University News
Rao Memorial Services Jan. 8
January 8, 2016
MACOMB, IL – A memorial service for Western Illinois University Economics Professor Emeritus Vaman Rao will be held from 5-8 p.m. today (Friday, Jan. 8) at St. Patrick's Parish Center in Cedar Falls, IA. Rao, 82 passed away Jan. 5.
Rao joined Western's faculty in 1979 as an associate professor of economics and was promoted to professor in 1982. He retired in May 2005.
He had also served as a visiting professor of economics at such universities as Soochow, Feng Chia and National Chung Hshing, all in the Republic of China. During his tenure, Rao has also served as an instructor in the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Training Project in Tanzania. Prior to joining the WIU faculty, he taught economics at the University of Missouri-Rolla.
During his years in Western's economics department, Rao served as a principal investigator and project director for numerous state agency studies on economic impact. He was a well-known researcher in the areas of economic theory, economics of development and environmental and energy economics. Rao was the recipient of several honors including the Phi Kappa Phi Distinguished Lecturer, University Distinguished Professor, Distinguished Faculty Lecturer and many Faculty Excellence awards.
He was active in professional organizations and served as president of Midwest Economics Association and Association of Indian Economic Studies. Rao was also active in University governance, having served as the chair of the Faculty Senate, Graduate Council and many University committees and councils.
He is survived by his wife, Geetha, two daughters, four grandchildren and one brother.
Condolences may be sent to Geetha Rao, 4002 Alexis Blvd., Cedar Falls, IA 50613 or left at iowafuneralplanning.com/obituaries/dr-vaman-rao. Memorial contributions may be made in Rao's name to the Economics Department Scholarship Fund in care of the WIU Foundation.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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