Alexis B. is a senior in the Center for Leadership and International Relations at James River High School and currently serves as our amazing intern. Her passion for economics began during the Virginia Summer Residential Governor’s School for Humanities, where a course led by an economics professor introduced her to the power of data-driven decision-making. It was there that Alexis discovered how economic concepts like trade-offs, incentives, and opportunity cost could be used to solve real-world problems.

That discovery was deeply personal. Alexis recognized that these same principles mirrored the problem-solving strategies she had relied on for years through occupational therapy while navigating daily challenges related to a coordination disorder. Economics became not just an academic interest, but a language for understanding choice, access, and opportunity.

Motivated by the gaps she saw in economic and financial education for teens, Alexis founded Access to Econ (A2E), an initiative aimed at introducing students to economics earlier and more equitably. She noted that many students in the U.S. encounter economics only once, late in high school, and that female mentors in the field remain limited, reflected in the fact that women earn just 34% of undergraduate economics degrees. Today, A2E operates as a global resource hub, offering a monthly podcast, virtual mentorship opportunities, and an online curriculum reaching students across the U.S. and Europe.

At VCEE, Alexis has focused on expanding youth engagement and accessibility. She developed a series of short-form educational videos to break down complex economic concepts, supported research initiatives, and reviewed youth-focused curriculum to ensure it resonates with younger audiences. She will continue supporting VCEE’s outreach efforts this spring, including speaking with students at local schools.

For her senior Capstone project, Alexis created the Econ Starter Kit, a bilingual (English and Spanish) digital resource designed to help students and educators access foundational economics content. The kit is currently being distributed through the Maggio Multicultural Academy in the Dominican Republic and to classrooms across Virginia through VCEE, with Alexis using data metrics to track its reach and impact.

Outside of her work in economic education, Alexis serves on a national youth advisory board for the Technology and Mental Wellness initiative (TAM) through University of Wisconsin–Madison, performs with the JRHS Singers choral group, and embraces her love of adventure—especially roller coasters.

Alexis’s work reflects VCEE’s mission in action: empowering students with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions and build opportunity for the future.