A native of Cheshire, Conn., Joshua Koppel graduated from the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics with majors in economics, energy and public policy, and political science and a minor in European studies. Koppel was nominated for this series by Associate Professor of Economics Liz Bayley. In this profile, Koppel shares his favorite UD memories, challenges he has overcome and his plans following graduation.
Lerner: How do you think you have changed from your first semester at UD to now?
Koppel: I have changed quite a bit. I started out abroad so my experience was quite a bit different than ‘normal’ college – I was able to travel and see the world in a different light. Now, I have those global experiences with me and can say I’ve traveled to more places, met more people and have a genuinely different worldview. My experience has been great at UD, and my global worldview is a significant part of the reason why.
Lerner: What have been some of the challenges you have faced during your college experience and how did you overcome them?
Koppel: College hasn’t been the easiest for me – for financial reasons, I have worked quite a bit since my sophomore year in various internships and jobs. The combination of multiple work experiences on top of a full course load has been difficult to manage at times. However, learning about myself and how I work best has been insightful for me. I’ve learned to manage my time better, how to prioritize and how to juggle work with schoolwork, allowing me to thrive in my classes.
Lerner: What was your favorite signature UD experience and why?
Koppel: The World Scholars Program was truly insightful to me, allowing me to explore two different countries during my time here. This was such a unique experience that few other students – both at UD and at large – get to partake in. Most of my knowledge learned abroad came not from courses, but conversations. With my focus on politics and economics, learning what people outside of academia think is critical to my understanding of the world.
Lerner: Did you have a Lerner professor or staff member that had a big impact on your UD experience?
Koppel: There are two that come to mind: Dr. Emily Battaglia and Dr. Liz Bayley. Dr. Battaglia taught my econometrics and causal analysis course, and Dr. Bayley served as my advisor. Dr. Battaglia’s course was genuinely impactful on my life. Content in that course has served me extremely well and enhanced my understanding of economics and econometrics. There are few courses I’ve taken at UD where I have learned so much as that course. Dr. Bayley provided an extremely smooth experience for me at UD, assisting me whenever needed and providing much clarity on questions or concerns that I had throughout my time in Lerner.
Lerner: What does being a “Lifelong Lerner” mean to you?
Koppel: I am thrilled to have been nominated for this recognition. Being a ‘Lifelong Lerner’ to me involves both the pursuit of knowledge as well as the pursuit of experience. One is impossible without the other. Lerner students are motivated and don’t cease learning about new ideas and topics after graduation. And, critically, being a ‘Lifelong Lerner’ means not settling for anything – rather it involves pursuing more and working to the best of one’s ability.
Lerner: What advice would you give to incoming students to make the most out of their college experience?
Koppel: Try everything – if you don’t like it, you can always stop. It’s impossible to know for certain what you like and what you don’t like, and you’ll truly never know until you try it. Also, most importantly, you need to network. Talk to anyone and everyone about anything and everything. Develop relationships beyond just wanting a job – truly learn from people and seek to understand their experiences.
Lerner: What are your plans following graduation?
Koppel: I’ll be staying at UD for my 4+1 in public policy and working as the Whittington Fellow with the Biden Institute.