Tom Simpson

Dr. Simpson is now Professor Emeritus at University of North Carolina Wilmington. I am an economist who places great value in the tools of economic analysis and market processes. However, my greatest treasure is my relationship with Jesus Christ, which gives me life, hope, and meaning. I have come to realize that Jesus is all that he claimed to be'God and Savior. He is also pure love. My thoughts frequently turn to the hours and moments preceding the time when He would be savagely beaten and then consigned to the most excruciating death conceivable'on a cross. He was completely innocent, and did not have to undergo this extreme humiliation and physical suffering. However, He freely chose to do so out of His love for those of us who are not innocent'even for His tormentors. I now know that, by acknowledging and accepting this sacrifice, the wall that separates us from our Creator has been removed. This is the greatest truth, and, like all truth, it sets us free. No matter how hard I try, I cannot express my thoughts and feelings better than the lyrics of some songs and hymns. In particular, I am overwhelmed and brought to tears by the lyrics of Isaac Watts in his hymn, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (verses 1, 3, and 4): When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died, My greatest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. See, from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down; Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown? Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all. I have been blessed by the other great treasures in my life, especially; My precious wife, Cindy Our six wonderful children (Luke, Tom, Stephanie, Paul, Angela, and Andrew) Our four terrific grandchildren (Tyler, Jacob, Caitlin, and Jordan) I am also thankful for the best training in economics available'from the University of Chicago, where I received my Ph.D., and from the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, where I spent thirty years as a senior official working on monetary and financial policy issues. Along the way, I have had the privilege of pursuing research on various monetary and financial topics and publishing research findings. Now, I have the opportunity to share this knowledge with students in the Cameron School of Business at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. I also have the opportunity to lend my expertise to help other nations develop their central banks and make better informed monetary policy decisions'notably Iraq and Afghanistan.

My Life

Friends describe me

Cautious, analytical, reserved, reliable, slow, and deliberate

My hobbies

Studying the Bible, hanging out with my wife, keeping up with economic and financial developments, spoiling grandkids, and riding my Harley

Fantasy dinner guests

C.S. Lewis, Winston Churchill, and Mary Magdalene

Best advice I ever received

Put one foot in front of the other and keep going.

My undergrad alma mater

University of Minnesota--Golden Gophers

My worst subject in school

Literature

In college I drove

An ordinary Chevy

If I weren't a professor, I would

Be a motorcycle policeman.

Favorite books

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity; F.A. von Hayek, The Constitution of Liberty; William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar; Tony Dungy, Quiet Strength

Favorite movies

The Passion of the Christ; Remember the Titans; Saving Private Ryan

Favorite city

Rome

Favorite coffee

My special morning brew made with filtered water and carefully selected and freshly ground beans