I’m Zeina Shalaby, the most recent RA hire at the BIG Lab. I moved to South Bend from my home country, Egypt, toward the end of summer to start my appointment. Living in the U.S. has been a major adjustment for me, with many firsts — the most significant being snow. But thanks to all the preparation tips from colleagues and the reassuring knowledge that my Southern California-raised coworkers survived last winter, I’m managing to survive (if walking around in a ski mask counts as "surviving"). Never did I think I’d experience a Midwestern winter, let alone survive one. If you think I’m being dramatic, it’s only partly about the weather. The truth is, I’m talking about something bigger. I never imagined I’d get an offer from an American R1 university. And even when I did, I wasn’t entirely sure I’d be able to succeed. The question of qualifications and opportunity is one I ponder constantly — and it’s also what first drew me to labor and education economics as an undergraduate at the American University in Cairo (AUC).
It all started in the years following the Egyptian revolution and the financial strain it placed on many families, including my own. For a few years, I could no longer think of my private schooling as a given and began planning for college scholarships. This shift led me to participate in college prep programs outside my private school, which introduced me to students beyond my usual circle. I was exposed to new realities of social injustice that I had been shielded from as part of an upper-middle-class upbringing. Applying to scholarship-based programs was far more competitive, and I watched brilliant friends get rejected while less qualified students were admitted — simply because they could afford it. Even for those who did secure admission, I still had distinct advantages. I could afford to take unpaid internships. I had access to family connections, industry-specific knowledge, and mentorship that many of my friends didn’t. Not to mention that I didn’t find private sector jobs intimidating, seeing a lot of my friends from school landing them. I applied for prestigious positions and negotiated offers, while others were more likely to self-reject or settle for the first option. Even during the years when I didn’t have the financial capital of the upper-middle class, I still had the social capital, access to knowledge, and, most importantly, self-esteem.
Towards the end of my degree, I was determined to pursue a career in economics academia abroad — but I quickly realized that I was on the other side of the opportunity divide. I had no insider knowledge and no connections to vouch for me. Foreign master’s programs — often the “in” for international students — were exorbitantly expensive in Egyptian terms, even after financial aid. Summer research programs that could have offered funding didn’t sponsor visas. I decided to apply for a travel grant to attend an undergraduate research conference at the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire. My goal was to connect with professors and graduate schools. My spirits began to waver, but then I met Professor Dziadula through Notre Dame representatives at the conference. She took a chance on me, offering me a position as a research assistant. Her mentorship gave me access to the kind of knowledge that had been out of reach. I learned essential skills for the job, from organizing publication-quality papers in LaTeX to writing Stata code for mainstream empirical strategies like fixed effects and difference-in-differences. Recognizing my interest in education economics, she introduced me to Professor Denning, who, with great support, welcomed me as a remote RA, patiently navigating bureaucratic hurdles and a 7-hour time difference. It was in this role that I developed my skills in data cleaning while completing my senior year at AUC. Prof. Dziadula’s and Prof. Denning’s support is very characteristic of Notre Dame Economics’ culture, which strives to limit gatekeeping in the economics space and is known for PhD cohorts with a large percentage of internationals.
The BIG Lab is a pioneer in this regard, being one of the first labs in the College of Arts and Letters to sponsor visas, and inspiring two other labs to follow in its footsteps. The support doesn’t just stop at getting you here but extends to guiding you in the next steps of your career. I am well-informed about the trends in graduate admissions. Working with prominent development economists, I am exposed to the most recent theory, methodologies, and technical skills in the field. Also, opportunities are not limited to development economics given the weekly macro, applied micro, econometrics talks. Guest lectures are a routine matter, so I am always knowing more about other schools. There are even professional talks meant for graduate students going into corporate/government/ IFI(s) for anyone exploring non-academic economics.
Going back to surviving a Midwestern winter — it takes more than just a warm coat. You have to finance winter shopping, debunk the mysteries, and find reassurance that others with limited cold tolerance have survived before you. Honestly, it’s not that different from making it in econ academia!