Richard Vedder, who has taught in the Ohio University economics department for 45 years, retired from what he calls the greatest job in the world.
I loved my years at OU. I just had a ball
said Vedder, who is now 70 years old. It's the greatest job in the world. Of all the things I've done over the years the thing that probably most excited me is working with students and seeing them progress.
Vedder officially retired from full-time work 10 years ago, but then signed an agreement with the university that allowed him to teach one quarter per year until the age of 70, he said. At the end of Fall Quarter, that contract came to an end.
Vedder does, however, intend to continue working full-time conducting research and lecturing across the country.
Everything I was doing before will continue except the teaching at OU. ... I run a little think-tank in Washington D.C.
which also uses quite a few OU students here in Athens
Vedder said. ... The research center I do on college affordability has gotten a lot of national attention
so I will continue to run that mostly from Athens even though I have a small army of former OU students working for me in Washington full-time.
Although Vedder is now officially retired, he said that he might continue to teach if OU offers him another contract.
It's conceivable that I might continue teaching if I'm offered a good contract that continues to pay me more than slave wages
Vedder said. I haven't been offered such a contract yet. There is talk about it. I love teaching
I love students ... so that's a possibility.
Andrew Burnette, OU Student Senate's primary delegate to the Ohio Student Government Association, said Vedder's focus on helping students made him one of his favorite professors at OU.
His entire teaching philosophy is based on the student. If you go into his office hours for five minutes
one or two or three students will knock on his door
said Burnette, who has taken two courses with Vedder. ... He's probably helped more students than I've ever seen one professor do.
Rosemary Rossiter, chairwoman of the economics department, also cited Vedder's positive influence on students.
I think he had tremendous effect on a number of students
she said. He also has a distinguished research career
