Darien Kearney is a Ph.D. student in economics at Howard University whose research examines how racial trauma, financial vulnerability, and structural inequality shape economic decision-making and long-run socioeconomic outcomes. His work sits at the intersection of behavioral economics, stratification economics, and public policy, with a particular focus on how lived experiences of discrimination influence labor market outcomes, educational attainment, and mental health within Black communities. Through his dissertation, Kearney seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms linking racialized stress to economic and social outcomes. Before beginning his doctoral studies, he earned an M.S. in applied economics and management from Cornell University, an M.S. in applied psychology from the University of Southern California, and an M.B.A. in finance and management from Sam Houston State University.