Rebecca Moryl

Chair, Department of Economics; Associate Professor of Economics

Contact Information

617 975-9146

Office Hours

Office: Administration Building, Room 422-B

Office hours: Tuesday 1:30-3:00 p.m. in person; Thursday 10:30 a.m.-12:00 noon, zoom; Wednesday 10:45 - 11:45 a.m., drop in

Education

Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, Boston; M.S., Suffolk University; B.A., Trinity College

Bio

I consider myself a lifetime learner, perennially curious about new and old ideas, and about how others see the world. I believe passionately that Economics, as a sometimes challenging subject, is often misrepresented as merely required to understand business or finance. I believe that understanding economics is critical to understanding the worlds —big and small—in which we live. I seek to help students to: Understand that economics is already a part of their lives, is everywhere, and is relevant to their lives and the world; Understand that economics is most relevant to an educated citizen as a way of thinking, a logical way to see the world and to think critically about what is there; Engage actively in their own learning, and recognize that lessons of the classroom reach beyond the classroom walls.

In addition to experience as an economist and public policy analyst, I have 10 years professional experience in operations management, fundraising management, efficiency evaluation and improvement, and program marketing. I have served as a professional consultant to nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and small businesses. I integrate my work with nonprofits with my teaching through student service projects and community events.

What I Love About Emmanuel

Teaching economics at Emmanuel is the best of both worlds as we are part of a Business Department and situated within a traditional liberal arts education. Our students have the opportunity to develop their understanding of an 'economic way of thinking' in a context that allows them to think critically and apply the tools and skills of economics to a variety of questions and problems. Students here bring a desire for experiential learning, for connecting what they learn in the classroom to the world outside, and for developing community. Our Boston location gives a unique extended classroom in which to consider topics such as urban economics, health care economics, environmental economics, economics and finance - a whole variety of issues on our doorstep. Emmanuel's mission keeps us always focused on the social justice aspects of these topics. The mission of the Business and Economics Department furthers this as we seek to support the intellectual, ethical and social development of our students. I love engaging with students at Emmanuel in this way.

Courses I Teach

ECON1101 Microeconomics
ECON 2113 Politics of International Economic Relations
ECON 2203 An Economic View of the World
ECON 2205 Urban Economics
ECON 4201 Economics Senior Seminar

Publications + Presentations

Papers

Abdullah, A., Holder, K. Moryl, R., Murphy, P.R. and Patel, D. "Putting yourself in the picture with an 'ECONSelfie': Using student-generated photos to enhance introductory economics courses." International Review of Economics Education.22: 16-22.
Moryl, R. "Pod Learning: Student groups create podcasts to achieve economics learning goals. Journal of Economic Education. 47 (1).
Moryl, R. and Jiang, S. (2015) "Gold, Moonshine and Occupy Wall Street: Do audio podcast based assignments engage students differently across learning styles?" International Journal of Statistics and Economics. 16 (3) 1-9.
Moryl, R. (2014). Podcasts as a Tool for Teaching Economics. Journal of Economic Education. 45 (3), 284-285.
Moryl, R. and Jiang, S. (2013). Using Economics Podcasts to Engage Students of Different Learning Styles. International Advances in Economic Research 19:201-202
Moryl, R. (2013). T-shirts, moonshine, and autopsies: Using podcasts to engage undergraduate microeconomics students. International Review of Economics Education. Forthcoming
Moryl, R. and Jiang, S. (2013). Using Economics Podcasts to Engage Students of Different Learning Styles. International Advances in Economic Research 19:201-202
Moryl, R. (2012). 2012 Strategic Assessment of the Cultural Organization of Lowell (COOL). In consultation to Cultural Organization of Lowell, City of Lowell.
Moryl R. and Terkla, D. (2009) Economic Impact of the University of Massachusetts, Boston campus.

Presentations

Moryl, R. (October 2016). Using Audioecon.com to Foster Critical Thinking Through Online Discussion Boards. Paper presented at the National Economics Teaching Association Conference. Tampa, FL.
Moryl, R. (October 2016). Social Media Climbing Bloom's Ladder: Scaffolding Analysis and Evaluation on Social-Media Based Assignments. Paper presented at the National Economics Teaching Association Conference. Tampa, FL.
Al-Bahrani, A., Holder, H., Murphy, P.R., Moryl, R. and Patel, D. (October 2016). OhSnapECON! Using Snapchat for Principles of Economics. Paper presented at the National Economics Teaching Association Conference. Tampa, FL.
Al-Bahrani, A., Holder, H., Murphy, P.R., Moryl, R. and Patel, D. (January 2016). Putting Yourself in the Picture: Using Student-Generated Photos to Enhance Introductory Economics Courses. Paper presented at the American Economics Association Conference. San Francisco, CA.
Moryl, R. Podlearning. (November, 2015). Paper presented at the National Economic Teaching Association Conference. Dallas, TX.
Al-Bahrani, A., Holder, H., Murphy, P.R., Moryl, R. and Patel, D. (November 2015). Putting Yourself in the Picture: Using Student-Generated Photos to Enhance Introductory Economics Courses. Paper presented at the National Economic Teaching Association Conference. Dallas, TX.
Moryl, R. Economic Storytellers: Student-created podcasts. (October 2015). Paper presented at the International Atlantic Economic Society Conference. Boston, MA.
Moryl, R. (November 2014) Audioecon: Using Economics Themed Podcasts to Enhance Instruction. Paper presented at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Professors' Conference: Topics and Tools for the College Classroom. St. Louis, MO.
Moryl, R. Murphy, P.R., Farriss, L. and Engel, R. (May 2014). Putting Yourself in the Picture: Using Student-Generated Photos to Enhance Introductory Economics Courses. American Economic Association Conference on Teaching & Research in Economic Education. Washington, DC.
Moryl, R. Coburn, K. and Dennis J. (March 2014) Opportunities and Obstacles to Local Economic Development, Poster at the 2014 Urban Affairs Association Conference. San Antonio, TX.
Moryl, R. Murphy, P.R. and Farriss, L. (October 2013). Putting Yourself in the Picture: Using Student-Generated Photos to Enhance Introductory Economics Courses. Paper presented at the National Economics Teaching Conference. Austin, TX.
Moryl, R. and Jiang, S. (November 2013). Fantasy Sports, Dead Sharks and Robot Nannies: How teaching with podcasts can engage your students. Colleges of the Fenway Teaching and Learning Conference. November 15, 2013.
Moryl, R. , Foy, S. (May 2013) A Graphic is Worth A Thousand Words...Developing a Graphic Syllabus for Your Course, Paper presented at the American Economic Association Conference on Teaching & Research on Economic Education. Chicago, IL.
Moryl, R.; Jiang S.; Engel, R. (November 2012) (Pod)Casting Out Apathy: Tools for Building and Nurturing Economic Connectedness. Paper presented at the 8th Annual Gulf Coast Economics Association Teaching Conference. Orlando, FL.
Moryl, R., DeCristoforo, M., Ren, C., Shea, C. and Somerville, D. (November 2012). Assessing Effectiveness: Strategies for achieving local economic development goals. Poster at the 2012 Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management Fall Research Conference. Baltimore, MD.
Moryl, R. and Jiang, S. (October 2012). Gold, Moonshine & Autopsies: Engaging different student learning styles in Micro and Macro. Paper presented at the 74th International Atlantic Economic Conference. Montreal, QC, Canada.
Moryl, R. and Jiang, S. (June 2012). Gold, Moonshine, and Occupy Wall Street: Do Audio Podcast Based Assignments Engage Students Differently Across Learning Styles? Paper presented at the 2nd Annual American Economic Association National Conference on Teaching Economics, Boston, MA.
Moryl, R. (April 2012). Local Economic Development, Why Can't We Get What We Want? A Study of the Alignment of Local Economic Development Goals and Policies. Paper presented at the 42nd Annual Urban Affairs Association meeting, Pittsburg, PA.
Moryl, R. and Sullivan, F. (April 2012). Policy and Citizen Participation in City Governance. Roundtable discussion led at the 42nd Annual Urban Affairs Association meeting, Pittsburg, PA.
Moryl, R. (March 2012). Why Can't We Get What We Want: Studying the Alignment of Local Economic Development Goals and Policies. Paper presented at the Emmanuel College Faculty Research Seminar. Boston, MA
Moryl, R. (October 2011). T-shirts, Moonshine, and Autopsies: Using Podcast Topics to Engage Undergraduate Microeconomics Students. Paper presented at the 7th Annual Gulf Coast Economics Association Teaching Conference, New Orleans, LA.
Moryl, R. (October 2011). T-shirts, Moonshine, and Autopsies: Using Podcast Topics to Engage Undergraduate Students. Paper presented at the Emmanuel College Teaching and Learning Seminar. Boston, MA
Moryl, R. and Sullivan, F (October 2010). Politics, Policy and Citizen Participation in City Governance. Discussion group at the "From Polarization to Problem Solving" conference of the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation, Boston, MA.
Lisi, R., Moryl, R. and Sullivan, F. (July 2010). Politics, Policy and Citizen Participation in City Governance. A paper and roundtable discussion for the Civic Studies, Civic Practices Conference at Tufts University, Somerville, MA.
Moryl, R. (April 2010). A Case Study of the Alignment of Economic Development Goals and Policy. A paper presented for the Public Policy Section of the New England Political Science Association April 2010, Newport, RI.

Marion and Jasper Whiting Foundation Fellowship March 2016
Nominated for Emmanuel College Best ECLearn Site 2015-2016
Economist Educators Best in Class, National Economic Teaching Association, Second Place 2015
Emmanuel College Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award 2015
Nominated for Emmanuel College Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award 2014
Winner, Emmanuel College "I Did it with ECLearn" contest for best course website Fall 2013
Teaching with Technology Grant, Emmanuel College Summer 2013
Teaching with Technology Grant, Emmanuel College Summer 2012
Summer Research Funding, Emmanuel College Summer 2013
Summer Research Funding, Emmanuel College Summer 2012
University of Massachusetts Boston Department of Public Policy Book Award, Spring 2010
Craig R. Bollinger Memorial Research Grant, UMass Boston 2009
Award for Excellence in Public Policy, UMass Boston 2011

Research Focus

Economics Education
Local Economic Development

Dr. Moryl's current research focuses on local economic development, as well as instructional methods for undergraduate economics. Dr. Moryl has presented her work on the Alignment of Community Preferences, Economic Development Goals, and Policy At local and national conferences. In 2016 she traveled to South Africa to study urban climate adaptation policies with the support of the Marion and Jasper Whiting Foundation. She has also presented her work on strategies for effective undergraduate introductory economics here at Emmanuel College and at a national economic teaching conference. In 2015 she won second place in the National Economic Teaching Association's 'Economist Educator's Best in Class award, which highlights and rewards creative and engaging teaching techniques, for the 'Podlearning' technique. This instructional technique is featured in the Journal of Economics Education in 2016 and you can see a video about it here.