In Memoria: Rodney J. Andrews

Rodney Jermaine Andrews, author and scholar, former National Economic Association Board Member, tenured Associate Professor of Economics; the Endowed Fellow, Vibhooti Shukla Professor of Economics and Political Economy at the University of Texas at Dallas, and beloved father, passed away on May 12, 2023, aged 47, in Plano, Texas. At the time of his passing, Dr. Andrews was the Research Director of the Texas Schools Project, and UT Dallas Education Research Center Director in addition to being the co-editor of Economics of Education Review and a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, where he was a member of the Steering Committee for the Working Group on Race and Stratification in the Economy.

Dr. Andrews received an undergraduate degree in Economics with Highest Honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Michigan and was a postdoctoral fellow in Robert Wood Johnson Foundation program for Scholars in Health Policy Research at Harvard University.

Dr. Andrews made significant contributions to the field of economic science, most notably to labor economics and the economics of education. His research examined questions at the forefront of higher education policy, and it has been influential to economists, education researchers, and policymakers alike; his work was recently cited in the 2023 Economic Report of the President. Specifically, Dr. Andrews investigated the effectiveness of policies designed to increase the matriculation of students from disadvantaged backgrounds to colleges and universities, the role of financial assistance in college enrollment and completion, pathways to college completion, and college quality on lifetime earnings. Dr. Andrews also considered the prospects and pitfalls of policies which were and were not racially conscious, such as in his article “The Persistent Myths of ‘Acting White’ and Race Neutral Alternatives to Affirmative Action in Admissions,” published in Review of Black Political Economy in 2014.

Dr. Andrews’ research was driven by his passion to understand ways to increase collegiate attainment and economic mobility for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. A true scholar of policy and advocacy, Dr. Andrews used his research to advocate for policies that broaden access and inclusion in higher education, driven by his strong belief in the transformative power of education. His scholarship looked beyond the models and brought a much-needed context to higher education on policies aimed at providing incentives to students from first-generation and socioeconomically-challenged backgrounds and whether said policies foster or discourage student success.

As an African American scholar and faculty member in a field historically lacking in diversity, Dr. Andrews was a passionate advocate for enhancing diversity and supporting scholars from traditionally marginalized backgrounds. He was a mentor and an empathetic role model who understood their challenges and was always willing to listen and help. He supported dozens of underrepresented scholars, who themselves have had a significant impact on the economics profession.

Dr. Andrews leaves behind a legacy of academic success and inspiration to his many mentees, students, colleagues, friends. He is survived by his wife, Tanya Andrews; his children, Taylor, Radha, Rodney II, and Brendan; granddaughter, Fallon; and parents, Brenda Wade and Freddie Andrews. The National Economic Association and Editorial Board of the Review of Black Political Economy extend their deepest sympathy to his family, friends, and colleagues for their loss. Through his scholarship, his advocacy, and his leadership, Dr. Andrews’ impact on the field of economics and the diversity of economists will endure.