Belk College professor named SRSA Fellow

Longtime Belk College of Business Professor of Financial Economics John Connaughton has been named a Southern Regional Science Association (SRSA) Fellow.

Connaughton, who joined the Belk College faculty in 1978, is one of only 32 scholars who have received the honor for lifetime achievement in regional analysis and only the second recipient from a North Carolina-based university.

Connaughton was officially inducted in April at the SRSA conference. The award was chosen by the SRSA Executive Council.

“I am tremendously honored to be recognized by the Southern Regional Science Association,” Connaughton said.

Connaughton is the founding director of the North Carolina Economic Forecast, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, providing invaluable economic information for North Carolina. He is frequently quoted in local and national publications, and his study on the superconducting super collider is cataloged in the Library of Congress.

SRSA is part of the Regional Science Association International (RSAI), which has a worldwide membership of over 3,000. SRSA focuses on the advancement of regional analysis and related spatial and areal studies.

Connaughton will release the third quarter North Carolina Economic Forecast with a virtual event on Sept. 22.