Amanda Wilsker

Dr. Amanda Wilsker earned her Ph.D. in economics from Georgia State University in 2011. While at Georgia State, she also completed coursework necessary for a Ph.D. in public policy, providing a well-rounded background for teaching and researching in the areas of nonprofit finance, public economics and other areas of applied microeconomics. Wilsker believes the economic conditions in our country have increased the importance of knowing basic economic concepts and passes on her enthusiasm for the “economic way of thinking” to her students.

In the classroom, Wilsker has a traditional approach with regards to using the whiteboard to draw graphs or highlight important information, but she’s not a professor who talks “at” students. Her lectures are filled with questions to ensure students are following the material, and she integrates current events and interesting information where applicable. While approximately half of students’ final grades come from exams, Wilsker also integrates other assignments including discussion posts, written papers, service learning, and/or projects and presentations (depending on the course) to give students ample opportunities to demonstrate improvements in economic knowledge and earn satisfactory grades. Committed to students’ holistic development, Wilsker regularly awards bonus points for attending economics-related events on campus or students’ professional development. She remains as responsive as possible to students’ needs, questions and concerns throughout the course.

Since joining the faculty at Georgia Gwinnett College, Wilsker has witnessed first-hand the best of the GGC student body. She recognizes the potential of our students, and as a result, encourages the building of critical thinking skills in her introductory level economics courses. In upper-level classes, Wilsker assists students to further develop this skill and provides opportunities for her students to more directly apply economic concepts to creatively solve problems associated with the courses’ content. She continuously strives to improve her classes, incorporating new ideas into her teaching style.

Wilsker published in several journals, including Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly and Public Finance Review. She regularly attends scholarly conferences where she presents working papers and hopes to attend teaching conferences as well in the years ahead. Like her students, Wilsker is committed to a life of learning and believes that “we should all strive for continuous improvement in all we do.”

• Doctorate – economics – Georgia State University
• Master's – economics – Georgia State University
• Bachelor's – economics – TCU
• Other – coursework for a doctorate in public policy – Georgia State University and Georgia Tech

• Nonprofit economics and finance
• Public economics
• Public policy

• GGC Student Engagement Award Winner – 2017
• GGC Outstanding Teaching Award Nominee – 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020
• GGC Student Engagement Award Nominee – 2016
• GGC Outstanding Service Award Nominee – 2017, 2019, 2020
• Gwinnett Chamber Moxie Award – Pay It Forward Category – Nominee 2020