Mission & Work
For 48 years the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the UNLV Lee Business School has been Nevada’s premier economic research center. CBER conducts applied and data-driven research to assist business, government, and the community at large. CBER is a public resource that seeks to extend the benefits of UNLV’s expertise in research throughout the State of Nevada and the United States.
CBER’s work is wide ranging and includes:
- Tracking local, regional, and state economic conditions
- Providing national, state, local and custom economic and business forecasts
- Conducting economic, business, and market research
- Providing economic impact studies and data analysis for government, business, and the public
- Conducting surveys and survey analysis
- Developing and providing data about the Nevada and Las Vegas economies using economic tools, such as cost benefit analysis, to evaluate policy issues
- Serving as a resource for local, national, and international media on economic issues
- Serving as conduit between private entities and the University on collaborative Intellectual Property research in conjunction with UNLV’s Office of Economic Development, known as the UNLV Applied Research Collaborative
As part of our work with UNLV’s Office of Economic Development, CBER also can draw on a wide variety of faculty expertise in other colleges such as business, hospitality, medicine, engineering, and the arts to accomplish our research endeavors.
CBER Team
Andrew Woods
Director
Andrew brings more than 15 years of experience as a business and public affairs professional, complemented with a B.A. cum laude in Political Science and Economics from American University, scholarly work at University College London, M.A. in Public Policy from The University of Chicago, and is currently working on his M.B.A. from the Booth School of Business at The University of Chicago.
Prior to joining UNLV’s CBER, Andrew started and ran a successful economic analysis, financial management, and public affairs consulting firm, as CEO of Woods Strategies, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Stephen M. Miller, Ph.D.
Professor and Director of Research
Stephen M. Miller is Professor of Economics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He received higher education training at Purdue University, receiving his bachelor’s degree with distinction in Engineering Sciences Engineering (a part of the Aeronautical Engineering School), and at the State University of New York at Buffalo, receiving his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Economics.
His research interests span monetary, macroeconomic, and international finance theory and policy; economic growth empirics; financial institutions; and real estate lending. The author of over 130 journal articles and several books and research monographs, his research has appeared in a variety of journals.
Jinju Lee
Analyst and Deputy Research Director
Jinju has over 8 years with CBER, first as a Graduate Assistant, and now as the Economic Analyst. She is a UNLV alum, earning her Master of Arts in Applied Economics and is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. Her undergraduate degree is from the Seoul Women’s University where she took Micro- and Macroeconomics, Game Theory, within her Bachelor of Science degree in Economics.
Jinju is proficient in English and Korean (her native language) and also has working proficiency with Chinese and Japanese.
Daniela Rincon, MBA
Program Manager
Prior to joining CBER, Daniela Rincon served as a Project Manager to UNLVSON Professor Dr. Barbara St. Pierre Schneider in the nursing research department. Daniela coached and developed the team members’ administrative and leadership skills along with hiring Pro-Staff and Student Workers, paying invoices, and managing budgets. Daniela is experienced not only in project management, but also Canvas and graphic design.
CBER Guest Researchers
C.K. Miller, Ph. D.
Visiting Assistant Professor & Associate Director of Economic Education
CK Miller received her doctorate in economics from the University of Utah, her research focuses on labor, migration and feminist economics. She holds a Higher Education Teaching Certification and worked as a faculty instructional consultant at the University of Utah for 5 years. CK’s students are enthusiastic about her ability to bring pop culture references and lots of economic games to the classroom. She is passionate about providing a nuanced introduction to economics and training teachers to provide students with an economics education that will prepare them for the changing world. In her role as Associate Director of Economics Education, she will advocate for the importance of economics education in the classroom and expand the reach of quality higher education directly into the local community.
Community Outreach
Amy Miller, M. Ed
Community Organizer & CCSD Elementary Principal
A south Chicagoland native, Amy Miller brings over 23 years of education experience to the CBER department. Amy earned a B.A in English and Secondary Education from Lewis University in Romeoville, IL; an M.A. in Writing from DePaul University in Chicago, IL; and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV. Since 2003, Amy has served the Clark County School District as an English teacher, dean of students, assistant principal, and for the last 6 years, as the principal at Ann T. Lynch Elementary located in Las Vegas’ richly diverse east side. Being a catalyst for others to share their gifts and talents is her mission. Amy also serves on the Representative Council for the Clark County Association of School Administrators and Professional Technical Employees. While in this role, she has advocated for local school autonomy over school budget carry over funds and hiring decisions, with local legislators.
Graduate and Undergraduate Assistants
Zachary Allen
Graduate Assistant
Zachary Allen graduated from UNLV in the Fall of 2022, with a degree in BA in Economics. Since then, Zachary has been enrolled in the MS Applied Economics Program.
Email: zachary.allen@unlv.edu
Osciel Zamora
Graduate Assistant
Osciel Zamora is a recent graduate who is currently part of the CBER graduate program. Osciel earned his degree from UNLV in Spring 2023, with a BA in Economics.
Email: osciel.zamora@unlv.edu
Amanda-Joy Lee
Graduate Assistant
Amanda-Joy Lee graduated from UNLV with a Bachelors in Economics and minor in Mathematics. Amanda is currently a research assistant and is enrolled in the Masters of Arts – Economics program with the Lee Business School.
Email: amandajoy.lee@unlv.edu
Ramhae Andrea Awit
Undergraduate Assistant
Ramhae Andrea Awit is currently a junior at UNLV and is pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a major in Marketing, minor in Information Systems, and certificate in Sport Leadership & Management. Ramhae is a faculty assistant, where she manages all of the social media and communications for CBER.
Email: ramhae.awit@unlv.edu
Allister Dias
Undergraduate Assistant
Allister Dias is currently a junior at UNLV and is working towards a degree in Economics with a dual minor in Entrepreneurship and Public Policy. At CBER, Allister is a faculty assistant and is in charge of the Rebel Business Indicators Newsletter, which is published weekly.
Email: allister.dias@unlv.edu
Jaden Vongnarath
Undergraduate Assistant
Jaden Vongnarath works as an undergraduate research assistant for CBER. He is pursuing a degree in Economics and plans to graduate from UNLV in Fall of 2024.
Email: jaden.vongnarath@unlv.edu
Gisselle Abadal Oquendo
Undergraduate Assistant
Gisselle Abadal Oquendo is currently a junior at UNLV, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a minor in Finance. She is set to graduate in Spring 2026 and is a faculty assistant involved in research at CBER.