Q&A: SC State professor says current events give students relevance in economics instruction
Dr. Cynthia N'Dede Hourizene is the SC State Professor of the Year in the College of Business and Information Systems.
As an assistant professor of economics at South Carolina State University, N’Dede Hourizene applies that curiosity to both research and instruction.
Hailing from Cote d'Ivoire (the Ivory Coast), she earned her Master of Science in Agricultural Economics in 2009 and her Ph.D. in applied economics in 2016, both from Auburn University in Alabama.
After joining SC State in 2017 as a research associate in the Department of Economics, she taught at the adjunct level and eventually rose to the rank of assistant professor.
University Relations recently asked N’Dede Hourizene a series of questions about her path toward becoming the 2023-24 Professor of the Year for SC State’s College of Business and Information Systems.
Q: What has inspired you during your journey as an academic?
N’Dede Hourizene: One of my biggest inspirations in academia has always been Dr. Curtis Jolly, Professor Emeritus of Economics at Auburn University. First, he is an excellent teacher. I am always impressed by his ability to break down very difficult concepts into small, digestible bites of knowledge with the use of very relatable examples. Second, he is an active researcher with over 150 publications (many of which are in prestigious journals) and 6000+ citations. Dr. Jolly has always been a guiding light for me in life and in academia.
Q: What led you to choose your field of study?
N’Dede Hourizene: Economics is a part of everyday life and the access to the future. Coming from a low-income country, where the agriculture sector is a pillar of the economy, I have always wanted to learn more, bring about innovation in it and be an agent of economic development. I found that studying economics could help me achieve this goal.
Q: How would you describe your teaching philosophy?
N’Dede Hourizene: I believe that one of the best ways to make courses relevant is the inclusion of current events in class discussions whenever possible. This allows students to see how what they learn in class is in operation in the real world. In addition, providing a classroom environment where there is student to student interaction and student-teacher interaction is important to me. I like a classroom where students enjoy their learning experience; they feel integrated; they are encouraged to express themselves, their own ideas and enjoy their learning experience. Many students are grateful to be in a class where they feel as they are part of a big family, and where everyone’s idea is listened and discussed respectfully, equally.
Q: What drives you as a teacher and/or researcher?
N’Dede Hourizene: Economics is ultimately a very “hands-on” and practical field. The concepts taught in it are seen and experienced everyday. Being able to lead my students to the understanding that economics, although dreaded by most, is essentially a discipline of “what they already know” using formal tools such as mathematics provides me with great fulfillment. I am truly passionate about taking my student to “light bulb” moments as I teach them.
With regards to research, I find it thrilling to engage in the process of formulating relevant research questions and empirically finding appropriate answers. This is especially true because economics is very practical as aforementioned. This means that economic research has the potential impact lives (on the micro and macro levels) for the better.
Q: What in your career are you most proud of?
N’Dede Hourizene: Getting the Ph.D. in Economics is one of the proudest moments in my career. I come from a family of educated individuals; however, I am the first person (and only so far) to have obtained a terminal degree. The pride I feel for this achievement is mostly due to my parents who have worked tirelessly to send me to school in order to “give me a future”. In a nutshell, I am proud to have made them proud.
Q: What has been your most exciting or valuable experience in your career at SC State?
N’Dede Hourizene: I first came to SC State as a member of the research team led by Dr. David Karemera for a $400,000+ grant funded by USDA/NIFA. As a fresh graduate, I had never worked on such grant prior to this. The few years of collaboration with Dr. Karemera were very valuable in terms of experience and personal growth. I was able to learn a lot by his side and deepen my understanding of the topics we did research on.