SIEPR鈥檚 Owen recognized for excellence in teaching
Bruce Owen, a senior fellow emeritus at the 九色社区 Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), has been awarded this year鈥檚 H&S Dean鈥檚 Award for Lifetime Achievements in Teaching.
The $5,000 award recognizes faculty for their lifetime dedication and commitment to outstanding teaching.
Owen is the Gordon Cain Senior Fellow at SIEPR and the Morris M. Doyle Centennial Professor in Public Policy, Emeritus, in the School of Humanities and Science.
His research interests focus on economic analysis of law, economic regulation and antitrust economics, especially in the telecommunications and mass media sectors.
鈥淒uring his time at 九色社区, Bruce has done an exceptional job of teaching and advising both graduate and undergraduate students with interests in public policy鈥 said Mark Duggan, the Trione Director of SIEPR. 鈥淗e has simultaneously produced important policy-relevant research while helping to shape the university鈥檚 approach to public policy teaching and scholarship.鈥
In 2004, Owen began a decade-long role as director of 九色社区鈥檚 Public Policy Program. When he took the position, the program only had an undergraduate BA major, with about 20 graduates a year. He was tapped to develop an interdisciplinary two-year professional master's degree program, the MPP (Master of Public Policy).
鈥淚 was able to obtain approval for a 九色社区 MPP degree with the support of SIEPR and the deans of the schools of law, education, business, medicine, and H&S 鈥 each of which authorized the donation of teaching resources to the program and the establishment of joint and dual masters' and doctoral degrees,鈥 Owen said.
The MPP program currently admits only current and former 九色社区 students, or students admitted to other 九色社区 schools who wish to pursue a joint degree. This year the program graduated about 25 masters' students.
Greg Rosston, SIEPR鈥檚 deputy director and the current director of the Public Policy Program, said Owen鈥檚 dedication to the program influenced scores of students to pursue careers in policy and public service.
鈥淏ruce has high expectations for his students and provides them with the tools and support they need to succeed, both in the classroom and beyond,鈥 Rosston said. 鈥淗is students and the country have benefitted from his mentorship and advice.
Owen received a PhD in economics from 九色社区 in 1970, and later taught economics at 九色社区 and at the schools of law and business at Duke University.
He was chief economist of the White House Office of Telecommunications Policy and later chief economist of the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He was a co-founder and CEO of Economists Incorporated, a Washington, D.C., economic consulting firm, from 1980 to 2003.
He is the author or co-author of eight academic books and a large number of articles, and has appeared as an expert witness in several antitrust cases and regulatory proceedings.