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Atlanta, GA | Posted: March 26, 2014
Summary Sentence:
Professor Schaffer joined Georgia Tech in 1963. Today, he is Schaffer is emeritus professor of Economics. Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts honored him for fifty years of service during Founder’s Day festivities March 13.
Full Summary:
In 1934, a department of economics was established at Georgia Tech. Coincidentally, that same year, a future member of our economics faculty was born, William A. Schaffer. Professor Schaffer joined Georgia Tech in 1964. The college honored him for fifty years of service during Founder’s Day festivities March 13.
Schaffer Distinguished Service AwardIn 1934, a department of economics was established at Georgia Tech. Coincidentally, that same year, a future member of our economics faculty was born, William A. Schaffer.
Professor Schaffer joined Georgia Tech in 1964. Today, he is emeritus professor of Economics. According to Marilyn Somers, Director of Georgia Tech’s Living History Program, Dr. Schaffer has joined a highly exclusive club, as she knows of only two other faculty who have taught here for at least 50 years.
Schaffer has directed major inter-industry studies for the states of Hawaii and Georgia and the province of Nova Scotia. With special interests in regional economics, he has contributed to the literature on constructing regional inter-industry models, on economic impact analysis and input-output applications, and on the teaching and theory of regional science. He has delivered papers in France, Germany, Denmark, and Switzerland. He has authored or co-authored three books including impact studies on the Atlanta Braves, Falcons, and Chiefs, the Montreal Expos Festivals and Tourism. His most recent book,Economic Impact Models,which was published electronically, has been translated into Farsi.
Professor Schaffer is president and fellow of the Southern Regional Science Association and a fellow of the North American Regional Science Council of the Atlanta Economics Club. He has twice served as Chair of Economics and has been a board member of the GT Athletic Association for more than 20 years, bringing his expertise to the finance committee. He founded the Georgia Tech chapter of the international economics honor society Omicron Delta Epsilon and served as Faculty Advisor and Chapter Counselor for Tech’s chapter of Beta Theta Pi.
Dr. Schaffer has been a popular teacher who was recognized as the Faculty of the Year by the GT Student Government Association. Throughout his career at Georgia Tech, he has engendered community among colleagues and students through activities such as annual fireside parties and peach parties hosted with his wife in their home, and the economics spring picnic. A tribute to his activities is the fact that our economics group is today one of our most active groups on campus.
Dean of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, Dr. Jacqueline J. Royster, said, “On behalf of Georgia Tech and the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, we congratulate Dr. Schaffer on fifty years dedicated to research, teaching and public service. We are honored that he joined our ranks and continues to serve this institution so well, even as he enters his sixth decade of loyalty and leadership. We offer our love and our appreciation for jobs well done.”
According to Dr. David Laband, Chair of the School of Economics, “Bill Schaffer is an amazing man - - someone who has touched thousands of students’ lives during his half-century at Georgia Tech and touched them in diverse and meaningful ways, both inside and outside the classroom. Among our alumni, Bill is a widely and deeply-loved and respected icon.”
The School of Economics has created a scholarship endowment in Bill’s honor. Anyone interested in finding out more about this opportunity is invited to contact Dr. Laband at 404-385-4145 or at david.laband@econ.gatech.edu.
