Distinguished Service Fellowships
Audra Bowlus, J. Clark Leith Distinguished Service Fellow
Audra Bowlus
Audra Bowlus came to Western in 1993. Her research is mainly in labour economics and the application of labour market search theory. She has published dozens of articles, many in top academic journals, and has had a substantial influence in her fields.
Audra's service has matched her research excellence. She was Graduate Program Director for three years and served as Department Chair for eight years. As Chair, Audra oversaw the hiring of many of the current economics faculty at Western. She was also largely responsible for creating the successful Masters in Financial Economics program. Beyond her accomplishments in formal service roles, Audra is a constant source of wisdom for colleagues and students alike.
J. Clark Leith
Clark Leith came to Western in 1967 and retired as Professor of Economics in 2003. During those years and continuing after retirement, he made significant contributions as a researcher, teacher, and policy advisor. Clark’s research centered on the topics of foreign trade and macroeconomic and monetary policy in Africa. He believes that for an academic to understand a third world country it is necessary to experience that country, and he spent long stints doing research, teaching and policy advising in third world countries, especially Ghana and Botswana. His publications, which include five books, a textbook, and numerous articles including many in major economics journals, reflect his in-depth understanding of the countries he studied.
Clark’s career combined scholarship with extensive service. At Western he served as Department Chair and Vice-President (Academic) and Provost. During his tenure as Chair (1972-76) the Department made significant hires and rapidly rose in the ranks to join the top Economics departments in the world. His time as Provost (1980-86) spanned three different Presidents, during which he led negotiations with the Faculty Association and established new agreements with the affiliated colleges. His service contributions went far beyond Western. As director of the UWO Ghana Project, he was involved in capacity building at the University of Ghana. He served as a senior policy advisor in Botswana, including as Director of Research and then Senior Policy Advisor to the Bank of Botswana and consultant to the Botswana Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. On Botswana Independence Day 2014 he received the Presidential Order of Meritorious Service.
Terry Sicular, Chris Robinson Distinguished Service Fellow
Terry Sicular
Terry Sicular began her career at Western in 1993. She is a specialist on the Chinese economy. Her research combines rigorous economic analysis with institutional knowledge and draws on fieldwork, survey data, and primary Chinese-language source materials. She has published widely in both economics and Chinese studies. She is a two-time recipient of the Sun Yefang Prize in Economic Science, China’s top economic award. She is an alumna of Pomona College and received her doctorate in economics from Yale University. She is Western Economics’ first female tenured professor and first female full professor.
Terry's service to Western has matched her research excellence. She served as Chair of the economics department and two terms as Director of the undergraduate program, leading it through innovative changes including the introduction of the Global Economics and the Politics, Philosophy and Economics honours programs. She has supervised generations of senior honours theses and is well loved by students, some of whom refer to her as having ‘an iron fist in a velvet glove.’ She also was active in UWOFA, the faculty union, where she served on the Board, Salary Committee, and negotiating team.
Chris Robinson
Chris Robinson began his 42 year career at Western in 1977. Chris is a labor economist who has authored dozens of articles, many published in the best academic journals. Chris is an international leader in labor economics and was co-editor of the Journal of Labor Economics, the top journal in labor economics, for a decade.
Chris' service to the department matched his excellent scholarship. He was director of the graduate program in the early 1990s.During the 2000s, Chris served as the Director of the CIBC Centre for Human Capital and Productivity and substantially increased its research profile. During the Great Recession the economics department was on the brink of crisis due to proposed staffing cuts. Chris took on a prominent leadership role helping with day-to-day operations, while negotiating for changes to secure the future of the Department. In the end, Chris’ work led to an agreement that ensured the viability of the economics department. Chris was a constant source of good advice for both colleagues and students throughout his career. The Department owes Chris a debt of gratitude for his service over the years, for his tireless efforts to save the Department during the Great Recession, and for ensuring it has a great future.
Al Slivinski, Jim Davies Distinguished Service Fellow
Al Slivinski
Al Slivinski began his career at Western in 1980. Al is a microeconomic theorist who works in public finance and political economy. He has authored dozens of scholarly articles, many published in the best academic journals.
Al's commitment to service has been exemplary. He served as undergraduate program director and as department chair, twice. Al's service went well beyond his work in such formal capacities. During his career at Western, he was fully and enthusiastically engaged in a conversation about economics with colleagues and students alike. He has always been a source of sage advice. Al is a serial promoter of collegiality and Western's economics department has reaped the benefits of this for 42 years.
Jim Davies
Jim Davies began his 43-year career at Western in 1977. Jim's research is in public finance, taxation policy, and the distribution of wealth. He studied the distribution of wealth in Canada and worldwide producing work that has been very influential, especially in the last 20 years. His work is impressive in scope, he authored two books and edited two more, he produced 42 leading academic journal articles and several dozen other articles and comments on public policy.
Jim's scholarship was balanced by his unwavering commitment to service. He served within the economics department as graduate program director multiple times and department chair for nine years. His service extended to the broader community at Western, not only through serving on university committees but also through his extensive work with UWOFA, the faculty union. His leadership in the union was vital to the improvement of salary policies at Western. Jim also had a nationwide impact not only with his research on government policy but also directly though his work with the Social Science and Humanities Research Council where he helped decide the allocation of research grants across Canada.
