Jim Adams Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
With the intent of promoting and recognizing excellence in undergraduate teaching in Economics at the University of Michigan, the Jim Adams Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching was established in 2024 in honor of Professor Jim Adams.
Awarded annually, the Department Chair of Economics will name a faculty member for this award with input from students, faculty, staff, and evidence from student evaluations, as well as the depth, breadth and originality of their undergraduate course design.
For even-numbered years, the recipient is required to have been in their position for at least seven years. Additionally, they will have achieved sustained excellence in undergraduate teaching, and have been a source of sustained inspiration to a broad array of their students.
For odd-numbered years, the recipient is required to have been in their position for less than seven years. Alongside having shown the ability to inspire a wide spectrum of their students, they will have demonstrated an early commitment to, and exceptional promise in undergraduate teaching.
During the Department’s commencement ceremony, held in Crisler Arena, the recipient will be named and recognized to celebrate and honor the recipient in front of a large and relevant audience, including the graduating seniors who have been positively influenced by the recipient.
2025 Recipient
Ana Reynoso received the second Jim Adams Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in May 2025. Dr. Reynoso is an applied economist interested in Labor Economics and Economic Development. Most of her research investigates how policy affects marital matching patterns and the gains from marriage for different groups in both developed and developing countries. She also studies the impact of policies affecting teaching practices and school schedules on children's academic and non-academic outcomes. She received her Ph.D. in Economics from Yale University in 2018 and began working as an Assistant Professor at Michigan later that year. In her time at Michigan, she has served as an organizer for the Labor Seminar, a member of the Honors and Doctorate Programs, and several other roles.
Professor Reynoso currently teaches classes on Labor and Development Economics at both the undergraduate and graduate level. She also teaches a section of the undergraduate Honors seminar, ECON 495, focused on gender and the labor market. Congratulations to Professor Reynoso for her excellent leadership, scholarship, and service as an educator!
