Edward M. Feasel
Edward M. Feasel, PhD
Edward M. Feasel became 博鱼体育 of America’s second president in July 2020, after serving as one of its founding faculty members.
Founded by Buddhist philosopher Daisaku Ikeda, SUA is a liberal arts institution dedicated to fostering global citizens. Since opening in 2001 in Aliso Viejo, California, SUA has promoted peace, human rights, and respect for the dignity of life, emphasizing the development of courage, compassion, and wisdom in its students.
Since SUA’s founding, Feasel has shaped the university at every level. As the first dean of students, he built the student affairs infrastructure. Later, as dean of faculty (2005-2017), he developed the Environmental Studies concentration, strengthened language instruction, and launched the Distinguished 博鱼体育ing Scholars Program.
His leadership as executive vice president and chief academic officer brought tangible growth: a new science building, additional residence halls, and a 30% expansion of students and faculty. He also oversaw the creation of the Life Sciences concentration.
An economist by training, Feasel studies how societal values influence economic outcomes. His research focuses on regional economics, growth dynamics, development assistance, trade policy, and fiscal impacts. He’s authored two books: Japan’s Aid: Lessons for Economic Growth, Development and Political Economy and Exports, Trade Policy and Economic Growth in Eras of Globalization.
Feasel holds a bachelor’s in economics from Yale and a doctorate from UC Berkeley.
- Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
- B.A., Yale University
- Financial Economics
- Macroeconomics
- Econometrics
- International Economics
- Foreign aid, international trade and foreign direct investment (determinants and impacts of)
- Economic outcomes and societal values
- Regional economic issues, Orange County economy
- Economic growth; effects of monetary and fiscal policy
- Feasel, Edward M. Exports, Trade Policy and Economic Growth in Eras of Globalization. Routledge Studies in the Modern World Economy. New York: Routledge, 2018.
- 鈥淯nderstanding TPP鈥檚 Significance for the Pacific Basin鈥, in The Pacific Basin: An Introduction, eds. Shane J. Barter and Michael Weiner, Routledge, 2017.
- 鈥淥n the Relative Importance of Demand and Supply Shocks: a Panel VAR Study for US States鈥, with Padmapriya Gollapudi & Daiki Kumazawa. Applied Economics Letters, Jan. 2017.
- Japan鈥檚 Aid: Lessons for Economic Growth, Development and Political Economy. Routledge, 2015.
- 鈥淪entiment toward Trading Partners and International Trade鈥 with Nobuyuki Kanazawa, Eastern Economic Journal, Vol. 39, 2013.
- 鈥淯nderstanding Subjective Well-Being across Countries: Economic, Cultural, and Institutional Factors鈥, International Review of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol. 5(1), 2013.
- 鈥淥fficial Development Assistance (ODA) and Conflict: A Case Study on Japanese ODA to Vietnam鈥, in Development Strategies, Identities, and Conflict in Asia, eds. William Ascher and Natalia Mirovitskaya, Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.
- 鈥淯nderstanding Attitudes toward Globalization at the Individual and National Level鈥, with Diya Mazumder, International Journal of Business, Humanities and Technology, Vol. 2, No. 1, January 2012.
- 鈥淭he Effects of Fiscal Policy: Evidence from a Panel VAR Using Short and Long-run Restrictions鈥, International Journal on GSTF Business Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, October 2011.
- 鈥淯nderstanding Unemployment across California Counties鈥, with Mark Rodini, Economic Inquiry, Vol. 40, 2002
- 鈥淎 VAR Approach to Growth Empirics: Korea鈥, with Yongbeom Kim, Ministry of Finance, Seoul, South Korea and Stephen Smith, George Washington University, Review of Development Economics, October 2001
- "Explaining Industry Labor Productivity Movements", Economic Inquiry, October 1998
- 鈥淩ecession and Recovery In California: 1990-1996鈥, Public Policy Institute of California, Background Report, 1998
- 鈥淛apan must give peace a new chance鈥, Asia Times Online, November 4, 2014
- 鈥淎 Report on the South Orange County Economy鈥, published by Coastal Chamber Legislative Coalition, 2006
- 鈥淓conomic Impact: A Report of the Impact of 博鱼体育 of America on the Local Economy鈥, joint with Nobumasa Hiroi and Humroy Lopez, a report partially funded by the Community Relations Department, 博鱼体育 of America, 2004
- 鈥淭oo Little, Too Late: Interest Rate Cuts, Stimulus Package Just Frosting on Cake When Economy Recovers鈥, The Orange County Register, December 18, 2001
- 鈥淥f Economic Interest: Federal Reserve Committee Should Act Quickly to End Interest Rate Yo-Yo Effect鈥, The Orange County Register, March 19, 2001
- 鈥淐hallenges of Growth: International Trade Makes California World鈥檚 Sixth Largest Economy鈥, The Orange County Register, October 24, 2000
- 鈥淩ating the Fed: It鈥檒l Fail the Country If It Continues to Force Interest Rates Higher鈥, The Orange County Register, June 23, 2000
- 鈥淭he 鈥楴ew Economy: Californians Will Remain in the Forefront as New Technologies Emerge鈥, The Orange County Register, April 20, 2000
- 鈥淚mmigrants and the Economy: Non-native Workers in California Help Keep State鈥檚 Economy Robust鈥, The Orange County Register, August 2, 1999
- 鈥淎 Strong California Economy: Rest of US Took Up Slack When Asian Markets Hit by Depression鈥, The Orange County Register, May 26, 1999
- 鈥淧roductivity vs. Inflation? It鈥檚 Possible for us to have Our Economic Cake and Eat It, Too鈥, The Orange County Register, May 13, 1999
Presentations
- 鈥淚nternational Business Cycles: On the Relative Importance of Common and Idiosyncratic Shocks鈥, European Economic and Finance Society, City, University of London, June 21-24, 2018.
- 鈥淭he Role of Exports in the East Asian Miracle鈥, Conference of Macroeconomists from Liberal Arts Colleges, Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina, August 1-3, 2017
- "Regional Trade Agreements and Their Impact on Exports in Japan, Korea and Singapore鈥, Western Economic Association International Biennial Pacific Rim Conference, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, March, January 7-10, 2016.
- 鈥淭he Role of Exports in the East Asian Miracle鈥, Asia Pacific Economic Association, Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand, July 11-12, 2014.
- 鈥淜orea鈥檚 Economic Development: The Importance of Demand, Supply and Export Shocks鈥, Korea and the World Economy XIII Conference, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea, June 21-22, 2014.
- 鈥淥n the Economic Effects of Japanese Official Development Assistance鈥, Western Economic Association International Biennial Pacific Rim Conference, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan, March 2013.
- 鈥淯nderstanding Subjective Well-Being across Countries: Economic, Cultural, and Institutional Factors鈥, Center for Economic Research on Economic Tendency Surveys (CIRET) Conference, Austrian Economic Chamber, Vienna, Austria, September 2012.
- 鈥淓conomic Ties and Their Influence on Perceptions of Foreign Governments: Evidence from International Survey Data鈥, Asia Pacific Economic Association, Singapore, June 2012.
- 鈥淭he Effects of Fiscal Policy: Evidence from a Panel VAR鈥, Micro and Macro Economics GSTF Conference, Singapore, July 2011.
- 鈥淲ho Cares About Globalization鈥, Global Studies Conference, Pusan, South Korea, June 2010.
- 鈥淥fficial Development Assistance (ODA) and Conflict: A Case Study on Japanese ODA to Vietnam鈥, Pacific Basin Research Center Workshop on Economic Development Strategies and Inter-Group Conflict, 博鱼体育 of America, Orange County, June 2009.
- 鈥淓conomic Update and Forecast for South Orange County鈥, 2 year project to develop an update and forecast publication and presentation for the South Orange County area, moderated by Supervisor Tom Wilson, sponsored by the Coastal Chamber Legislative Coalition (Consortium of local chamber of commerce groups), Surf and Sands Resort, Orange County, California, 2006.
- 鈥淯nderstanding Productivity Effects Across Industries鈥, Invited presentation at the Asian Development Bank, January, Manilla, Philippines, 2004
- 鈥淥range Country Economic Update and Projections: Where Will the Jobs Be?鈥, Orange County Career Link: Vision 20/20, professional development conference for high school career educators, counselors, and career professionals throughout Orange County, sponsored by Orange Coast College, February 2003
- 鈥2002 Forecast for the US and Orange County Economies鈥, at the Economic Update 2002, annual conference sponsored by the Irvine Chamber of Commerce, Irvine Marriot Hotel, January 2002
- 鈥淭he State of the California and Orange County Economy鈥 to California Staffing Professionals, Quarterly Membership Meeting, Irvine, Hyatt Hotel, California, October 2001
- 鈥淎 VAR Approach to Growth Empirics: Korea鈥, Economic Development Conference, Kennedy School, 1999, Cambridge; Western Economic Association Meetings, San Diego, 1999
- 鈥淩ecession and Recovery in California: 1990-1996鈥, Advisory Council and Board of Directors of the Public Policy Institute of California, San Francisco, 1997
- "Explaining Industry Labor Productivity Movements鈥, Western Economic Association Meetings, San Francisco, 1996, University of California at Davis, Department of Economics, Davis, 1996
- "Industry Productivity, Price, and Wage Dynamics for the United States and Other G7 Countries鈥, Western Economic Association Meetings, San Diego, 1995
- "The Effects of Aggregate Demand, Labor Supply, and Aggregate Supply Shocks Across 13 OECD Countries", Eastern Economic Association Meetings, New York, 1994
- "Aggregate Demand and Economic Growth: A Paper in the Spirit of Harrod and Domar", University of Maryland, Department of Economics, 1994
Reviewer
- American Economic Review, Applied Economics, Contemporary Economic Policy, Economic Systems, Eastern Economic Journal, International Journal of Comparative Sociology, Policy Sciences Review, Prentice Hall (textbook), The Social Science Journal, Social Science Quarterly
- Panelist at the Bucknell University Presidents Dinner, National Press Club, Washington, D.C., 2023
- Named to the OC500, Orange County Business Journal's Directory of Influence, 2021, 2022, 2023
- Secured a $200,000 grant from Orange County, via the American Rescue Plan Act, to enhance university facilities and programs, 2022
- Accepted SUA鈥檚 "Trusted Partner" recognition from the City of Aliso Viejo on behalf of the university, 2022
- Member of Board of Trustees, Soka International School, Malaysia, 2020-present
- American Council on Education (ACE) Institute for New Chief Academic Officers (CAOs) class of 2017-2018
- Best Conference Paper, Micro and Macro Economics GSTF Conference, Singapore, 2011
- Soka Gakkai Award, Daisaku Ikeda Medal, 2007
- Luis and Linda Nieves Family Foundation, member of the Board of Trustees, 2007-present
- Soka Education Award, 2000
- Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor, UC Berkeley,1992
- Graduate Minority Fellowship, UC Berkeley, 1989
- Graduate Opportunity Fellowship, UC Berkeley, 1988
- Dupey Award for Outstanding Scholarship, Yale University, 1988
- Magna Cum Laude, Yale University, 1988
- 2020-present, President, Chief Academic Officer, Professor of Economics, 博鱼体育 of America
- 2019-2020, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Chief Academic Officer, and Professor of Economics, 博鱼体育 of America, Aliso Viejo, CA
- 2017-2019, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Chief Academic Officer, and Professor of Economics, 博鱼体育 of America
- 2015-2017, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Chief Academic Officer, Dean of Faculty, and Professor of Economics, 博鱼体育 of America
- 2005-2015, Dean of Faculty and Professor of Economics, 博鱼体育 of America
- 1998-2005, Dean of Students and Professor of Economics, 博鱼体育 of America
- 1996-1998, Research Fellow, Public Policy Institute of California, San Francisco, CA
- 1997, 博鱼体育ing Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
- 1994-1996, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
- 1993-1994, Instructor, Department of Economics, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
- 1992, Lecturer, Department of Economics, Central European University, Prague, Czech Republic
- 1991, Lecturer, Department of Economics, University of Economics, Bratislava, Slovak Republic