Lerner Welcomes New Faculty: Barton Willage

This year, the UD Alfred Lerner College welcomed several new faculty members into its community. Barton Willage is an associate professor of economics; he spoke with Lerner about his research focus and why he is excited to join the University of Delaware.

Lerner: What is your professional and academic background?

Willage: I earned my Ph.D. in economics from Cornell University in 2018. After that, I was an assistant professor at Louisiana State University for four years, and then two years at University of Colorado – Denver.

Lerner: What is your research focus?

Willage: I’m an applied micro-economist. My dissertation focused on how government policies can impact risky health behaviors. Since then, I have also researched on a broad range of topics in health economics, labor economics, and public economics. My favorite research has combined multiple sub-fields.

Lerner: What inspired you to work in your field/research/subject area?

Willage: I had a few very helpful mentors who worked on somewhat related topics. Especially as a graduate research assistant, I learned a lot about how research is done in these areas. I also have a lot of questions about these topics, and if no one else is going to answer them, I might as well try.

Lerner: What is it about UD that made you want to work/teach/research here?

Willage: UD’s economics department is very strong, with several other applied micro-economists. There have also been several recent hires doing very interesting research. I’ve been very impressed with the undergraduate and graduate students that I’ve interacted with. Finally, I think a Fightin’ Blue Hen is a great mascot!

Lerner: What course are you most excited to teach at Lerner?

Willage: Probably Health Economics. I think students don’t often think about how health and economics go together, but this is a large area of economics that ties in to several other areas of Lerner, including hospitality (I have a paper about calorie counts on menus and their impact on business). This is my favorite class to have students really try to understand the world from an economics perspective. 

Lerner: What is something unique about you that may surprise your peers/students? (hobby, talent, experience etc.)

Willage: This is more of an aspirational hobby, and we’ll see if I’ve made much progress in a year from now. But I’m trying to get into watchmaking, which is watch repair. All the pieces are so small, so it’s possible I’ll lose a few…what a disaster!

 

Lerner Co-op Program Intern: Bridget Kiey

Throughout the summer and 2025-26 school year, students in UD’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics are comprising the initial class of the Lerner Co-op Program, a new year-long work-based learning initiative launched with a grant from the Delaware...

Finance Major Antonia Vázquez Discusses Research Project

Article written by Tracey Bryant Women are less likely than men to choose finance as a major in business schools. Nationally, only about one third of the students pursuing the major are female, according to recent studies. When fewer women start in finance, fewer will...

From Founder to Successor: UD’s CEEE Directors’ Legacy

This article was written by Cori Burcham. In 2013, when Carlos Asarta became the director of the University of Delaware’s Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship (CEEE), he quite literally stepped into Jim O’Neill’s shoes, assuming leadership of the center...

Lerner Prof Stephanie Raible Discusses Secondhand Shopping

article written by UDaily staff August marks the unofficial start of the back-to-school season. There’s excitement, but there’s also stress as parents shop for fall clothing for their children. How expensive is it going to be? Will the clothing last? What if kids hit...

Fei Xie Appointed Research Director at Weinberg Center

The University of Delaware’s John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance has announced the appointment of Fei Xie, Chaplin Tyler Professor of Finance at the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, as the center’s inaugural faculty research director. His...

Lerner Co-op Program Featured by Poets&Quants

The Lerner Co-op Program was recently featured on the Poets&Quants for Undergrads website. The story details the program, as 22 students in the pilot class experience a new year-long work-based learning initiative launched with a grant from the Delaware Workforce...