SCSU Department of Economics

09/21/2026

⏳ Just two days away!

Credit impacts many of life's biggest financial decisions. Join us Wednesday to learn how credit works, what lenders look for, and how to avoid common borrowing mistakes.

Featuring: ⭐ SCSU alumna Giesselle Brenhaug, MBA '26 ⭐ Jill Molitor, Director of Fraud and Credit Administration

📅 September 23
⏰ 12:00-12:50 p.m.
📍 CH 301

Free and open to all.

09/17/2026

💡 Thinking about buying a car, renting an apartment, applying for a loan, or building your credit score?

Join Stearns Bank professionals for Credit and Loans: What You Need to Know and learn practical strategies for making informed financial decisions.

📅 September 23
⏰ Noon-12:50 p.m.
📍 CH 301

Free and open to all!

Brought to you by the SCSU Center for Economic Education and Stearns Bank N.A.

09/16/2026

Have questions about Social Security, retirement benefits, or claiming strategies?

Join us for Social Security Explained and hear from experts who will help demystify one of America's most important programs.

🔗 Register: https://www.aarp.org/events/details.social-security-explained.zknfjd45pp5

📍 St. Cloud State University
⏰ Thursday, September 17 | 9:00-10:30 a.m.

Learn about the importance of Social Security, its current state, and potential changes needed to ensure it remains strong for current and future generations.

09/10/2026

⏳ Just one week away!

Social Security affects nearly every American, yet many people still have questions about when to claim benefits, how the program works, and what to expect in retirement.

Join us on September 17 for Social Security Explained, an informative session designed to help participants better understand Social Security and retirement planning.

📅 September 17
⏰ 9:00-10:30 a.m.
📍 St. Cloud State University

🔗 Registration: https://www.aarp.org/events/details.social-security-explained.zknfjd45pp5

Learn about the importance of Social Security, its current state, and potential changes needed to ensure it remains strong for current and future generations.

09/09/2026

💳 Credit and Loans: What You Need to Know

Your credit score can affect everything from renting an apartment and qualifying for a loan to securing favorable interest rates. Do you know how credit really works?

Join us for an engaging session with professionals from Stearns Bank, featuring SCSU alumna Giesselle Brenhaug, MBA '26, Deposit Process Improvement Analyst, and Jill Molitor, CLFP, CFE, CFCS, Director of Fraud and Credit Administration.

Learn about: ✅ Building and maintaining credit
✅ Understanding loans and borrowing options
✅ Smart financial decision-making
✅ Fraud prevention and financial security

📅 Wednesday, September 23
⏰ 12:00-12:50 p.m.
📍 CH 301

Free and open to everyone. Come with questions and leave with practical tools you can use right away.

Brought to you by the SCSU Center for Economic Education and Stearns Bank N.A..

09/03/2026

📢 Social Security Explained

When should you claim Social Security benefits? How is the program funded? What factors affect the benefits you receive?

Join us for Social Security Explained, presented in partnership with AARP, for an informative discussion about one of the nation's most important retirement programs.

Whether you're planning for retirement, helping a family member navigate benefits, or simply interested in public policy, this session will provide practical information and answer common questions about Social Security.

📅 Thursday, September 17
⏰ 9:00-10:30 a.m.
📍 St. Cloud State University

✅ Free to attend
✅ Open to the public
✅ Registration requested

🔗 Register here: https://www.aarp.org/events/details.social-security-explained.zknfjd45pp5

Presented by AARP MN and the SCSU Center for Economic Education.

09/02/2026

📚🤖 How is artificial intelligence changing the publishing industry?

A recent article in Business Central Magazine by Hannah Fairman, Associate Director of the Heller-Hurwicz Economics Institute, and Lynn MacDonald, Co-Director of the St. Cloud State University Center for Economic Education, explores how AI is transforming content creation and publishing.

Drawing on research from a University of Minnesota economist, the article examines economic questions surrounding productivity, information quality, incentives, and the future of creative work in an AI-driven world.

Read the article here: https://issuu.com/businesscentral/docs/september_october_2026/28

08/20/2026

📈 What do economic statistics miss?

SCSU Economics alumna Alli Bily ('19) and Dr. Lynn MacDonald explore that question in their recent Business Central Magazine article, "What the Numbers Miss."

Their piece examines how economists think about the visible and less visible impacts of disruption, from changes in spending patterns to the role of social capital and community connections.

We're proud to see our alumni applying economic thinking to important real-world issues.

Read the article here: https://issuu.com/businesscentral/docs/ja26_bc_webfiles/24

08/11/2026

A gathering of economists is always a good sign! Great to celebrate with colleagues, friends, and family as this new economics major heads off to her next adventure. Congratulations!

07/03/2026

Congratulations Lucas! So exciting to see success stories about our econ alumni!