Paul Hettler `93
B.A. Economics Ph.D. Economics, University of Pittsburgh
Assistant Professor of Economics, Duquesne University
"During my sophomore year at Behrend I chose economics as my undergraduate major, but I still had little idea as to what my career plans were. Actually, I think I chose this major partly because it is so versatile. Economics is good preparation for a number of graduate programs and opens many career doors. Also, since I was little I had been fascinated both by logic and mathematical puzzles and by human behavior. I love to people-watch and note the nuances of human actions and interaction. I also like solving math problems and playing with data and statistics.
My typical day is divided between teaching, research, and service to my department, school, and university. No two days are ever the same, which is one of my favorite aspects of the job. My primary ongoing research program addresses the critical question of how the fiscal behavior of central cities affects their surrounding region. Given the interdependence of local jurisdictions within a metropolitan area, the fiscal policies of one municipality may have effects reaching beyond its political boundaries; policy makers must understand the full impact of their actions.
I would credit Behrend completely with my professional and academic success. The faculty in the economic department (Drs. Barry Weller, Jim Kurre, Ken Louie and John Fizel) first introduced me to the amazing discipline of economics. They didn't just teach their students; they each challenged their students to think. More than anything, they taught me how to learn so that I could continue to ask and answer questions for myself. This was characteristic of the teachers at Behrend in general; it was the very rare class that simply required rote memorization of facts or formulas. Instead, faculty encouraged thinking and reasoning. Faculty carefully created a place that encouraged the free and open exchange of ideas, which is the true definition of a 'university.'"