Preparing students to think critically in an increasingly data-driven world
Abigail Cormier is helping prepare students for a rapidly changing, data-driven world through her work in the Department of Economics within the Terry College of Business. A Ph.D. candidate in economics, Cormier was recognized with the 2026 Excellence in Teaching Award for her efforts in developing a course that equips undergraduate students with critical thinking and data analytics skills.
Cormier joined the BUSN 5000 development team during her first year in the Ph.D. program and quickly became passionate about both the course and its impact. Since then, she has worked alongside faculty each summer to expand and improve the course as enrollment has grown to roughly 250 students per semester. Through the course, she helps teach nearly 500 students each academic year, many of whom are pursuing business analytics and economics-related studies. Reflecting on the importance of the course, she explains, “The key idea I want every student to walk away with is that everything we do in the course—all of the calculations, all of the analysis—is ultimately about learning something interesting and important about the world.” As artificial intelligence and data analytics continue to shape industries, Cormier believes these skills are more valuable than ever for students entering the workforce.
photo courtesy of Abigail Cormier
Receiving the Excellence in Teaching Award was especially meaningful because of the complexity and scale of the work involved.
“Teaching a complex set of topics to hundreds of students with a relatively small team is a real challenge.”
She notes that the rise of generative AI has transformed both the subject matter and the way educators approach teaching, creating new opportunities and challenges in the classroom. “It was really meaningful to receive recognition for that effort,” she shares.
Throughout her graduate career, Cormier has been supported by a strong network of faculty mentors and peers who helped shape both her teaching and research. She credits faculty members including Dr. Morgan Taylor, Dr. Chris Cornwell, Dr. Meghan Skira, and Dr. Ian Schmutte for their guidance and encouragement.
“[Dr. Taylor] was the first professor I TA’d for, and she made me feel welcome at UGA while teaching me innumerable lessons about effective teaching.”
Cormier also highlights the impact of Dr. Cornwell, who became a close mentor in both teaching and research, and her advisor, Dr. Skira, who “helped me develop into a better researcher, academic, and instructor.” Through these relationships, Cormier says she learned how to build a research agenda, navigate academia, and continue growing professionally.
Dr. Chris Cornwell and Abigail Cormier
Cormier chose UGA because of the strong sense of support she felt from both faculty and graduate students during the admissions process. “It was clear they were deeply invested in their graduate students,” she recalls. The program’s breadth of research-active faculty also allowed her to explore multiple areas of economics before discovering her passion for labor and health economics.
Outside of academics, Cormier has challenged herself in new ways during graduate school. “I think people would be surprised to know that I ran my first half-marathon during my Ph.D., the AthHalf!” she says, noting that before then, the longest race she had completed was a 5K. Running has since become one of her favorite ways to regain focus and clarity, especially while exploring neighborhoods around University of Georgia and the Athens community.
photo courtesy of Abigail Cormier
One of Cormier’s proudest accomplishments has been securing a faculty position during this year’s academic job market. After graduation, she will join Idaho State University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics and Finance within the College of Business. The position will allow her to continue her research in labor and health economics while also developing curriculum for a required Data Analytics course. Reflecting on the opportunity, she says it allows her “to take everything I’ve learned from my research and teaching at UGA and continue building on it at another institution.”
Like many graduate students, Cormier acknowledges that pursuing a Ph.D. can sometimes feel isolating. “Research in our field is often a solo adventure, and the ups and downs can feel all-consuming,” she explains. She credits the meaningful relationships she built with mentors and fellow graduate students for helping her navigate those challenges. “None of it would be possible without those relationships,” she says. Through her dedication to teaching, mentorship, and research, Abigail Cormier continues to make a lasting impact on students while preparing for the next chapter of her academic career.
The Excellence in Teaching award recognizes the significant contribution graduate students make to the instructional mission of the University. The award is sponsored by the Graduate School and recognizes up to five graduate students who have demonstrated superior teaching skills and made contributions to teaching beyond their own classrooms.
For more information about these teaching awards, please visit the Center for Teaching and Learning Teaching Awards website.
