UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 Dr. Gary Wagner is a devoted economics professor. And a reluctant media star.
Wagner is the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration小蝌蚪APP檚 Acadiana Business Economist/BORSF Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair in Economics. In addition to teaching, his primary role is to conduct research and analysis about regional economics that小蝌蚪APP檚 disseminated to the local business community.
Wagner小蝌蚪APP檚 research focus temporarily shifted after Louisiana小蝌蚪APP檚 first confirmed coronavirus case on March 9. He conducted analysis for the state that showed the growth rate of new infections in Louisiana was the fastest in the world during the first two weeks following that initial diagnosis. Gov. John Bel Edwards cited the data when issuing a stay-at-home order on March 22.
That小蝌蚪APP檚 when seeing his name in print and talking to reporters became part of his daily routine. Dozens of media outlets 小蝌蚪APP including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the BBC, The Washington Post and CNN 小蝌蚪APP began citing Wagner小蝌蚪APP檚 research and asking for quotes.
The findings have provided context for a range of stories related to the coronavirus. Among them: a profile about a 68-year-old man from New Orleans who survived Hurricane Katrina but not COVID-19; medical experts小蝌蚪APP belief that Mardi Gras provided a giant incubator for the virus; nationwide shortages of medical supplies; and death toll projections.
An article that run Tuesday in The Economist newspaper published in London details the rapid speed with which the virus has climbed in southern states. The traction his research has received has surprised Wagner, and he小蝌蚪APP檚 glad the exposure continues to 小蝌蚪APP済rab people小蝌蚪APP檚 attention.小蝌蚪APP
He is, however, uneasy with depictions that portray him as anything other than an economist.
小蝌蚪APP淚 don小蝌蚪APP檛 feel like this is something I deserve recognition for. The numbers speak for themselves. I小蝌蚪APP檓 not comfortable with people saying I saved lives. I didn小蝌蚪APP檛. I calculated growth rates,小蝌蚪APP he said.
Photo caption: Dr. Gary Wagner conducted analysis that showed the growth rate of new coronavirus infections in Louisiana was the fastest in the world during the first two weeks following the state小蝌蚪APP檚 initial diagnosis. Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 小蝌蚪APP