Menard Family Center for Economic Inquiry at Creighton University

What if your research could change your career trajectory?

JT Wiemers shares how Creighton’s Silo Research Program and the Menard Scholar experience transformed his college and professional development journey. From choosing an economics topic that matters for our world, to digging into the data, getting critical feedback, and refining his work, JT explains how the full research process helped him build the skills and confidence that played a crucial role in securing his internship at Deloitte.

The Menard Scholar Program isn’t just another extracurricular. It’s a high-impact opportunity for students to explore pressing questions in economics, understand how markets and policy shape human flourishing, and gain hands-on experience that can make a significant difference in their careers and life after college.

Molly Breichrodt, Creighton Class of 2026, shares how the Gail Werner-Robertson Research Program gave her the chance to dive deep into a topic she was truly passionate about alongside a faculty mentor. Through this experience, Molly’s work was published and she’s already presented her research across multiple states and countries. This shows what’s possible when students get the support to pursue “problems worthy of the human mind.”

Join Dr. Michael D. Thomas as he celebrates the Menard Scholars Program’s sixth successful Humanomics Symposium in Omaha, where students and faculty from universities across the United States came together for great food, thoughtful discussion, and an engaging conversation about the Magna Carta, the Black Death, and the idea that economics sometimes needs a little something extra. In Humanomics, that “something extra” means looking beyond numbers alone to better understand the human, historical, and social forces that shape economic life.

If exploring economics and Humanomics in an engaging and social way seems interesting to you, consider joining us next spring for our seventh Humanomics Symposium.

Dr. Michael D. Thomas introduces one of the most distinctive opportunities within the Menard Scholar Program: PPE Reading Groups.

These sessions bring students and faculty together for engaging conversations at the intersection of politics, philosophy, and economics. Participants explore ideas shaping today’s global landscape. Designed to be both intellectually stimulating and socially enriching, PPE Reading Groups offer a space to challenge perspectives, build connections, and grow as a critical thinker.

Each group meets five times per semester, beginning with a catered dinner from Creighton Dining, followed by a dynamic, student-driven discussion.

Sophomore Michael Loiseau shares how the Menard Scholar Program brought his freshman year to the next level through colloquiums and PPE reading groups.

Being a Menard Scholar allowed him to explore new ways of thinking through discussions with peers and faculty. Beyond just furthering his education, the Menard Scholar program connected him with other driven students and faculty who have already made their mark in the world of economics.

The Menard Scholar Program strives to ensure that our students feel supported both academically and socially throughout their college career through Menard Scholar only classes, PPE reading groups, colloquiums and social events.

Please join us to hear about J.T. Weimers’s experience in the Menard Scholar Program. As J.T. says, the Menard Scholar Program is more than a research program, it is an opportunity to meet like-minded friends that can last a lifetime.

The Menard Program ensures that during freshman year there are at least three classes that only Menard Scholars are able to take. This opens the door for students to find their community and build friendships in an intimate environment designed for close connections with friends and professors, while also providing the academic rigor that makes the educational experience truly special.

J.T. is now working at Deloitte in the Audit and Assurance sector. Congratulations on graduation, J.T. You will truly be missed, and we cannot wait to see all of the incredible things you accomplish after Creighton!

Grad Spotlight: Molly Bleichrodt Class of 2026
Today we’re celebrating Menard Scholar and Economics major Molly Bleichrodt, Creighton Class of 2026. Molly came to Creighton unsure of what she wanted to study, but specialized Menard Scholar classes opened the door to new ideas and conversations that sparked a deep interest in economics and ultimately inspired her to choose it as her major.

Outside the classroom, Molly jumped into Menard PPE (Philosophy, Politics & Economics) reading groups and Menard colloquiums, where she encountered challenging questions about markets, policy, and human behavior alongside faculty and peers. Those small-group discussions and mentoring relationships helped her see how economics could be a tool to understand and improve the world around her.

Molly was recently recognized as the Outstanding Economics Graduate for the Heider College of Business Class of 2026, and she’s just getting started. This fall, she will continue her journey as a PhD Fellow at the Free Market Institute at Texas Tech University, studying Agricultural & Applied Economics.

We’re proud of Molly and grateful that the Menard Center community could play a role in her academic journey.

We will miss you Molly and we cannot wait to see all the incredible things you will accomplish after Creighton!

If you’re a student who loves asking hard questions and exploring how philosophy, politics, and economics fit together, Molly’s story is a glimpse of what’s possible through the Menard Center.