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Principles Of Environmental Economics 2nd Edition,     
Now Available!

Home: Dr. Ahmed Hussen



Dr. Hussen

   *To Contact Dr. Hussen*
       Office: 306 Dewing Hall
       Phone: 269-337-7025
       E-Mail: hussen@kzoo.edu
       Mail: Dr. Ahmed Hussen
               Economics Department
               1200 Academy St.
               Kalamazoo MI, 49007


Spring 2004 Classes:

1. Econ 305: Intermediate Microeconomics
      M, W, F  2:40-3:55    Dewing 311
     
2. Econ 490: Senior Topics in Environmental Studies
      T             7-10PM       Dewing 210




WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A GOOD AND AN ENTHUSIASTIC TEACHER: A Personal Reflection

I.  Preface

   I am truly honored to be the recipient of the 1996 Florence J. Lucasse Lectureship award for "excellence" in teaching.  I would like to thank all of you very much, for joining me and my family to celebrate this happy occasion.   This award means a lot to me for the following three reasons.

 First, to me, this award represents a clear confirmation (endorsement) by my colleagues and students about the high esteem they have of me as a teacher--my chosen profession.

 Second, it means a good deal to me to receive this award from an institution where excellence in teaching is expected by students and accepted as a norm by the faculty.  Believe me, K-College is blessed with many dedicated and outstanding teachers.

   When I began preparing for the "brief" remark that I am about to make tonight, I started with a firm decision that, whatever topic I choose to speak tonight, it should be something that would inform the audience (you) about me. (That is, who I am, what I do, what turns me on and what turns me off.)  Once I made this crucial initial decision, several ideas started to cross my mind.  Before I start discussing the main topic that I finally chose for tonight, I thought it would be quite appropriate to give you quick synopsis of some of the other topics that I have been seriously considering for this event.

  Topic 1: What is a son of a very zealously pious and illiterate salt merchant from a very isolated place in Africa doing in a place like this--one of the elite private colleges in America?  You may say what is this all about!  Well, you see, like many other first immigrants to this country, whenever I get a chance, I would like others to know about my humble origin; my insatiable drive to succeed; nd my remarkable personal achievements despite the enormous odds against me.  If you don’t believe this, ask my two daughters who are repeatedly reminded “how life has been incredibly easy to them,” followed by “a personal story of difficulties that their father had to go through under similar circumstances.”  Their normal response to my serious commentary about their “easy” life, is “here goes Daddy!” (continue )