Farida Khan, Ph.D.

Professor MOLN 272 2662 E-mail

Farida Khan, Ph.D.

1. What is a typical day like in your field?

My days vary a lot depending on my schedule. My teaching days begin early and end with preparing ahead for classes, often seeing students during my office hours, Non-teaching days can start later in the morning after a trip to the gym and usually involves tending to administrative tasks that I do as program director or chair. I have done this type of administration work for about 17 years without a break. There may be meetings related to this work or other committee meetings. Later in the afternoon I try to catch up on any projects – I may be writing a paper, reviewing a paper, or doing editing work. Every evening after dinner I catch up on correspondence related to my professional organizations – I belong to three professional organizations and serve as an officer in each. All the correspondence comes to my home email so that my work email stays less cluttered. My day usually ends (with a long break for dinner) at 9 or 10 PM. During the weekends I am happy if I can work for three or four hours to make my weekdays more organized.

 
2. How did this type of work interest you and how did you get started?

My work is on economic development so it was an interest for me growing up in East Pakistan and Bangladesh and became more of an interest as I moved here as a teenager and saw the disparity between the US and other countries. I started the work in graduate school.

3. What jobs and experiences have led to your present position?

 This is my first job after graduate school. I have worked as a consultant at the World Bank and had other types of small consulting ventures but never been employed elsewhere.

4. What do you see as your priorities in the next five years?
I am finishing a book and starting some new projects in international trade and economic development. Most of my work is on Bangladesh and I am well known among those who research economic issues in Bangladesh.

5. What do you enjoy doing most outside of teaching?

Watching movies with my daughter who often visits me from Washington DC, exercise, eating good food, finding time to do my research projects well.

6. How do you best connect with your students?

I connect differently with my economics students and my international studies students. The economics students are more analytical while the international students are more inquiring. I enjoy them both.

7. Packers or Bears?

 No sports for me but I route for the Packers when I see a game with my daughter.

8. If you could travel to any part of the world where would it be?

I already have traveled in the parts I like to go to – South and Southeast Asia.

9. Favorite Movie?

Nosferatu