Biography

Dr. Omari H. Swinton is a professor in the Economics department at Howard University where he teaches introductory, intermediate, and urban economics.  He is currently the Director of Graduate Studies and Chair of the Economics Department. Additionally, he serves as Division Chair for the Social Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences. His research interests include labor economics and education.  He has papers examining the teenage labor market, the benefits from attending HBCU's, and the returns to a college education. He has a published a book on HBCUs titled “Vital and Valuable: The Relevance of HBCUs to American Life and Education.” He currently is working on projects that examine the returns to effort for students, the obstacles to faculty diversity in higher education, and benefits of attending an HBCU.  He is the director of the AEA Summer Training Program and Scholarship Program which has increase the pipeline in the field of economics by preparing talented undergraduates for doctoral programs in economics and related disciplines. He is Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Phi Beta Sigma Federal Credit Union.  Dr. Swinton owns a Right at Home Franchise in Baltimore, Maryland that was just recognized for its performance as a President's Circle Member.  He earned his B.S. from Florida A & M University in 2001, and his doctoral degree from Duke University in 2007.