I am an Assistant Professor of Economics at Michigan Technological University where I  currently teach undergraduate economics courses. The overarching goal of my research is to contribute to the ongoing discussion regarding the dynamics of labor market disparities and how various shocks and public policies impact labor market outcomes across different populations, with a particular emphasis on gender. I earned my undergraduate degrees in economics and mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I received my PhD in economics from the University of Alabama. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, reading, boating, skiing, and watching college football and basketball games. 

My research projects typically fall under two broad topics: (i) the role of gender in the labor market, and (ii) how economic shocks and public policies impact labor market outcomes across different populations, with a particular emphasis on gender. My current work on the role of gender in the labor market focuses on the gender wage gap and the presence of a glass cliff in the context of municipal management, a high-skilled, traditionally male dominated occupation. The second strand of my current work studies the impact of economic shocks, such as the China trade shock, and public policies, such as the Affordable Care Act, on heterogeneous labor market responses. I particularly focus on labor market outcomes such as wage or employment growth, labor mobility, and migration. Overall, my research is often collaborative in nature and applies to areas including economics, public policy, management, and public administration.

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 If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me. 

Laura Connolly
email: leconn@mtu.edu
​office: (906) 487-2809