John D. Taylor

I graduated in 2004 with a degree in environmental economics from UNC Asheville.  After graduation, I completed a master's program in economics at American University.  Currently, I am working as a Senior Consultant for Concentric Energy Advisors, a consulting company focused on the utility industry.  The scholarship is designed for students who demonstrate the desire and interest to study economics with preference given to the following:

• Economics majors in the environmental economics option.
• Ethics and Social Institution students pursuing economics coursework.
• Students interested in understanding the role of free enterprise in society.

The remainder of this message provides further information on how these preferences relate to my experience at UNCA.

Economics majors in the environmental economics option:  I am appreciative of the UNCA economics department for helping me understand many dynamics of the world.  Studying economics and environmental economics in particular, was rewarding for its depth of ideas, connection with other disciplines, intellectual rigor, and ability to tell stories about the world around us.  UNCA's faculty presented the coursework in a manner that strengthened my respect for the discipline.  I hope to support students who are intrigued by economics and environmental economics.

Ethics and economics:  As described in the course catalog, Ethics and Social Institutions 101 studies, "the ethical implications of both the processes and the outcomes of social decision-making."  As a student at UNCA I learned about the ethical implications of economics, both the discipline itself and the results of social decisions based on the discipline.  I hope to support students who find studying the relationship between ethics and economics as rewarding as I have.

Role of free enterprise:  As a student of economics, I studied the role of free enterprise within the context of our broader society.  I found discussions on free enterprise to be one of the most insightful aspects of economics, as the study of free enterprise is a study of how we organize a part of our social institutions.  I was challenged to think about why companies are structured in the manner they are, the role free enterprise plays in organizing society, and the costs and benefits of relying on free enterprise to fulfill social needs.  I hope to support students interested in understanding the role of free enterprise in society.

Economics Department
159 Karpen Hall CPO # 2110   One University Heights   Asheville, NC 28804
Phone: 828-251-6550   FAX: 828-251-6572

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All rights reserved.  Revised: September 08, 2008