Brian Starr Graduated with a doctorate in Economics in 2009

 I began my Ph.D. studies later in life than most students.  At the age of 36, after spending the first part of my career in retirement plan consulting, I wanted to re-engage in university life. Texas Tech University allowed me to do so.

Doctoral studies are qualitatively different from preliminary collegiate work.  You find yourself surrounded by a cohort of great minds, and being taught by even greater ones, in a small setting in which robust conversation can occur.  I was deeply engaged and challenged from my first course to the last.  At once enthralled and intimidated by the formidable intellect of Dr. Klaus Becker, I took every course of his I could.  And I am most deeply indebted to the brilliant teacher and gregarious scholar, Dr. Terry von Ende, who skillfully oversaw my dissertation research.  Fusing my economics training with the human capital acquired in the first part of my career, I wrote on retirement savings behaviors.  One article from my three essays appeared in Financial Services Review and another article borrowing from my dissertation research is currently under review.

I have been at Lubbock Christian University since graduation.  A four-year administrative stint as Executive Vice President turned into twelve, but I am slowly reentering the academic side of the house in the School of Business, where I am currently teaching various Microeconomics and Finance courses and researching the effects of altruistic behavior on future income.