Leverage the expertise of our faculty and students to meet your research needs.
The Ohio Wesleyan Community Research Fellows program involves highly motivated, top notch students working under the guidance of faculty members on research projects for Central Ohio nonprofits, businesses, and governments.
If your business is in need of research in areas such as development, outreach approach, economic impact, etc., then this is a great opportunity for additional support at low-cost to you.
Will Georgic
Department of Economics and Business
Ohio Wesleyan University
Luisa Duarte, of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, worked with Regionomics LLC, a Columbus-based strategic economic and workforce analysis and planning company, and its owner, Bill Lafayette, to analyze the impacts of movie productions on economic development in Ohio. A sophomore, Duarte is a Quantitative Economics major and a Finance and Mathematics double minor.
Maya "Rhys" Cañedo of Goodyear, Arizona, worked with Hatch and Nest Registry, a Columbus based parenthood support and resource company, and its owner, Dominique Jackson, to determine the needs of new parents and create a platform for them to access resources and education. A '24 graduate, Cañedo studied Neuroscience and Psychology and minored in English.
Bobby Frankfort of Westfield, New Jersey, worked with the Washington Township Fire Department and Fire Chief John Donahue to quantify the economic impact of its payroll, spending and property value saved. Additionally, he quantified the value of lives saved and its impact on the surrounding counties. A senior, Frankfort is a Data Analytics and Quantitative Economics double major, with a minor in Spanish.
Yewoinhareg "Yoyo" Kebede, of Washington, D.C., worked with the Delaware Community Center YMCA and Executive Director Roger Hanafin to survey local Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to determine what they know about the YMCA and what they want from it. She also worked to develop programming cognizant of the BIPOC community. A senior, Kebede is an Economics and French double major.
Jenna Norman of Wilmington, Ohio, worked with Regionomics LLC, a Columbus-based strategic economic and workforce analysis and planning company, and its owner, Bill LaFayette, to create an inventory of employers and jobs in Clinton Township, located in Franklin County. A junior, Norman is an Economics and Politics and Government double major and an Environment Studies and Social Justice double minor.
Joey DeRusso of Northfield, Ohio,worked with the City of Delaware Fire Department and Fire Chief John Donahue to quantify the economic impact of the department, including its payroll and spending, as well as the lives and property it protects. The research is modeled after similar analyses conducted in Phoenix, Arizona, and Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. A '23 graduate, DeRusso studied Management Economics and minored in Data and Society.
"The OWU Community Research Fellows program made a significant impact on the Delaware Community Center YMCA by providing research-based insights and innovative solutions to enhance our programs and services. Through community engagement, the OWU Fellow was able to identify specific areas of improvement, address challenges, and develop strategies to better serve our broader community with an emphasis on the underserved BIPOC community. We are extremely thankful to the OWU Community Research Fellows program and would recommend the program to both organizations and students."