Teacher, Researcher, Role Model

Kolleen Rask, who joined the economics department in August 1989, became the first woman tenured in the department. An intelligent, vibrant mother of two children, she does not fit the stereotype of an economist. In a field traditionally dominated by men, Rask is a trailblazer. She explains that in the past there have not been many women in economics, but "the department has made great strides in hiring talented men and women who can serve as role models. There are many other misconceptions about economics that we need to overcome. Economics is viewed as a business-oriented discipline, which it is not. Economics is highly mathematical and theoretical as well as applied and policy-based."

"The tenure issue is difficult for everyone," Rask says. "The tenure clock and the biological clock often coincide. Six years from the time of hire, faculty are evaluated for tenure. They often need to prove themselves (teaching, researching and publishing) while raising young children." When asked how a person can accomplish it all she says, "We work hard!"

Rask talks enthusiastically about her particular area of interest, transitional economies. Rask says she concentrates on transitional economies, like Russia and China, because they are attempting to create market economies out of the remnants of command economies. "The difficulties faced by these economies, especially Russia, are staggering. If we can determine ways to facilitate the transition, we can not only help to improve their economic outlook, and hopefully the living standards of the population, but also learn a lot about how our own economy works. In Russia, where Rask studied for a time, she says the economic changes have been painful to watch. She feels some connection to the people who have gone through such severe deprivations that even life expectancy has dropped.

"Transitional economies represent a new area for research and not much is known about the process, which makes it very interesting," she says. Rask collaborated recently on a paper with two other members of the department, David Chu and Thomas Gottschang. "We were each able to contribute to the article based on our own areas of expertise, and we learned from each other."

Prior to her interest in transitional economies, Rask focused on the problems of developing countries, where three-quarters of the world's population live. She produced a detailed study of the service industries in Taiwan for the Taiwanese government which helped to shape its economic policies for the next decade. Her students also benefit from her work with Taiwan, Russia, and China, as she uses these experiences to introduce and illustrate concepts in class, particularly in her international trade and economic development courses.

Her desk decorated with pictures made by her two daughters, Shannon, 7, and Stephanie, 4, Rask talks extensively about caring for the people whose lives she studies. "The bottom line for me in economics," she says, "is asking what we can do at home and around the world to bring people out of poverty and improve their educational opportunities."

Rask says that although she felt from the beginning that she had wonderful support from her department, there were some adjustments that had to be made. "I had a student in my first year here who believed very strongly that women shouldn't work outside the home. We discussed that point quite often, both inside and outside of class, never coming to a resolution, but he continued to sign up for my classes." She says students now flock to her door to ask her questions about life issues, about whether it's possible to do the constant balancing act required to be a tenured professor and an attentive parent. Even students who are not "her students" come to her with these kinds of questions.

Rask is proud of the academic rigor of the economics program. "We have the lowest G.P.A. on campus," she says. "It is a badge of honor. You have to work hard to do well in this department." She says her involvement with the department honors program has been one of the most enjoyable aspects of her work at the College. According to Rask, students have the opportunity to conduct independent research on topics of their own choosing under the guidance of faculty advisors. "It's a small group of very highly motivated, bright students. They're astonishing. Some of them are doing work that's beyond college level. I can develop a rapport with them, get a personal feeling for each student. I watch them struggle through the initial stages of their research, share in their excitement as they make discoveries, and revel in their accomplishments as they present their results to the College." Rask laughs as she adds, "And those are the students I end up using for babysitters" - on emergency days, about once a semester, when she has to bring her girls to work with her. She says she sets up their play area with a pup tent, right in her office, and gets to work herself.

Rask says of her daughters, "They are the most important part of my life, and they love to visit my office. It's important to me that they know what I do in my career, and it's important for students to know that my life has other dimensions too. I am a more complete professional because of the many experiences I have had beyond this campus."

- Joyce O'Connor Davidson

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