An Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Mary Washington, Dr. Dhar holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Houston and specializes in international economics, monetary policy, macroeconomics, and applied econometrics. Drawing on her expertise, Dr. Dhar works directly with superintendents, principals, and teachers in more than ten counties and cities to connect them with the Center’s professional development programs, classroom resources, and statewide initiatives. Dr. Dhar’s year‑round schedule includes multi‑day institutes, in‑service trainings, conference sessions, and short programs designed to help educators integrate real‑world economics and personal finance into K–12 instruction.

The Center also facilitates local participation in VCEE’s signature programs, including the Virginia Economics & Personal Finance Challenges, The Stock Market Game™, Reading Makes Cents, Mini‑Economy/Market Day, and the VCEE Teacher Fellows program. At the 2025 Financial Foundations Conference: A Personal Finance Conference for Educators, Dr. Dhar was invited to speak on From Barter to Bitcoin: Understanding the Evolution of Money, guiding teachers through the history of money from barter systems to digital currencies like Bitcoin, demystifying cryptocurrency, and offering practical strategies for bringing these topics into classrooms.

Through quarterly newsletters, targeted outreach, and collaboration with The University of Mary Washington College of Business, Dr. Dhar ensures that educators — whether in urban centers or rural communities — have the tools necessary to ensure that every student graduates with the economic knowledge and financial skills necessary to thrive in our dynamic economy. The UMW Center for Economic Education welcomes inquiries from school divisions, schools, and educators interested in partnering with The University of Mary Washington Center for Economic Education to bring high‑quality economic and financial education to their students. Dr. Dhar can be reached at adhar@umw.edu or by phone at (540) 654‑1472. For inquiries outside of the Greater Fredericksburg region, please feel free to connect directly with the Virginia Council on Economic Education at vcee@vcu.edu or visit our website at: https://vcee.org/.