Honoring Excellence: Dr. Gerald Daniels Named 2026 Outstanding Young Alumni by UCR

We are thrilled to share that Dr. Gerald Daniels, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors at SBX Youth & Family Services and a distinguished economics scholar, has been selected as a 2026 Outstanding Young Alumni awardee by the University of California, Riverside.

This prestigious honor is given to alumni under 40 who have demonstrated exemplary professional accomplishments and a strong commitment to civic service.

Dr. Daniels is an Associate Professor of Economics at Howard University, where his research focuses on student debt, racial wealth inequality, and the economic conditions impacting underrepresented communities. His work has been published in top academic journals and informs both policy and public discourse.

Dr. Daniels’ academic journey is rooted at UCR, where he earned his B.A. in Business Economics (’08), M.A. in Economics (’10), and Ph.D. in Economics (’13). He now mentors students and contributes to national conversations on upward economic mobility—particularly for communities of color.

Before becoming a nationally recognized economist, Dr. Daniels was a youth leader in the early days of SBX, when our organization was founded at Rialto High School. Today, he continues to serve as our Vice Chair, using his insight, leadership, and lived experience to guide the next generation of changemakers.

We are incredibly proud of Dr. Daniels’ accomplishments and honored to celebrate this moment with him. His journey reflects the power of perseverance, education, and purpose-driven leadership.

🏆 Join us in celebrating Dr. Daniels for this well-deserved recognition!

Read more about the award at alumni.ucr.edu/alumni-awards