People

Monica Escaleras

Professor and Director of the Business and Economics Polling Initiative

Academic Degrees

• Ph.D. in Economics, Florida International University, 2003
• M.S. in Agricultural Economics, University of Florida, 1996
• B.S. in Business administration, Wesleyan College, 1991

Bio:

Monica Escaleras, Ph.D., is a professor of economics, and the founder and director of the Business and Economics Polling Initiative (BEPI) in the College of Business at Florida Atlantic University.

The Initiative provides a laboratory for students to learn all aspects of survey research process from data collection up to presentations at professional conferences. Through hands-on activities, BEPI offers students the opportunity to develop new skills that help them in their professional development. In addition, results of the polls are regularly featured in several leading media outlets such as the Sun Sentinel, Washington Post, MSNBC, Reuters and MarketWatch – giving significant exposure to FAU. Escaleras also serves in the South Florida Culture Platform Steering Committee and supervises graduate students’ research projects. In 2016, Dr. Escaleras received the FAU National Alumni Association Degree of Difference Award and was a finalist for the FAU Distinguished Teacher of the Year award.

Dr. Escalera's scholarship focuses on natural disasters and political economy and her research has been published in numerous journals, including the Journal of Public Economics, Canadian Journal of Economics, Public Choice and Southern Economics Journal. She teaches Macroeconomics and Money and Banking.

Dr. Escaleras earned her bachelor’s degree from Kentucky Wesleyan College, her master’s degree from the University of Florida and her Ph.D. in Economics from Florida International University. Prior to joining Florida Atlantic University, Dr. Escaleras was an Assistant Professor at College of Charleston.

Eric Levy

Instructor and Assistant Director of the Business and Economics Polling Initiative

Academic Degrees

• Economics, University of Florida
• M.S. in Economics, Florida Atlantic University, 2003
• B.S. in Economics, State University of New York at Albany, 2000

Bio:

Mr. Levy is a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR), and is certified in Human Subject research by the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI). For the last eight years, he has specialized in strategic communication crafting campaign messages for candidates and issues throughout the country. His use of automated polling has revolutionized political campaign communication message strategies.

Kevin Wagner

Director of Graduate Studies in Political Science and Research Fellow of the Business and Economics Polling Initiative

Academic Degrees

• Ph.D. in Political Science, University of Florida, 2005
• M.A. in International Relations, University of Florida, 2002
• J.D, University of Florida, 1996
• B.S. in International Relations, Florida State University

Bio:

Dr. Wagner has published in leading journals and law reviews including American Review of Politics, Willamette Law Review, The Journal of Legislative Studies, The Political Chronicle, and Politics and Policy. In addition, Dr. Wagner has lectured extensively on politics and has been cited in many leading newspapers, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, New York Newsday, Dallas Morning News and Miami Herald. He has been featured on national television shows, including MSNBC’s "Andrea Mitchell Reports" and NBC’s “The Today Show,” and is a regular political analyst for WPEC CBS 12 in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Spencer Kimball

Advisor and Data Analyst of the Business and Economics Polling Initiative

Academic Degrees

• J.D. Massachusetts School of Law 2007
• M.S. in Political Science Suffolk University, 2005
• M.A. in Political Communication University of Hartford, 2002
• B.A. in Mass Communication University of Hartford, 2000

Bio:

Mr. Kimball is the adviser to the Emerson College Polling Society. He is a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR), American Association of Political Consultants, (AAPC) and is certified in Human Subject research by the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI).