PH: (202) 895-4924
FX: (202) 895-4960
Office location:
Dunblane 203, Tenley Campus
B.A.,
DePauw University, 1965
M.A., The George Washington University, 1970
Ph.D., American University, 1986
Sue Headlee is a graduate of DePauw
University, a member school of the Washington Semester
Program. She taught in a historically black urban
high school in Washington in the 1960s. She earned
her Ph.D. in Economics at American University. Her
first college teaching job was at historically black
Howard University in Washington. She also taught
Economic History at the University of Maryland.
She has taught the Washington Semester in Economic
Policy for twenty years as an Assistant Professor
of Economics. She also teaches the Economic Policy
Research Project. She is the author of three books,
including The Cost of Being Female and A Year Inside
the Beltway: Making Economic Policy in Washington.
She has published three articles in journals, including
Feminist Economics and the Review of Black Political
Economy. Her current research interests lie in economic
development of Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Why did you go into Economics, Economic
Policy, and Political Economy?
After living in
Washington, DC for about ten years, I got interested
in politics and economic policy. I had a BA
in Literature and an MA in Education. So I decided
to do graduate work in Political Economy in
the Economics Department of American University.
What
do you like best about Washington, D.C.?
I
have lived here for almost forty years. I came
of age here. I have seen presidents and congresses
come and go. I came to know people who worked
at the World Bank, the IMF, and all kinds of
fascinating institutions here. I like how cosmopolitan
Washington is—people from everywhere live and
work here. The art galleries are great. Once
I lived next door to the Phillips Collection
and could see Renoir’s Boating Party any time
I wanted. We have great international restaurants
here.
What
do you love the most about teaching?
I
like interacting with students in class discussion
the best. What I like best about teaching in
the Washington Semester Program is debating
with the students on the Metro as we travel
to and from speakers and briefings in town.
I like getting to know the students in the eight-credit
seminar, which is possible because we are together
Mondays, Tuesday, and Wednesdays, both morning
and afternoon. We develop good chemistry as
a group.
How
do you think today’s students will meet the
leadership challenges of tomorrow?
Judging
from my own students over the years, I am optimist
about them being leaders in the future. I see
my students going into the professions. I believe
that after the semester in Washington, students
become better citizens and better voters in
our democracy.
What
advice would you give to a prospective Washington
Semester student?
Take
the leap. Come to Washington and change your
life! When I was in college, I had a semester
in Freiberg, Germany, and my life was never
the same. Go out and seize the day! There are
so many opportunities in Washington. You will
love it.
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