Beth Haynes
Initial Publication Date: November 17, 2012
Professor of Economics
Box 1956
College of Business, Computing & Government
Brigham Young University Hawaii
55-220 Kulanui St.
Laie, HI 96762
haynesb@byuh.edu
Phone:808-675-3587
Background Information
Beth is Professor of Economics at Brigham Young University Hawaii. She earned a Ph.D. at Purdue University in 1981 and was a faculty member at Coastal Carolina University for 12 years before moving to BYUH in 1994. Also she received Fulbright Senior Scholar grants to teach in Indonesia (Master of Management Program at University of Indonesia) and the PRC (American Studies Program at Shanghai International Studies University), and has been a visiting professor at Brigham Young University's Marriott School of Management and Christopher Newport University. Her research has focused primarily in two areas: non-market production and microentrepreneurial ventures in developing Asia. She has overseen research projects in 12 countries as diverse as Viet Nam, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Russia, Mongolia, Philippines, Fiji and New Zealand.Brigham Young University Hawaii has one of the most diverse student bodies in the U.S. Close to half of the student body is international with many coming from developing nations. The U.S. students come from diverse cultures. There is no racial/ethnic majority on campus. This creates a very rich learning environment, but also it is challenging to pull students from such different backgrounds together in a common learning experience that is relevant to all. An extreme example is the student who had never seen or touched money until he left his remote island hometown at the age of 19. How does a teacher make macroeconomic principles relevant to that student along with others in the same classroom from places like Tokyo, Xian and Kansas City? Figuring out how to maximize learning in a richly multi-cultural environment has become one of Beth's passions.