Campus Tidbits

Howard Professor Wins UC Riverside Alumni Award

The University of California, Riverside (UCR) is proud to announce Dr. Gerald E. Daniels Jr. as a recipient of the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. A "triple Bear" who earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from UCR between 2008 and 2013, Dr. Daniels has since established himself as a prominent Associate Professor of Economics at Howard University. His academic career is defined by a rigorous focus on the racial wealth gap and the systemic impact of student loan debt. Dr. Daniels' research highlights stark disparities: for instance, data often shows that Black college graduates carry significantly higher student loan balances—frequently exceeding $50,000—compared to their white counterparts, a factor he identifies as a primary barrier to long-term wealth accumulation.

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Daniels is a dedicated advocate for diversifying the field of economics. He has served as Co-Director of the American Economic Association’s Summer Training Program, which specifically prepares students from underrepresented backgrounds for doctoral rigor. His leadership extends to the National Economic Association and the Racial Equity Advisory Committee at J-PAL, where he works to address the fact that only about 3% of economics PhDs in the U.S. are awarded to Black scholars. Despite his move to the East Coast, Dr. Daniels remains deeply connected to the Inland Empire through his board service for SBX Youth & Family Services, ensuring his research on economic vulnerability translates into tangible support for the Riverside community.