Jevan Cherniwchan named inaugural Spencer Family Professor of Economics

Six decades of McMaster Economics community packed into the University Club on September 18^th to welcome the newest faculty member, and honour the family who made it possible.

By joining McMaster’s Economics department as professor this fall, Jevan Cherniwchan became not only the department’s newest faculty, but also the inaugural Spencer Family Professor of Economics.

The position was created due to the generosity of Byron and Flora Spencer, whose 2021 donation established the professorship.

“It’s an honour,” said Cherniwchan. “As the Spencer Family Professor of Economics, I hope to add to the already impressive legacy of scholarship Dr. Spencer has built, and I hope that I will make the Spencer family and the broader McMaster community proud to be associated with the work I do in the years to come.”

The event not only celebrated Cherniwchan’s position, but also recognized the importance of the role played by Byron and Flora Spencer, whose generous gift made the professorship possible.

Jeremiah Hurley, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and a fellow economics professor, thanked the Spencer family for their gift, which was made during the pandemic.

“Today is a much-delayed celebration and thank you. Byron and Flora made their generous gift in the midst of pandemic lockdowns when, for obvious reasons, a celebration event was not possible,” said Hurley.

“While this public thank you was delayed, the depth of our gratitude is in no way diminished. Indeed, it has only grown as we now know more concretely what the gift has made possible.”

Byron Spencer began his academic career with McMaster’s department of economics in 1966, while completing his doctorate at Rice University.

During his 51-year tenure, Spencer was critical in advancing scholarship in the department. He authored or contributed to 48 books and more than 100 research articles and working papers. Spencer also helped establish McMaster’s partnership with Statistics Canada, serving as the inaugural academic director of the Statistics Canada Research Data Centre at McMaster and, for some years, as the principal investigator of the Canadian Research Data Centre Network.

And more than 50 years after becoming involved with the McMaster community, Spencer is still playing a vital role in advancing the quality of research at the university.

“Thank you, Byron and Flora, for your generosity and for being such an important part of the McMaster community for nearly six decades,” said Hurley.