Press Release

UA economics professor lauded for commitment to underrepresented groups

American Society of Hispanic Economists awards Ronald Oaxaca the 2008 Academic Achievement Award

TUCSON, Ariz. – January 18, 2008 – Throughout his career, Ronald Oaxaca has examined issues related to underrepresented groups in the American labor market. Because of his commitment to researching and proposing solutions to these issues, the American Society of Hispanic Economists (ASHE) recently awarded the Eller College of Management’s McClelland Professor of Economics its inaugural Academic Achievement Award.

ASHE president Marie T. Mora cited Oaxaca’s career accomplishments, work in the field of economics, and contributions to Hispanic and other underrepresented communities. “We are sincerely honored to be in your realm of colleagues,” she said in her congratulatory letter. A list of accomplishments noted by Mora includes:

• Pioneering the “Oaxaca Wage Decomposition Technique,” now used worldwide to test issues related to wage differentials among racial/ethnic/gender groups.
• Published research on issues related to labor market outcomes among racial/ethnic/gender groups.
• Serving the economics profession in numerous advisory positions, including as a member and chair of the Committee on the Status of Minority Groups.

Oaxaca received his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1971 and joined the Eller College economics faculty in 1976. He is the recipient of numerous fellowships and honors, most recently the Kalt Prize, given annually to an exceptional Ph.D. mentor in the Eller College economics department.

The Eller College of Management at The University of Arizona is internationally recognized for pioneering research, innovative curriculum, distinguished faculty, excellence in entrepreneurship, and social responsibility. U.S.News & World Report ranks the Eller undergraduate program #12 among public business schools and five of its departments are among the top 25 — Entrepreneurship, MIS, Marketing, Management and Organizations, and Accounting. The MPA program in the School of Public Administration and Policy ranks in the top 50. Financial Times ranks the Eller MBA full-time program #27 in the U.S. and #57 in the world, and Forbes ranks the program among the top 50 nationwide. The College leads the nation’s business schools in generating grant funds for research. In addition to a full-time MBA program, the Eller College offers an evening MBA program, and the Eller Executive MBA. The Eller College of Management supports more than 5,100 undergraduate and 600 graduate students on the UA campus in beautiful Tucson, Arizona.

Press Contact:
Linda Herrick, Eller College Public Relations and Events Coordinator
520.626.2590, news@eller.arizona.edu