Holy Cross College is thrilled to welcome Asalwe Edwige Lydie Tia to the College as an Assistant Professor of Economics. She is a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Guelph in the Department of Food, Agriculture, and Resource Economics. She holds a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics and International Development from the University of Guelph, a Master of Art in Economics from Fordham University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Agnes Scott College.
“I was born and raised in Burkina Faso (Western Africa) and then moved to Canada and then the United States for my post-secondary education,” said Tia. “As an economist, I get to use my analytical and technical skills to raise awareness about issues of critical importance such as poverty, food insecurity, and rising housing prices and their impact on human wellbeing and dignity.”
Career path
“My desire to bring about more inclusive economic systems has fueled my academic and professional pursuits. Currently, I study the impact of land use policy impact on housing affordability in the Greater Toronto Area. I have also collaborated with a research team to better understand issues of food security and water quality in First Nations communities in Canada. Beyond academia, I have engaged with communities in rural West Africa while working on a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded development project and evaluated social protection programs for the World Bank,” noted Tia.
Why Holy Cross College
“Providence,” commented Tia. “I always wanted to serve in an institution with a deep commitment to nurturing the intellect, but also the soul, and Holy Cross College does just that.”
Plans on campus
“I view this position at Holy Cross College as a unique opportunity to offer students a program which integrates the rigorous theories and insights of economics with the Church’s wisdom on the dignity of the human person. My goal is to establish an economics minor, and eventually major, that prepares students to be morally conscious economic agents who are active in promoting the common good,” said Tia.