Bruce Larson Professor of Economics 152 Karpen Hall, CPO 2110 828.251.6562 blarson@unca.edu Dr. Larson joined the faculty of UNC Asheville in fall 1983 upon receiving his Ph.D. in economics from UNC-Chapel Hill. A microeconomist and historian of economic thought by education, he has taught a broad array of courses in economics and Humanities 124, 214, 324, and 414. He has a special affection for the principles of microeconomics, where additional perspectives emerge with each new group of students. Dr. Larson distributes a weekly email—The Invisible Forces—that summarizes and comments upon selected articles on economics with a broader perspective. You can learn more about it at: https://sites.google.com/site/brucedeanlarson/the-invisible-forces. Please let him know if you would like to receive it. Along with his teaching activities, Dr. Larson has served in a variety of administrative roles. From fall 1996 through spring 2004, he chaired the Department of Economics, and from fall 2004 through spring 2010, he directed the Center for Teaching and Learning. From spring 2010 to spring 2012, he chaired the SACSCOC Executive Committee, which guided the successful reaffirmation of accreditation of UNC Asheville. In this last year before his retirement, he is serving as the Coordinator of Academic Quality and Accountability and SACSCOC liaison for the University. Faculty governance activities have been an important part of Dr. Larson’s academic career, having been a member of the UNC Asheville Faculty Senate for five three-year terms. Beyond the university Dr. Larson has focused his activity on the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, where he has served in many capacities, including two years as the President of its Board of Trustees, six years on its Committee on Ministries, and three years on its Nominating Committee. He has been the convener of its monthly Peacemaking Potluck since March 2007. Dr. Larson shares his life with his wife Jean Larson, who is a gardener, lover of animals, and an environmental activist with an MSN from UNC-Chapel Hill. They have two, California-based children: Hope Larson, who is the author of graphic novels, most recently the adaptation and illustration of A Wrinkle in Time, and Will Larson, who is a managing engineer for Uber. Their animal friends include a bird, two cats, a dog, a llama, and a mule. He is looking forward to his retirement on June 30, 2015. Education B.A., Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison Ph.D., Economics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Courses Taught ECON 102 Principles of Microeconomics ECON 302 Intermediate Microeconomics ECON 306 Managerial Finance ECON 360 Mathematical Economics Professional Interests Dialogue and small-group practices in higher education, including polarity management Strength-based approaches to personal and organizational development, including appreciative inquiry positive psychology Traditions of economic thinking