Department of Economics

Economics students study together in class

Are you curious about how our Canadian economy works? Are you passionate about social issues such as child labour, discrimination, poverty, government debt, and global warming? Do you have an interest in the global economy or international finance? If you wonder how economic problems might be solved and how you can be part of the solution, then you are ready for economics at Okanagan College.

Studying economics gives you a solid academic foundation for future study and helps you to become a more informed decision-maker in both your private and professional life. Join us and develop the knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to not only benefit in your own life, but also to tackle some of the world’s most complex questions.

Associate of Arts, Economics Emphasis

International Development Diploma

Courses

The department offers first, second and third-year courses applicable to the Associate of Arts Degree and Bachelor of Business Administration.

Faculty

Lozelle Reed

Economics - Chair
Office: E Building 320
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 6491
Reed, Lozelle headshot

After working as an economist for the past 16 years, I joined the Department of Economics in August 2021. I performed economic research in the agriculture, natural resources and tourism sectors at selected government and research institutions. I hold a Doctorate degree in Agricultural Economics from Stellenbosch University, in the heart of South Africa’s wine country. I have taught various economics courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and enjoy the energy from learners. My research interests include Ecological Economics, Behavioral Economics, the History of Economic Thought and the value of everything. My husband and I call Lake Country home and love exploring the outdoors and rock-climbing opportunities the area has to offer.

Dr. David Acosta Rosero

Economics
Office: Main Building C343
Campus: Vernon
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 2353
Acosta, Davod

I came back to the Okanagan Valley after many years of studies. I graduated from Universitat de Valencia, and I now hold a Doctorate Degree in Social Economy. I research the Welfare State, the relationship between Law and Economics, and socioeconomic factors that impact wealth distribution. I have experience teaching in Canada and abroad. Also, I have over 10 years of business experience managing teams in the hospitality industry, and I contribute to an Ecuadorian foundation doing social research.  I am happy to be part of the Department of Economics at Okanagan College, and I am excited to keep exploring this incredible outdoor playground that is the Okanagan Valley.

Brad Clements

Economics
Office: Main Building C343
Campus: Vernon
Phone: 250-545-7291 ext. 2234
Professor Brad Clements

I graduated with a Masters of Arts in Economics from Simon Fraser University where I specialized in econometrics with research in exchange rates. After my studies I worked for PepsiCo for 5 years before moving on to international business and economics consulting working in the U.S., Southeast Asia, and Europe. Myself and my wife Janice now live Vernon where I teach microeconomics and macroeconomics at the Vernon and Salmon Arm campuses and offer a Behavioural Economics class via a virtual online classroom to students on all campuses. Both Janice and I have a passion for adventure and the outdoors.

Credentials:
MA, Economics, Simon Fraser University

Dr. Md. Masum Emran

Economics
Office: B Building 216C
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4841
Headshot of Masum Emran

Working more than 20 years as economics teacher in Asian and North American Universities, I joined in Okanagan College on August 01, 2013. Since then, I have been teaching 100- level Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, 200-level Managerial Economics, Environmental Economics (DE) and 300-level International Economics. My research interest focuses on the issues related to Health Economics, Population Economics, Environmental Economics and Development Economics. I have more than eight scholarly articles published in international peer-reviewed journals. I Love teaching and research.

Credentials:
PhD, Economics, University of Birmingham, UK
MA, Economics, University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA

Dr. Sandra Hadersbeck

Economics
Office: B Building 214
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4631
Sandra Hadersback

I joined the Department of Economics at Okanagan College in 2005. Before that, and before my studies of psychology and economics, I worked several years for a commercial bank in my home country Germany. During my teaching career, I taught at University of Saskatchewan, St. Thomas More College, SIAST and Okanagan University College. I also served as Department Chair from 2008 to 2014. My teaching portfolio includes Principles of Microeconomics, Intermediate Microeconomics, Principles of Macroeconomics, Intermediate Macroeconomics, Economic Development, International Economics, Competitiveness in the International Economy, Labor Economics and Public Finance. My research interests are in the areas of Development Economics, Behavioral Economics and Socioeconomic Impact Analyses. If I am not experimenting in the kitchen or playing in the garden, I can be found hiking, scuba-diving or wind tunnel flying together with my husband.

Credentials:
PHD (ABD), Agricultural Economics, University of Saskatchewan
MA, Economics, University of Saskatchewan
BA, Psychology, University of Saskatchewan

Dr. Tazul Islam

Economics
Office: E Building 320
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4218
Economics instructor Tazul Islam

I joined the Department of Economics in August 2007 and have been serving as Chair since 2014. I have taught previously at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops and La Trobe University in Melbourne. I also taught at Tianjin University of Technology in China and the Canadian Institute of International Studies in India. As a Visiting Professor in summer terms, I have been teaching higher level Economics courses at the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus.
 
I hold a PhD in Economics from La Trobe University, Melbourne where my research focused on economics of global warming and climate change. My other seminal work on technological innovation and growth of labor productivity in Bangladesh agriculture was published in the Journal of Development Studies in 1996. I am currently working on another research paper to be published shortly.

I came to Okanagan Valley with a decade of work experience in my home country, Bangladesh. I served as an economist in the Central Bank of Bangladesh and as the Senior Assistant Secretary in Planning Commission and in the President's Secretariat, Bangladesh. I live in Kelowna with my wife.

Credentials:
PhD, Economics, La Trobe University
MEc, University of New England (Australia)
MSc, Ag. Economics, BAU

Michael Sale

Economics
Office: B Building 219
Campus: Kelowna
Phone: 250-762-5445 ext. 4229
Economics instructor Michael Sale

I joined the Department of Economics at Okanagan College in January 2018 and hold a Doctorate Degree in Economics from the Nelson Mandela University in South Africa. I have over 15 years’ experience teaching Economics at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and enjoy all aspects of academia, including instructing, collaboration, mentoring students, international exchange, and research. My research interests include applied microeconomics, with an emphasis on non-market valuation techniques.

Credentials:
DComm, Economics, Nelson Mandela University

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