Director, Kautz-Uible Economics Institute

David Sinton Professor of Economics

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Debashis Pal is the David Sinton Professor of Economics at the University of Cincinnati, recognized for his expertise in microeconomics and game theory. Since joining the Department of Economics in 1994, he has published extensively in prestigious peer-reviewed journals and has made a profound impact on his students through invaluable guidance and lasting connections beyond graduation. His excellence in teaching has been formally acknowledged with the Ronald J. Dornoff Fellow for Teaching Excellence Award in 2014 and the Lindner Teaching Fellow Award in 2016.

 

Debashis has fostered a strong sense of community among students, alumni, faculty, and staff, which culminated in the establishment of the Kautz-Uible Economics Institute in 2019, where he currently serves as Managing Director. His commitment to enhancing students' personal and professional growth is reflected in numerous testimonials, underscoring his dedication to positive faculty-student relationships. In 2024, he was honored with the George Barbour Award, the highest recognition for promoting good faculty-student relations at the University of Cincinnati.

Program Coordinator, Kautz-Uible Economics Institute

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Sarah Asebrook is the Program Coordinator for the Kautz-Uible Economics Institute. A professional writer, Sarah has played an instrumental role in building brand awareness and recognition of the institute among the UC economics community and beyond through the development of our biannual newsletter publication, website, and social media presence.

 

After earning both a BA in Art History and MA in Professional Writing from the University of Cincinnati, she joined the Lindner College of Business as an Executive Staff Assistant for the Departments of Economics and Accounting in 2020. During this time, she supported the institute through a range of marketing and design projects. In 2021, Sarah joined the institute in a full-time capacity; in her current role, she leads the institute's content development process, manages daily operations, supports student initiatives, and plans and executes events for the UC economics community.

Director, Kautz-Uible Cryptoeconomics Lab

Kautz-Uible Assistant Professor of Economics

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Michael Jones is the Kautz-Uible Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Cincinnati. An expert in blockchain technology and financial literacy, Michael was instrumental in the creation of the Kautz-Uible Cryptoeconomics Lab housed in the university’s interdisciplinary research facility Digital Futures, located in the heart of the Cincinnati Innovation District. Since its opening in Fall 2022, Michael has served as its Director, overseeing applied research and corporate engagements that focus on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Passionate about experiential learning, Michael developed an academic course offered through the Lindner College of Business that provides students with hands-on experience in managing the Kautz-Uible Cryptocurrency Fund.

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Michael takes an active role in educating the UC community and beyond, often being quoted in local media, participating in economics panels, and serving as a faculty advisor for student organizations. Formally recognized for excellence in teaching, innovation, and research, he was the recipient of the Drew and Wendy Boyd Breakthrough in Innovative Teaching Excellence (2020); the Office of Research Core Values Award (2021); the Michael L. Dean Excellence in Classroom Education and Learning Award (2022); and Lindner’s Faculty Excellence Award (2022).