Like many on campus on Dec. 6, 2023, economics professor and alumnus Eric Chiang was shaken by the tragic shooting. A colleague was severely injured just outside of his office; first responders broke down his door in search of survivors; and, ultimately, three UNLV faculty lost their lives.

Chiang, who started his experience at Lee Business School as a transfer student, received a small but meaningful $500 scholarship from the economics department — a moment that made him feel seen and valued. 

In the days and months that followed Dec. 6, Chiang reflected on how much UNLV had given him. Now, shaped by both his gratitude and heartbreaking loss, he is determined to give back. 

“UNLV gave me so much,” he said. “Now it is my turn to give everything I can — my time, my resources, my commitment — so the next generation can succeed.”

Commitment to the Future

When Lee Business School's Dean Anjala Krishen spoke about plans for a new state-of-the-art business school facility, Chiang didn’t hesitate. He became the first pledge of the Building Business Together campaign. His $100,000 pledge stands as one of the largest gifts ever made by an active UNLV faculty member. 

At the same time, he is fulfilling a $35,000 pledge to endow the Achieve Scholarship for economics students and has arranged an estate gift naming UNLV the primary beneficiary of his financial holdings. First awarded in 2024, the scholarship now supports one student each spring, allowing Chiang to see his generosity make an immediate difference.

“Coming to work is no longer about earning a salary, but about making a difference in my students’ lives,” he said. “Rather than wait until I retire or pass away, [I want] to give now and see the benefits for the students I teach. Every day I come to work, it is a joy. [That’s why] I am committed to donating a significant portion of my salary, and eventually most of my estate, to programs that support current and future UNLV students.”

Early Influences

Chiang grew up in Elkhart, Indiana, the youngest of three children in a Taiwanese American family. His parents immigrated to the United States in the 1960s to pursue their education and to create opportunities for their children.

“Their journey to start a new life in another country taught me always to think big and appreciate the opportunities that can arise anywhere in the world,” he said.

His parents lived frugally, saving nearly everything to send their children to college debt-free. They also taught him to invest early. He bought his first stock, shares in Wendy’s, at just 9 years old.

The Scholarship Moment

When Chiang transferred from UCLA to UNLV in the mid-1990s, he was still searching for direction. At UNLV, he explored hotel management and language courses until the day he wandered into the economics department. Professors Lew Karstensson and Djeto Assane welcomed him, encouraged him to switch majors, and handed him a scholarship application.

“That $500 scholarship was a signal that the economics department had confidence in my ability to succeed,” Chiang said. 

That moment created a sense of belonging and set him on a path toward research, graduate school, and a 25-year career as a professor. 

Returning As Faculty

After earning his doctorate at the University of Florida in 2002, Chiang taught at Florida Atlantic University for two decades. Though he built a strong academic career, his connection to UNLV never faded. 

When a faculty role opened in 2023, Chiang gave up tenure to return to Lee Business School. “UNLV was the one place I always felt at home. Coming back here to teach is my dream job,”  he said. 

Today, he teaches large introductory economics courses. On the first day, he begins with an example about adventure sports, driving home his point: economics is about decision-making when resources are limited.

“My goal is to convince as many students as I can why economics matters,” he said. “Not just in school, but in work and in life.”

“He is absolutely committed to his craft,” said economics professor Jeff Waddoups. “He constantly searches for more effective ways to relay the fundamentals of economic thinking. He literally travels the world to find examples of economic behavior in action.”

Chiang has traveled to 99 countries across six continents and will visit Antarctica this winter  —  his symbolic 100th country. Among his most memorable travels was Bhutan, where a stranger welcomed him into her home  —  a reminder, he said, that economics “is not just about numbers, but about people’s values and choices.”

Looking Ahead

When asked what advice he would give today’s students, Chiang did not hesitate, “Success in life requires a strong work ethic and the ability to confront obstacles with a positive attitude. Nothing comes automatically. One must be dedicated to every class and every course. It may be the most unlikely course or professor who makes the most significant impact on your future.”

As for his legacy, “I hope to be remembered as a proud UNLV student, on-campus resident, alumnus, Rebel fan, and teacher.”