Aakansha is a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in Economics at Iowa State University. Her work sits at the intersection of labor markets, public policy, and economic development; current projects explore how access to education shapes employment outcomes in both India and the United States. She has taught undergraduate Money & Banking and enjoys weaving real-world data into her classes. Born and raised in Kolkata, India, she moved to the United States to pursue her doctorate and plans to continue in academia after graduation. Outside of research and teaching, she stays active with rowing, cycling, and distance running.