Olu Onafowora, professor of economics, has been named the Warehime Chair in the Sigmund Weis School of Business at Susquehanna University.
Endowed in 1989 by Alan Warehime H’82, past vice chairman of Susquehanna’s Board of Trustees and former president and chief executive officer of Hanover Foods, the Warehime Chair is awarded to a faculty member with excellent record or research productivity with prospects for continued scholarly excellence. As Warehime Chair, Onafowora will lead the Sigmund Weis School of Business’ Scholarship and Teaching Excellence Committee and mentor junior faculty on research.
“We believe in the teacher-scholar model at Susquehanna,” said Matthew Rousu, dean of Susquehanna’s Sigmund Weis School of Business. “Dr. Onafowora is a world-class economics researcher who has contributed research on trade deficits, exchange rates, international trade and in other areas. Having someone like him help junior faculty with their research questions is incredibly valuable to the faculty member, our students and the entire business school community.”
Onafowora joined the faculty of Susquehanna in 1989 and has been chair of the Department of Economics since 2010. Under his leadership, the department has been ranked among the top 30 programs nationwide by the U.S. Federal Reserve. He has published 46 peer-reviewed journal articles and one book chapter, and currently has four journal articles under review. Over the years, Susquehanna has awarded him the John C. Horn Distinguished Service Lectureship for scholarly endeavor and service to the university and the Donald D. Housley Teaching Award. In 2020, he co-led Susquehanna’s CenSUs: Everybody Counts task force.
Onafowora earned his Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural economics in 1979 from the University of Ife, Nigeria. He earned his master’s degree in natural resource economics in 1982 from West Virginia University, where he also earned his doctorate in economics in 1989. He also holds an associate degree in systems administration from Harrisburg Area Community College.
The Warehime Chair is one of several endowed chairs and professorships at Susquehanna.
“My grandfather and Hanover Foods believe in the Sigmund Weis School of Business and Susquehanna University, viewing both as assets to the great state of Pennsylvania. My grandfather, in spirit, and we the living heirs of Hanover Foods are proud to see both flourish by shaping the minds of students for years to come,” said Jeff Warehime ’87, CEO of Hanover Foods Corporation.
