Our People

Johnathan Cahill is an experienced economic researcher specializing in Economic Impact Studies. He has delivered data-driven insights for a variety of projects, assessing the impacts of institutions, universities, and large-scale entertainment events.

Mr. Cahill is skilled with software platforms like IMPLAN, STATA, R, and RunGTAP. As one of only three dozen IMPLAN Certified Economists, he is a leading expert in Input-Output analysis and economic impact modeling using the IMPLAN platform. His research has spanned economic development, global trade, and the intersection of economics and public policy, including studies on housing trends, beef tariff trade policies, and the role of peer tutoring in education.

His professional experience includes significant roles in economic research, financial services, and asset management. Mr. Cahill previously conducted economic research, including impact studies, as Senior Research Associate at Beacon Economics.

Mr. Cahill earned his M.S. in Applied Economics and Econometrics from the University of Southern California and a B.S. in Economics from Suffolk University.

​Dr. Kevin M. Williams is an accomplished economist currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the Occidental College Economics Department. Dr. Williams' research focuses on the intersection of education, social networks, and labor economics. His work has been published in leading journals such as the Journal of Labor Economics and Economics of Education Review.

Dr. Williams' ongoing research examines the market of higher education, including the returns to majors, student achievement, international enrollments, and social networks.

In addition to his research, Dr. Williams currently teaches courses in Applied Econometrics, Game Theory, and Advanced Econometrics at Occidental College. He previously taught at the University of Utah.

Dr. Williams earned his Ph.D. and M.S. in Economics from the University of California, Davis, following his B.A. in Economics (with Honors) and Computer Science from Claremont McKenna College.

Makayla Keasler is an experienced Illustrator and Designer specializing in professional reports, editorials, and data visualization. 

Ms. Keasler has utilized a wide variety of professional design software, including Lightroom, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Procreate, Canva, Final Draft, Microsoft Office, Cura, and Premiere. In her previous work as a freelance designer for her own brand, Makayla Keasler designed ad campaigns for Walmart and created set pieces for Netflix.

Ms. Keasler has a Bachelor's of Art in Studio Art & Media Arts and Culture from Occidental College.

Ian Van Dusen is a Geospatial Data Scientist specializing in satellite imagery analysis, geospatial data processing, and hydrological monitoring. Mr. Van Dusen possesses deep expertise in geospatial processing pipelines, high-resolution mapping, and providing insights to support data-driven decision-making. He has experience working with tools such as Python (GeoPandas, Rasterio, Pytorch), Google Earth Engine, and ArcGIS, with a strong focus on machine learning models, cloud-based analysis, and automation of geospatial workflows.

In past roles, Mr. Van Dusen has contributed to key projects in surface water dynamics, fire-priority mapping, and using satellite data to enhance environmental monitoring and disaster response efforts. He holds a Master’s degree in Geography from the University of Oregon, funded by NASA, and a Bachelor's degree with Honors in Geology from Occidental College.

​Ethan Coulthard is a current student at Occidental College double-majoring in Economics and Mathematics. Mr. Coulthard is seeking to build strong foundations in data interpretation, statistical modeling, analytical thinking, and quantitative problem-solving. On campus, he has helped found and run the tennis and chess clubs, showing his versatile communication skills in different environments.

Mr. Coulthard is pursuing a Russian Studies minor to develop his Russian language proficiency and cultural understanding. In 2024 Mr. Coulthard completed Middlebury College's level 3 Russian immersion program. He scores between intermediate mid and intermediate high on the ACTFL scale.