October 2022
News + Updates
Highlights
ESI Mourns the Loss of Rysheema Dixon
ESI joins many in Wilmington and Delaware who are grieving the loss of Senior Advisor Rysheema Dixon, who passed away in September. Ms. Dixon had a profound impact on so many people and communities throughout the region through her consulting business, RD Innovative Planning, and as a past Wilmington City Council member.
ESI Provides High-Quality Litigation Support
ESI provides economic research, statistical analysis, expert reports and testimony in support of litigation. Our experts include Ph.D. economists, university instructors, former government officials, analysts, and modelers.
Greater Philadelphia Region's Cell & Gene Therapy Sector Ranks #2 in U.S.
For the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, ESI completed research that compared the Philadelphia region against 14 major biotech hubs nationwide. We completed a deep dive into in five categories: research infrastructure, human capital, innovation output, commercial activity, and value proposition, where Philadelphia ranked second overall. Learn more.
Staff and Senior Advisor Updates
We welcome Analyst Lucie Doran to the team!
ESI welcomes Director Sam Sklar to the team!
We are thrilled to announce Ms. Yvette Núñez has joined the senior advisory board. Ms. Nunez is also the VP of Communications and Marketing at UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization.
Geoffrey M. Roche has joined the Senior Advisory Board. As a member of the population health faculty at Harrisburg University, Mr. Roche has over 9 years of experience in hospital administration.
Congratulations to Gina Lavery for her appointment to the ULI Philadelphia Advisory Board and Co-chair of the ULI Member Breakfast Series. Gina has also been appointed to the board of the Riverfront North Partnership.
Senior Advisor Leroy Nunery presented his findings on diversity and inclusion for the American Property Casualty Insurance Association in a U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee hearing on diversity in workplace, executive leadership, and board of directors within the industry.
Senior Advisor Benjamin Craig has recently started a position as Managing Director, International Market Development at Nasdaq Private Market.
Senior Advisor Joyce S. Lee served as a judge for the RE100 International Leadership awards in New York City. Winners were announced during Climate Week in September.
We welcome Business Development and Marketing Associate Grace Hanoian to the team!
Senior Advisor Elmore Alexander cowrote Data-Based Program Analysis for Optimal Campus. Attend the corresponding webinar series beginning October 20 at noon. Register here.
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Join our Growing Team!
We are currently inviting candidates to check out our open positions and apply today. Please don't hesitate to direct those who might be a good fit as well. We'd love to work with you!
Update from the Center

ESI Center for the Future of Cities was thrilled to attend the Smart City Expo USA held at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Our team found the event to be thought provoking and highly informative, with much of the discussion focusing on similar areas that are of importance to us:

  • What does it mean to be a 'smart city'?
  • How will new technologies and innovative policies create meaningful change that also enhances attractiveness and competitiveness?
  • How can we ingrain equity into every aspect of the decision making process from public and private perspectives?


To learn more about the Center for the Future of Cities and to get involved, contact Steve Wray, wray@econsultsolutions.com.
U.S. - China Research
Vocational Education: A Solution for China's Youth Employment?

2022 marks a year of hardship for young Chinese. According to the statistical data released by the Ministry of Education of China, the number of fresh university graduates this June has climbed to 10.76 million, an increase of 1.67 million over the previous year. The CIER (China Institute for Employment Research) index of Chinese college graduates stood at .53 in the second quarter of 2022, the lowest point since 2020. This is significantly lower than the national reading of 1.35 in the same period. Furthermore, the Q2 index was constantly down from that of the first quarter this year (0.71), as well as in the second quarter of 2021 (1.52).
Present Value
Senior Analyst Tiffany Hudson provides the latest update on SEPTA Key Advantage, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's new all-access program. In addition to new institutional partners, SEPTA has announced the Key Advantage UPass, a new incentive for college and university students.
Lee Huang and Senior Advisor Dan Garofalo, former Sustainability Director at the University of Pennsylvania and current adjunct faculty member at Penn and Temple University, discuss the current and future state of sustainability at universities.
ESI Intern Ken Lin provides an interactive dashboard tool to understand national trends in higher education. Two-plus years into the pandemic, we continue to monitor the consequence of lockdowns, travel bans, and geopolitics on what had previously been a socially dynamic facet of on-campus life.
What are some major points to consider, or questions that we should be asking to gauge how well we as universities and institutions here in the United States work with Chinese students? Such is the primary focus of Dr. Benjamin B. Olshin in a two-part video series.
ESI President and Principal Lee Huang has created three distinct rubrics for institutions to provide methods of self assessment to gauge their social impacts, reinforce the need for equitable and inclusive solutions, and how they can best serve their role for students, families, communities, and society.
Client Spotlight
Congratulations to North Broad Renaissance on their moving ahead with a Business Improvement District.
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