By Aahna Combs
The Arkansas Center for Research in Economics (ACRE) welcomes Heidi Saliba and Elise Ormonde as two new, dynamic team members. These gifted people offer a multitude of expertise, a variety of skill sets, and a common enthusiasm for improving not only Arkansas’s economic climate but the lives of all individuals who reside here as well.
Heidi Saliba: A Multidisciplinary Asset
Saliba comes to ACRE with a multifaceted background and is set to focus on occupational licensing and property rights. Her current projects include collaborating with Dr. Rania al-Bawwab to explore the economic implications of free speech violations, working with Dr. Mavuto Kalulu and Dr. al-Bawwab to learn about perceptions of corruption in the US and South Africa, and examining the role of risk management in occupational licensing projects with a team that includes Dr. Thomas Snyder and UCA honors student Perla Zapata.
Economic transparency is important to Saliba. “I think it’s important to make scholarly work available to everyone,” she says. “This dedication of ACRE is in line with my objective to offer suggestions that minimize obstacles for individuals and safeguard their Constitutional rights.”
Saliba’s unique contribution to the team lies in her diverse experiences, ranging from healthcare research and administration to journalism and web design. She is drawn to ACRE’s commitment to making scholarly work accessible to all Arkansans.
She is also working with Elise Ormonde on a spring event for the College of Business, celebrating research and recognizing the accomplishments and contributions of UCA’s students.
Speaking about her philosophy, Saliba remarked, “Integrity and truthfulness are at the core of my work. I place value on bringing out the strengths and talents of others and learning about the intersections of culture and society.”
Elise Ormonde: Bridging Gaps in Education and Economics
Ormonde joined ACRE at the beginning of September. A 2022 graduate of Hendrix College, she brings a background in economics and psychology. Ormonde’s research focuses on K-12 education, emphasizing transparency in COVID funding for education and exploring health economics.
Ormonde views herself as a connection between students and instructors, encouraging student participation in academic programs. She is very passionate about student involvement in order to enhance educational experiences and set students up for success post-graduation. Elise is in a unique position to work on student programming because she is a recent graduate, making her well-informed about the preferences and needs of students.
Her decision to work at ACRE was fueled by an appreciation of ACRE’s narrowed focus on Arkansas. Ormonde explains, “I’m excited to be part of an Arkansas-based research center like ACRE, addressing specific challenges in healthcare and education with a non-partisan, research-based approach.”
Ormonde believes ACRE improves Arkansans’ lives by contributing valuable economic research, connecting people with academic resources, and bringing people together within the community. She actively engages in student programs, running an economic reading group, mentoring student fellows on research projects and helping to develop a Women in Economics program on UCA campus.
Ormonde participates in a number of student-focused initiatives, demonstrating her dedication to helping create a more robust economic community in Arkansas.
As ACRE continues to grow, the addition of Heidi Saliba and Elise Ormonde further strengthens its commitment to impactful, community-driven economic research. Their unique skills and dedication to ACRE’s mission promise a future of continued success for the research center. Read more about ACRE’s team members here.