Murphy Institute hires new dean

Economics professor Steve Sheffrin recently took over Tulane University’s Murphy Institute of Political Economy. Sheffrin brings several years of experience and a wealth of education to Tulane’s campus.

Prior to working at Tulane, Sheffrin served as a faculty member at the University of California, Davis, for 33 years, and served 10 of them as the dean of social science. He has traveled the world giving lectures at institutions including the London School of Economics and Political Science and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. The author of 10 books and more than 100 scholarly articles, Sheffrin covers topics of international economics, macroeconomics and finance.

Tulane’s top administrators said they were pleased to welcome him to the Green Wave staff, noting his career accomplishments and of impressive reputation.

“We are very lucky to have Dr. Sheffrin here at Tulane. He is a well-respected scholar and economist and has a national reputation,” liberal arts Dean Carole Haber said .

Haber said that despite Sheffrin’s short tenure at Tulane, he has already helped Tulane faculty receive some much-needed grants.

“Given Dr. Sheffrin’s experience, knowledge, energy and enthusiasm, we are delighted he’s a member of Tulane University and the School of Liberal Arts,” Haber said. “We look forward to working with him.”

Tulane University President Scott Cowen said he is optimistic about Sheffrin’s arrival and the future of the Murphy Institute.

“Steve Sheffrin’s academic stature and academic administrative experience—including a recently completed 10-year term as dean of the division of social sciences at the University of California, Davis — says a lot about the reputation of Murphy Institute and Tulane University,” Cowen said. “With the arrival of a new director and his vision for the future, this is an exciting time for the Murphy Institute.”

Sheffrin said he is excited to join Tulane and enjoys the positive atmosphere of campus. He said he is eager to move the institute forward by continuing the good research and curriculums of the institute, but also by exploring new subject matter.

“We have a very good quality undergraduate interdisciplinary program, and with a dedicated faculty, we can explore new areas such as public policy,” Sheffrin said.

He is not solely concerned with the growth and success of the Murphy Institute, but also Tulane as a whole.

“I want the resources of the Murphy Institute to benefit all departments of Tulane,” Sheffrin said. “The Murphy Institute stands ready to engage the faculty and students in research of political economy and public policy.”