
She attributes this success to her mentors: “Without their early investment, I would never have achieved the things I was able to do.”
Joy strengthened skills through her on-campus job as an economics peer tutor. “People will be surprised at how much tutoring has to do with emotional management,” she notes. “It’s not only about teaching concepts but also about making students feel comfortable with the material and being there for them.”
Joy would be the first to tell freshmen that it’s okay to change majors or come to college undecided. Embracing the Berry community and seeking professors’ guidance help in establishing a network of peer mentors and advisors, exploring academic interests, assessing personal strengths, reflecting on values and trying new experiences with intention.
Now a confident graduate student, Joy celebrates her Berry training, saying, “I never looked back and wished it to be different.”
Written by senior Audrey Bennett
