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Joab Corey is a fighter.
The “fighter” persona is often over (and mis) used. We ascribe the term to business leaders, politicians, or myriad celebrities.
Occasionally, though, we meet people whose experiences rise to the level of this fierce designation. Sure, Corey does meet the metaphorical standards of the “fighter.” He continues to fight for economic policies to help the citizens of his home state of West Virginia. Growing up in Charleston with a blue-collar background, he focused his education at West Virginia University (WVU) on fighting for the kind of people he worked alongside during his youth. Oh, and he fought (and beat) cancer while finishing his Ph.D. at WVU.
But Corey is a literal fighter, like in real life. He practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, has black belts in Tae Kwon Do and Karate, was an amateur boxer, and has continued to coach boxing for over a decade.
“Boxing teaches you both how to be self-reliant as well as how to push past the pain and discomfort that comes with being hit. In short, boxing teaches you how to get up after being knocked down, a skill that comes in handy in all walks of life,” says Corey.
Corey isn’t coming to Sanford to teach boxing, however. As an esteemed economist and educator, he has made significant strides in academia through his unique approach to teaching and research. Corey’s research spans state and local policy, international economic development, applied microeconomics, and economics education pedagogy. His most recent publication appears in the Journal of Economics Education.
This passion for economic policy started in the home of his beloved Mountaineers. After receiving undergraduate and graduate degrees at WVU, Corey's academic journey led him to Florida State University (FSU), where he spent seven years rising to associate teaching professor. While at FSU, he co-owned and operated Renegade Boxing, where he coached the FSU boxing club, integrating his passion for boxing with his professional career. His desire to return to mountainous landscapes eventually brought him to the University of California, Riverside (UCR). At UCR, Corey distinguished himself as an associate professor of teaching in economics, known for his engaging teaching methods. He utilized interactive class demonstrations, video clips, pop-culture references, student-designed economic T-shirts, and even acrobatics to create a dynamic and enthusiastic learning environment. His innovative teaching style earned him several accolades, including the FSU Transformation Through Teaching award, the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society Service in Excellence Teaching Award, the Florida State University Undergraduate Teaching Award, the UC Riverside Honors Professor of the Year award, and the UCR Innovative Teaching Award. At one point, he was named one of the top 25 professors on RateMyProfessor.com.
Background and Education
Joab Corey grew up in Charleston, West Virginia. From a young age, he worked in a produce warehouse, loading trucks and working in quality control. This early exposure to business operations sparked his interest in economics. Initially enrolling at WVU as a pre-business administration major, Corey’s academic trajectory changed after taking a principles of microeconomics class with Dr. Russell S. Sobel. This experience led him to pursue a degree in economics, culminating in a Ph.D. His dissertation focused on the interplay between natural resource abundance, institutional quality, and economic growth across U.S. states.
Teaching and Research at Sanford
At Sanford, Corey plans to focus on core public policy classes, including Public Policy 303: Microeconomic Tools for Policy Analysis and Public Policy 304: Economics of the Public Sector. His teaching philosophy emphasizes a combination of lectures and active learning demonstrations, with a strong focus on student development and well-being.
“I’ve traditionally taught economic theory classes to class sizes of 500 or more students in one lecture hall, and so I’m excited to teach smaller classes where I can work with students in a closer setting at Sanford,” says Corey.
One of his main areas of focus is economic education pedagogy, reflecting his commitment to improving teaching practices. He brings an imaginative and inclusive approach to Sanford.
“An accomplishment that I consider pivotal in my career is the Innovative Teaching Award I won at the University of California, Riverside. I won this award for creating a more welcoming student learning environment by incorporating a virtual break room designed to improve student cognition and mental health by offering students a chance to complete a short exercise break, relaxation break, and digital escape room,” reflects Corey.
This fits into one of Corey’s main desires as a Sanford professor: to get students excited about their education. “I make it my goal to create a learning atmosphere that gets students so excited about the class that they actually want to call their parents back home and tell them about it!” he says.
Enhancing his research at Sanford, he aims to continue publishing innovative teaching methods in economics education journals. He is also enthusiastic about working with Sanford researchers.
“I’m really looking forward to collaborating with colleagues from different disciplines to create and implement new teaching strategies. I was very impressed by the energy of the faculty and students at Sanford, and I’m excited to tap into that energy and add to the enthusiasm already present in the department,” Corey explains.
All of this aligns with his passion for connecting economic theory with policy applications, fostering closer student relationships, and working in an interdisciplinary policy environment.
Journey to Public Policy
Corey’s interest in public policy is rooted in his academic exploration of government policies and their economic impacts. His curiosity about the economic struggles of his home state, West Virginia, despite its resource richness, drove his doctoral research. This exploration laid the foundation for his focus on the relationship between natural resources, economic freedom, and economic development.
Corey believes that understanding public policy is crucial in today’s polarized political climate. He advocates for an unbiased approach to evaluating the long-term and unintended consequences of policies, helping individuals become more informed voters.
Personal Interests and Influence
Outside of academia, Corey has pursued a variety of hobbies, including skydiving, scuba diving, yoga, obstacle course racing, and ultramarathon running.
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Corey is married to Kailey Baez, an instructional designer who was also recently hired by Duke. They are parents to four children: Jack (14), Bryan (12), Mason (9), and Freya (2), and they have two pets: a dog (Hank) and a cat (Walter). In his limited spare time, Corey enjoys SCUBA diving, trail running, obstacle course racing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and coaching boxing. He currently serves as the president of the United States Intercollegiate Boxing Association. A fervent fan of collegiate sports, he promises to cheer for the Duke Blue Devils, except when they play his beloved West Virginia University Mountaineers.
Boxing Continues to Teach Life Lessons
The discipline and perseverance required in boxing have profoundly influenced Corey’s professional life. Volunteering as a boxing coach has further honed his teaching skills, enabling him to connect with students from diverse backgrounds and enhance their learning experiences. It also helped him face cancer.
“I attribute my ability to beat cancer and still finish my Ph.D. in four years to the mental and physical toughness I developed in the boxing ring.”
Corey continues to coach boxing today as a way to teach further generations of the lessons the sport has taught him. He hopes to continue his coaching as he arrives at Duke.
“Recently, at UC Riverside, the boxing club I coached also helped mentor at-risk youth as part of a program run through the Riverside Police Foundation. So the club members not only learned the life lessons that boxing has to offer but also learned the importance of giving back to their community and passing these skills on to others.”
So, Joab Corey is a fighter, but as one of Sanford’s new faculty members, Corey’s fight is not one of personal gain, animosity, or opposition. Instead, it is a fight for improvement and empowerment for himself and others.