Dr. Edward J. Deak will be first to hold Roger M. Lynch Chair in Economics | Press Releases

Edward J. Deak, Ph.D., professor of economics at Fairfield University, has been named the first to hold the new Roger M. Lynch Chair in Economics in the College of Arts & Sciences. The installation ceremony will take place on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 4: 30 p.m. in the Kelley Theatre of the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts and will feature an address by Dr. Deak on "Economics and Public Policy." The public is welcome to attend.

Known throughout the state and beyond for his role as Connecticut Model Manager for The New England Economic Project, Dr. Deak is often called upon by the media to comment on economic developments. His talk on Oct. 2 will address mergers in the entertainment industry, including the one just announced by Vivendi Universal and General Electric's television network, NBC; as well as News Corp.'s proposal to purchase the Direct TV satellite system.

In March, Dr. Deak published a book, "The Economics of e-Commerce and the Internet," in which he tackles misconceptions about the economics of the Internet. Contrary to popular belief, he says, the vast majority of Web businesses did not fail. He examines the strategies, successes, and failures of some of the key e-Commerce firms, both business-to-consumer and business-to-business.

Dr. Deak has published extensively over the years on such topics as New England's Competitiveness: Risks and Opportunities in the Global Economy; Will Labor Shortages Derail New England's Economy? New Urban Strateges in Advanced Regional Economics; Tariffs as Symbolic Communication; and New and Emerging Patterns in Consumer Loan Markets.

He testified on the Y2K problem before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Financial Services and Technology, and was the Governor's appointee and chair to the Connecticut Economic Conference Board.

Dr. Deak joined Fairfield University in 1970, reaching the rank of full professor in 1980. Among his areas of expertise are regional economic analysis, banking and finance, antitrust and regulation, industrial organization, transportation economics and global competition and competitiveness.

The new chair in economics has been named for Roger M. Lynch who retired last fall after chairing Fairfield's Board of Trustees for seven years. He has been a key member of the board since 1988 and was appointed chair in 1995. During a period of dramatic development for the university, he provided invaluable leadership. In addition, he and his wife Nancy have been shown great generosity to Fairfield, particularly during the current capital campaign.

A 1963 graduate of Fairfield University who majored in economics, Mr. Lynch had a lengthy and distinguished career with Goldman Sachs & Company, where he was a Limited Partner when the firm went public in 1998.

Throughout his career, Mr. Lynch has been a devoted alumnus of Fairfield. He has served on a multitude of committees and boards, always striving to make Fairfield accessible to talented students regardless of their means, while enhancing its academic stature and maintaining its Jesuit character.