Education

PhD, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2020

Master's in Education with an Economic Focus, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2010

Bachelor's in Economics, California State University-Bakersfield, 2005

Areas of Expertise

• Economic Education

Appointments

• Nebraska Bankers Association Faculty Fellow
• President, Nebraska Council on Economic Education

Vita

Read Vita

CliftonStrengths ®

• Achiever
• Maximizer
• Focus
• Harmony
• Competition

Scholarship

Selected Publications/Articles

• Wagner, J., & Davidson, J. (2024). Effectiveness of Live Webinars to Teach Financial Literacy: A Case Study Among Public Employees. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, Volume 35(3), 419-433.
• Davidson, J. and Walstad, W. (2022) Long-term analysis of a savings program in elementary school, Citizenship Social and Economcis Education, September, 1-13.
• Entrepreneurship in Your Community, Creating Your Own Career, with Dr. Jamie Wagner, Sydney Kobza, Matt Pierson, and Gigi Wolf.  UNO Cener for Economics and Education and Nebraska Council on Economic Education, Spring 2021. 
   
• Longer-term impact and efficacy of Nebraska's elementary grades in-school savings programs. Dissertation. University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 2020.
• Math and the Real World: A High School Curriculum Guide for Teachers, with the National Council for Economic Education, Fall 2014.
• Elementary Banking: A Guide to Starting a Student Branch in Your Community, with Tammie Fischer and Jamie Wagner, Nebraska Council on Economic Education, 2012, update 2019.
• Nebraska Entrepreneurs: A Resource Guide for Teachers, 2^nd edition, with Tammie Fischer, Nebraska Council on Economic Education, 2010.
• Nebraska and the World: A Resource Guide for Teachers, 2^nd edition, with Mary Lynn Reiser, Tammie Fischer, Nebraska Council on Economic Education/NE Department of Economic Development, 2009.

White Papers

• Survey of Nebraska Schools, 2018

Selected Presentations

• “The Serious Savings Gap Between the Sexes,” at State Financial Officers Foundation Conference,
  Orlando, FL, 09/30/2020
• “In School Savings Programs: A Way to Reach the Unbanked,” for FDIC Iowa High School
  Economic Inclusion Webinar, 09/02/2020
• “Unemployment,” online teacher professional development session, 04/17/2020
• “Stock Market Game and Finance Challenge How To’s” at NDE’s BMIT workshop, Kearney, Nebraska, 10/16/2019
• “The Fed & Monetary Policy, ” for Omaha Public Schools, Omaha, NE 09/20/2019
• “Stock Market Game and Finance Challenge How To’s” at NDE’s BMIT workshop, Omaha, Nebraska, 09/13/2019
• “In School Savings Programs-Lasting Effects?” research presentation at 58^th Annual Economic and Financial Literacy Conference, Los Angeles, CA, October 2019
• “Innovative Programs to Drive Revenue and Impact” at 58^th Annual Economic and Financial Literacy Conference, Los Angeles, CA, October 2019
• National Personal Finance Challenge session facilitator at 58^th Annual Economic and Financial Literacy Conference, Los Angeles, CA, October 2019
• National Economics Challenge session facilitator at 58^th Annual Economic and Financial Literacy Conference, Los Angeles, CA, October 2019
• “Insurance Explaind: Demystifying a Complicated Topic,” at Nebraska Career Education Conference, Kearney, NE, 06/06/2019
• In School Savings Program panel moderator, at Nebraska Bankers Association annual conference, LaVista, NE, 05/02/2019
• Financial Literacy Networking Summit, Lincoln, NE, 03/11/2019
• “Navigating the National Economics Challenge,” national webinar for teachers for Council on Economic Education, 02/26/2019
• “Math & Economics: Connections for Life,” at Nebraska Association for the Gifted Conference, Omaha, NE, 02/22/2019
• “Personal Finance You Can Take to the Bank,” budgeting session for UNO Center for Economic Education, Omaha, NE, 01/12/2019

Consulting Work

• Chair Economics Committee writing team in updating the Nebraska K-12 Social Studies Standards, 2019
• Participate in LR141 financial literacy interim study of the state of financial literacy in Nebraska, 2019
• Participate in NE Deptartment of Education Re-Visioning Strategic Planning process, January 16, 2019
• Consult for Lincoln Public Schools, 2018 economics course revision, textbook selection, and final exam selection, 2018

Grants and Research Awards

• 2022 secured and administered grants and funding, $380,259
• 2021 secured and administered grants and funding, $158.857
• 2020 secured and administered grants and funding, $346,008
• 2019 secured and administered grants and funding, $250,414
• 2018 secured and administered grants and funding, $222,333
• 2017 secured and administered grants and funding, $224,175
• 2016 secured and administered grants and funding, $211,617
• 2015 secured and administered grants and funding, $209,977

Courses

Undergraduate Courses

Essentials of Economics (ECON 200) - Introduction to economic reasoning and methods. Consumer choice, resources, decision making under constraints, supply, demand, markets, economic welfare analysis, measurement, prices, employment, money and interest rates. Economic policy and limitations are evaluated.

Teaching Interests

• Economics for Teachers
• Economic Education
• Macroeconomics
• Microeconomics

Service

DEPARTMENT, COLLEGE, AND UNIVERSITY INVOLVEMENT

Department of Economics

Economics Department Undergraduate Committee: 2019 – 2022; 2024 – 2027

Coordinate and host Exploring Careers in Economics Lunch and Learn student event, October 15, 2024

Econ Department, Proctor PhD Exams, May 28, 2024

Organize and Host Women in Economics Symposium Federal Reserve Student Watch Party, April 4, 2024

Economics Department Faculty Search Committees

            December 2021 – March 2022

            December 2023 - March 2024

Organize Econ Majors Event Careers/Internships Event with Nebraska Banking Industry, March 25, 2022

Present Economics major and careers to Cedar Bluffs middle school class, Cedar Bluffs, October 11, 2022

Present Economics major and careers to Milford middle school classes, 2 periods, Milford, October 5, 2022

Organize and host Econ Majors Event Careers/Internships Event with Federal Reserve, October 22, 2021

Present to UNL’s Economics Club, Survey of Nebraska Schools and more, March 27, 2019

Represent Economics Dept/Major at College of Arts & Science tabling event, Sept. 11, 2018

Represent Economics Department and table at UNL’s Math Day: 2014, 2015, 2016

College of Business

CoB Scholarship, Honors & Awards Committee, 2023-2026

BSAD 333: Back-Up Interviewer (and called to assist in place of no show), September 30. 2024

Judge College of Business Tenaska Business Challenge Submissions, February 6, 2024

Student Conduct & Community Standards Program Review, College Representatives Team, January 2024

Serve on CoB Societal Impact Working Group, spring 2023

Lead faculty for CoB Dream Big Academy 2015-2020

Organize and present at CoB’s first Middle School Intro to Business Day, May 5, 2022

“Financial Wellbeing,” for CoB Community, Lincoln, Nebraska, Nov 17, 2021

Represent College of Business and present at Future Husker University, July 19, 2019

Take A Parent to Lunch Volunteer, 3 sessions, Summer 2017

Present to BUS 444 Class, Money Management and Budgeting Activity, November 1 2017

Present to BUS 444 Class, Money Management and Budgeting Activity, April 1 2016

Present to BUS 444 Class, Money Management and Budgeting Activity, Nov. 6, 2015

University of Nebraska

UNL Parking Appeals Committee, 2023-2026

UNL’s Academic Standing Committee – August 2019 – August 2026

College of Education: Serve on Pflanz PhD Committee and service as dissertation reader, 2021-2025

Financial Session provided for UNL Athletes – March 18, 2024

“Financial Literacy,” for Husker Advantage (athletes), August 23, 2023

“Moving Out,” for Husker Advantage (athletes), February 13, 2023

“Increasing Your Financial Wellness,” for Husker athletes, Lincoln, July 5, 2022

“Costs of Moving Off Campus,” for Husker Advantage (athletes), February 7, 2022

            “Financial Literacy & You” for Husker Advantage (athletes), virtual, January 31, 2022

Chair and Outside Reviewer for UNK Center for Economic Education April 2023

Chair, Convocations Committee, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, August 2017-August 2018

Convocations Committee, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, August 2015 – August 2018

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

National Association of Economic Educators (NAEE), Member 2020 – present

Executive Committee Positions: Past President 2027, President 2026 (first person to be elected twice), President-Elect 2025; Past President 2021, President 2020, President-Elect 2019; Council Representative 2016-2019, Treasurer 2017-2018

Awards Committee, 2022-present

Conference Committee, 2020-present

Chair, Professional Development Committee, 2014-2016

Council for Economic Education

Network Advisory Committee, 2018-2023

Board Member, 2020-2023

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

            FBLA State Leadership Conference, Economics Exam Reviewer, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022,

FBLA State Leadership Conference, Securities and Investments Exam Reviewer, Nov 2022

            FBLA State Leadership Conference Judge: Job Interview, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022

FBLA State Leadership Conference Judge: Electronic Career Portfolio, 2018, 2019, 2022

            FBLA State Leadership Conference Judge: Client Services, 2022

            FBLA State Leadership Conference Judge: International Business, 2021

FBLA State Leadership Conference Judge: Emerging Business Issues, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

FBLA State Leadership Conference Judge, Chapter Reports Project, 2016

FBLA State Leadership Conference Judge, business ethics competition, March 2015

Nebraska Department of Education

Consult on Nebraska standards review process, Feb 23, 2023

English Language Arts Endorsement Revision Ad Hoc Committee - 2022

            Nebraska Career & Technical Education and Business, Marketing, & Management Futuring Panel, April 27, 2021

            Social Science Teaching Endorsement Revision Ad Hoc Group Participant, March 2, 2020

Testify at State Board of Education Meeting re: draft social studies standards, May 3, 2019

Visioning Panel Participant, January 16, 2019

Chair Social Studies Economics Standards writing team, 2018-2019

Testify at State Board of Education Meeting re: new business programs of study and standards, December 7, 2018

Business Program of Study and Course standards writing, June – Aug 2018

Strategic Plan for Social Studies Participant, May, 2017

Social Studies Summit Participant, February 14 & 15, 2017

Futuring Panel Participant for Career Education Course Work, Finance Cluster, Nov, 2016

English/Language Arts Instructional Tool Writing Team, Economics Content, July 2014 

National Endowment for Financial Education

Peer Reviewer, Four White Paper Series on Financial Education Requirements: Teacher Training, Evaluation, Partnerships and Collaboration, Curriculum and Resources, November 2024

Peer Reviewer, National Endowment for Financial Education, National Financial Literacy Assessment, 2023

Other Service

NIFA Panelist: Progress with the Nebraska Financial Literacy Act, April 17, 2024

Testify at State Legislature hearings re: LB710, bill to exclude credit unions from in school savings programs, March 21, 2023

Conduct Job Interviews for Take Charge classes at Lincoln North Star High School, March 31, 2023

PBL (Professional Business Leaders), Faculty Advisor, 2020 - 2023

Testify at State Legislature hearings re: LB 327 and LB 452, bills requiring personal finance education for graduation, February 1, 2021

Jump$tart Education Committee, 2020-2021

Funding the Future, Elected Board Vice President, 2020-2021; Advisory Committee, 2015-present

Invited to present and participate in LR141 financial literacy interim study of the state of financial literacy in Nebraska, 10/15/2019

Testify at State Legislature hearings re: LB 265 and LB 379, bills effecting Nebraska’s payday lending industry, March 12, 2019

Consult for Wahoo Public Schools, Economic course content and pacing, April, 2018

Consult for Lincoln Public Schools, Economics course revision, textbook selection, and final exam selection February, 2018

Redesign curriculum for Funding the Future financial literacy concerts, Feb. 2018

Testify at State Legislature hearing re: LB1094, personal finance state mandates literature review, Feb. 6, 2018

Coordinate Updating and Rewriting of ten PBL exams for the American Business Competition, Fall 2017

Judge for Lincoln High Take Charge interview fair competition November 3, 2017

Host Nebraska State Business Education Conference, October 28, 2017

Coordinate and lead econ/social studies Virtual Tour of the Capitol lesson-writing project with the Nebraska Department of Education, 10 lessons, summer, 2016

Testify at State Legislature hearing re: LB 269, payday lender fees and regulations, Feb. 9, 2016

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Economic Education Advisory Council, 2015-2017

Judge High School Beige Book Competition at The Career Academy, Dec. 7 & 9, 2015

Noteworthy

Awards

• Nebraska Council on Economic Education Awarded Council of the Year, 2019
• UNL's Women Center Women of Character, Courage, and Commitment, 2019
• Certificate of Recognition to Students, 2015 & 2019
• Nominated for Excellence in Teaching Award, 2017 & 2018
• Future Business Leaders of America Nebraska Business Person of the Year, 2017
• Rising Star Award, 2016

Selected Media Placement

• KOLN, First at Four television interview, Feeling the Christmas Spending Pressure?, Lincoln, Nebraska, December 17, 2019
• NET Nebraska Public Radio Interview, Nebraska Schools Tackle Financial Literacy, December 3, 2019
• KOLN, First at Four television interview, Lincoln, Nebraska, November 27, 2019
• KOLN, First at Four television interview, Lincoln, Nebraska, May 20, 2019
• KOLN, First at Four television interview, Lincoln, Nebraska, April 29, 2019
• KOLN, First at Four television interview, Lincoln, Nebraska, April 15, 2019
• KOLN, Holiday budgeting and spending interview at Hawks Hall, Lincoln, Nebraska, December 19, 2018
• KOLN, First at Four television interview, Lincoln, Nebraska, December 17, 2018
• KOLN, First at Four television interview, Lincoln, Nebraska, November 19, 2018