Jingze Jiang, PhD

Dr. Jingze Jiang, a tenured Professor of Economics and Quantitative Analysis at Pennsylvania Western University Edinboro, where she has served since 2013. She brings a wealth of experience to the classroom, having previously worked as a lead data scientist at Capital One for several years. In this role, she led a team that built machine learning models to predict employment outcomes, providing insights to C-suite executives and influencing decisions on hiring, promotion, termination, incentives, and legal compliance with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) regulations.

Dr. Jiang is passionate about fostering student success.  She was awarded Excellence in Teaching by the Dr. Robert C. Weber Honor Program and is known for her commitment to experiential learning.  Her connections in Erie allow students to participate in real-world projects, such as helping the city develop an effective glass recycling program.  She has also mentored students whose research was selected for presentation at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland's undergraduate competition. Additionally, she has organized a home-grown study abroad program to China, where students visit the JP Morgan Chase China headquarters, network with executives, and meet students at top universities.

Her research interests lie in energy economics, environmental economics, and econometrics.  She has published in top-tier journals such as Energy Economics and Applied Economics, with funding from federal, state, and university grants.  The project, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, investigated how farmers' choice of mulches affects microplastic pollution. This research earned her team a NIFA Partnership Award for Innovative Programs and Projects from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Her dedication extends to the Erie community.  Since 2018, she has served on the governing board of ATHENA Erie, an organization that empowers women leaders.  She had also held board positions with Environment Erie and SafeNet.  To maintain her industry expertise, she consults for small businesses and startups, bringing valuable real-world experience back to the classroom.

Dr. Jiang earned a Ph.D. in Economics with a focus on Econometrics, Natural Resources and Environmental Economics, and Industrial Organization and a Master’s degree in Statistics from Washington State University (WSU) in 2013 and a Bachelor's degree in Finance from Shanghai University in 2009.

Outside of academia, Dr. Jiang enjoys hiking, cooking, and spending time with her husband, daughters, Chloe and Ella, and her cat, YoYo.