ECON, Kaulkin Ginsberg Support Research Fellows Program

The Department of Economics has partnered with Kaulkin Ginsberg, a leading consultancy and M&A advisory firm specializing in the accounts receivable management (ARM) industry, for the fifth semester of the Research Fellows Program. Fellows focus their research on uncollected debts owed to states and municipalities in the United States.

This 10-week program offers undergraduate students the opportunity to work in groups to collect and interpret a variety of data for executives in the ARM industry. In the past, this research has been incorporated into Kaulkin Ginsberg’s market reviews and reports. Some of the market segments the program has covered include healthcare, student lending, financial services and telecommunications.

Kaulkin Ginsberg has observed more states and municipalities turn to third-party specialists to combat rising administrative costs and serve non-core business functions, such as debt collection, which is why the program’s leaders decided to focus on this area for the fellows’ research.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1904","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"150","style":"font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.6; width: 150px; height: 150px; margin: 5px; float: left;","width":"150"}}]]“A government’s ability to collect debt obligations like taxes or court fines is an essential component of a well-functioning system,” said alumnus Mike Ginsberg, President and CEO of Kaulkin Ginsberg. “Fellows will size up the market, explore the rules and regulations that govern it, and analyze the economic impact of collection agencies on local government operations so we can project future revenue potential for ARM companies.”

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences has long relied on the expertise and engagement of its distinguished alumni to enhance operations and provide unique opportunities for students. Through collaborative efforts with innovative organizations throughout the D.C. area, BSOS students gain real-world experience and make contributions of their own. The College and its Department of Economics are grateful to Mr. Ginsberg and to Kaulkin Ginsberg for their support and guidance in this tremendously beneficial Fellowship Program.

"We are so pleased that Kaulkin Ginsberg provides our students with opportunities to practice the kind of market research offered by business consulting firms and to learn about careers in financial services, including the regulatory aspects. The program is a great complement for academic coursework and greatly enhances our new B.A. curriculum," said Dr. Maureen Cropper, Chair of the Department of Economics.

This semester’s Fellows will also have the opportunity to learn about government careers for economics majors. Guest speakers from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will attend class one night to discuss the roles they play within their organizations and the paths the fellows might want to take after graduation.

Michael Thomas, an associate at Kaulkin Ginsberg, participated in the fellows program during the spring 2014 semester and now acts as its supervisor. He said adding the government career day to the curriculum this fall was a no-brainer.

“Deciding on a post-graduation career is nothing short of stressful and nerve-racking,” Mr. Thomas said. “Our goal is to provide fellowship students with insight into potential careers, and to help them build professional contacts with what could be a future employer.”

For more information about the Research Fellows Program, please contact Michael Thomas at mthomas@kaulkin.com.

Published on Wed, Sep 30, 2015 - 2:49PM