Philip I. Szmedra

  • Associate Professor
    Finance & Economics
  • Adjunct Lecturer
    Graduate Business Studies

I am Philip Szmedra and with the end of the Spring 2024 semester have completed my fifth year here at Gannon. I was promoted to Associate Teaching Professor during the Spring 2022 term and am very pleased about the promotion. I hold Professor Emeritus status at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) in Americus, GA where I taught economics from 2001 until 2019. Professor Emeritus means that I served with distinction for many years at my previous institution. It's like graduating Summa Cum Laude and I'm very proud of my Emeritus designation.

I have a BA degree in economics from Penn State University/University Park and MS and PhD degrees in Agricultural Economics from The University of Georgia in Athens, GA. After earning the PhD degree I worked as an economic analyst for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. for ten years; taking a leave of absence from USDA to join the U.S. Peace Corps as a volunteer working as an economist in the Ministry of Agriculture in Morocco for two years; I was a senior lecturer in economics at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji for four years which included extended periods of teaching in The Solomon Islands, the Kingdom of Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati, Nauru, and the Cook Islands, and spent the 2006-2007 academic year as a visiting professor at the American University in Bulgaria.

I was the director of study abroad at GSW and have traveled extensively throughout the world (visiting 63 countries at last count, including ten China excursions), with long term sojourns in Morocco, Fiji, and Bulgaria as mentioned above. While at GSW I arranged and accompanied students on sixteen study abroad programs including programs to Argentina, Bulgaria, China, El Salvador, France, Greece, Hungary, Nepal, and Romania. Please come and see me if you are interested in Peace Corps and/or in traveling and experiencing other cultures. I am beginning a research project this Fall 2024 semester with the cooperation of Gannon and Catholic Charities looking at refugee resettlement in Erie; basically, how well refugees are adapting to a new culture and a new way of life.

I am Philip Szmedra and with the end of the Spring 2024 semester have completed my fifth year here at Gannon. I was promoted to Associate Teaching Professor during the Spring 2022 term and am very pleased about the promotion. I hold Professor Emeritus status at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) in Americus, GA where I taught economics from 2001 until 2019. Professor Emeritus means that I served with distinction for many years at my previous institution. It's like graduating Summa Cum Laude and I'm very proud of my Emeritus designation.

I have a BA degree in economics from Penn State University/University Park and MS and PhD degrees in Agricultural Economics from The University of Georgia in Athens, GA. After earning the PhD degree I worked as an economic analyst for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. for ten years; taking a leave of absence from USDA to join the U.S. Peace Corps as a volunteer working as an economist in the Ministry of Agriculture in Morocco for two years; I was a senior lecturer in economics at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji for four years which included extended periods of teaching in The Solomon Islands, the Kingdom of Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati, Nauru, and the Cook Islands, and spent the 2006-2007 academic year as a visiting professor at the American University in Bulgaria.

I was the director of study abroad at GSW and have traveled extensively throughout the world (visiting 63 countries at last count, including ten China excursions), with long term sojourns in Morocco, Fiji, and Bulgaria as mentioned above. While at GSW I arranged and accompanied students on sixteen study abroad programs including programs to Argentina, Bulgaria, China, El Salvador, France, Greece, Hungary, Nepal, and Romania. Please come and see me if you are interested in Peace Corps and/or in traveling and experiencing other cultures. I am beginning a research project this Fall 2024 semester with the cooperation of Gannon and Catholic Charities looking at refugee resettlement in Erie; basically, how well refugees are adapting to a new culture and a new way of life.
  • Emeritus Professor of Economics status granted by Georgia Southwestern State University, March 2020.
  • Jane and Larry Comer Faculty Scholar 2016-2019. School of Business Administration, Georgia Southwestern State University.
  • Featured Scholar 2013-2014. Georgia Southwestern State University.
  • Vice President’s Award for Excellence in Research, Georgia Southwestern State University May 2010.
     

  • Emeritus Professor of Economics status granted by Georgia Southwestern State University, March 2020.
  • Jane and Larry Comer Faculty Scholar 2016-2019. School of Business Administration, Georgia Southwestern State University.
  • Featured Scholar 2013-2014. Georgia Southwestern State University.
  • Vice President’s Award for Excellence in Research, Georgia Southwestern State University May 2010.
  • Emeritus Professor of Economics status granted by Georgia Southwestern State University, March 2020.
  • Jane and Larry Comer Faculty Scholar 2016-2019. School of Business Administration, Georgia Southwestern State University.
  • Featured Scholar 2013-2014. Georgia Southwestern State University.
  • Vice President’s Award for Excellence in Research, Georgia Southwestern State University May 2010.
  • BCOR 111 Principles of Microeconomics
  • BCOR 112 Principles of Macroeconomics
  • HCMG 340 Healthcare Economics
  • BCOR 111 Principles of Microeconomics
  • BCOR 112 Principles of Macroeconomics
  • HCMG 340 Healthcare Economics
  • Ph.D. Agricultural Economics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
  • M.S. Agricultural Economics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
  • B.A. Economics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
  • Ph.D. Agricultural Economics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
  • M.S. Agricultural Economics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
  • B.A. Economics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
  • Economic Analyst, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Washington, D.C. 1986-1996
  • Economic Analyst, U.S. Peace Corps/Morocco, Ministry of Agriculture, Rabat, Morocco. 1990-1992.
  • Senior Lecturer, Department of Economics, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji. 1996-2000
  • Visiting Professor, Department of Economics, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg, PA. 2000-2001
  • Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Economics, American University in Bulgaria, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. 2006-2007.
  • Emeritus Professor, College of Business and Computing, Georgia Southwestern State University, Americus, GA. 2001-2019
  • Associate Teaching Professor, College of Engineering and Business, Gannon University, Erie, PA. 2019-present.
  • Ma, J., Wang, J., Szmedra, P. Does Environmental Innovation Improve Environmental Productivity? An Empirical Study Based on the Spatial Panel Data Model of Chinese Urban Agglomerations. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 6022.
  • Ma, J., Wang, J., Szmedra, P. Economic efficiency and its influencing factors of urban agglomeration – Analysis based on China’s top 10 urban agglomerations. Sustainability, 2019, 11(19), 5380 https://doi.org/10.3390/su11195380
  • Ma, J., Wang, J., Szmedra, P. Sustainable Competitive Position of Mobile Communication Companies: Comprehensive Perspectives of Insiders and Outsiders. Sustainability. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/7/1981/htm. April, 2019.
  • Szmedra, P.I., Chand, A. Prasad, M. DeTitta, T. Rozmus, C. Using Community Theater to improve diabetes education in Fiji. International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries. October 2018, Volume 38, Issue 4, pp 502–508. http://doi.org/10.1007/s13410-018-0610-9.
  • Szmedra, P.I. and Li, Z. Implementing a Healthy Cities plan in China: the impact of focused public health education on a diabetes epidemic. Southeast Review of Asian Studies, Volume 35 (2013): 230-240.
  • Szmedra, P.I. Using Community Theatre to promote diabetes education and prevention in Fiji. Diabetes Voice. Vol 58, No 1, April 2013. Pgs 22-25.
  • Szmedra, P.I. The negative health impacts of globalization: personal health responsibility and the epidemic of non-communicable disease in Pacific Island nations. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science. Vol 3. No 2, January, 2013. Pgs 1-11.
  • Szmedra, P.I., and K.L. Sharma. Anxiety and depression among diabetics in Samoa: Using health behaviour instruments to assess the linkage between mental health and chronic illness. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science. Vol 1. No 17. November 2011. Pgs 84-90.
  • Szmedra, P.I. The Conscientious Objector experience during the Vietnam War era. Chapter in America and the Vietnam War: Re-examining the Culture and History of a Generation, edited by A. Wiest, M.K. Barber, and G. Robins. Routledge. New York, NY, 2010.
  • Szmedra, P.I., K.L. Sharma, and C.L. Rozmus. Health promoting behavior among chronically ill Pacificans living with non-communicable disease in Fiji, Nauru, and Kiribati. Pacific Health Dialog 2009, Vol 15, No 2, pgs 55-65.
  • Szmedra, P.I., and K.L. Sharma. Monetizing the impact of lifestyle diseases in the developing world: The case of three Pacific island nations. Journal of Third World Studies (Vol XXIV, No.2, Fall, 2007, pgs. 45-61).
  • Szmedra, P.I., K.L. Sharma, and C.L. Rozmus. Differences in health promotion behavior among the chronically ill in three South Pacific island countries. Development in Practice 17(2), March, 2007, pgs. 291-300.
  • Ma, J., Wang, J., Szmedra, P. Does Environmental Innovation Improve Environmental Productivity? An Empirical Study Based on the Spatial Panel Data Model of Chinese Urban Agglomerations. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 6022.
  • Ma, J., Wang, J., Szmedra, P. Economic efficiency and its influencing factors of urban agglomeration – Analysis based on China’s top 10 urban agglomerations. Sustainability, 2019, 11(19), 5380 https://doi.org/10.3390/su11195380
  • Ma, J., Wang, J., Szmedra, P. Sustainable Competitive Position of Mobile Communication Companies: Comprehensive Perspectives of Insiders and Outsiders. Sustainability. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/7/1981/htm. April, 2019.
  • Szmedra, P.I., Chand, A. Prasad, M. DeTitta, T. Rozmus, C. Using Community Theater to improve diabetes education in Fiji. International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries. October 2018, Volume 38, Issue 4, pp 502–508. http://doi.org/10.1007/s13410-018-0610-9.
  • Szmedra, P.I. and Li, Z. Implementing a Healthy Cities plan in China: the impact of focused public health education on a diabetes epidemic. Southeast Review of Asian Studies, Volume 35 (2013): 230-240.
  • Szmedra, P.I. Using Community Theatre to promote diabetes education and prevention in Fiji. Diabetes Voice. Vol 58, No 1, April 2013. Pgs 22-25.
  • Szmedra, P.I. The negative health impacts of globalization: personal health responsibility and the epidemic of non-communicable disease in Pacific Island nations. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science. Vol 3. No 2, January, 2013. Pgs 1-11.
  • Szmedra, P.I., and K.L. Sharma. Anxiety and depression among diabetics in Samoa: Using health behaviour instruments to assess the linkage between mental health and chronic illness. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science. Vol 1. No 17. November 2011. Pgs 84-90.
  • Szmedra, P.I. The Conscientious Objector experience during the Vietnam War era. Chapter in America and the Vietnam War: Re-examining the Culture and History of a Generation, edited by A. Wiest, M.K. Barber, and G. Robins. Routledge. New York, NY, 2010.
  • Szmedra, P.I., K.L. Sharma, and C.L. Rozmus. Health promoting behavior among chronically ill Pacificans living with non-communicable disease in Fiji, Nauru, and Kiribati. Pacific Health Dialog 2009, Vol 15, No 2, pgs 55-65.
  • Szmedra, P.I., and K.L. Sharma. Monetizing the impact of lifestyle diseases in the developing world: The case of three Pacific island nations. Journal of Third World Studies (Vol XXIV, No.2, Fall, 2007, pgs. 45-61).
  • Szmedra, P.I., K.L. Sharma, and C.L. Rozmus. Differences in health promotion behavior among the chronically ill in three South Pacific island countries. Development in Practice 17(2), March, 2007, pgs. 291-300.
Philip I. Szmedra

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Office: CBI 314

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