About Brenda Spotton Visano
Brenda Spotton Visano is a Professor in the School of Public Policy and Administration and the Department of Economics. In 2010 she was honoured by the Chancellor with the distinction of University Professor. She is a member of the Graduate Programs in Economics, Public Policy Administration & Law, Sociology, and Social & Political Thought. She teaches, researches and publishes in the areas of macroeconomics, monetary theory and policy, banking, and economic sociology. Dr. Spotton Visano has been a consultant to agencies of the Canadian Federal Government, the not-for-profit sector, labour organizations, and universities.
Research
Professor Spotton Visano's research uses interdisciplinary materials from economics, sociology, business and political science to examine comparatively the history and evolution of instability in financial institutions and markets. Her current research in microfinance and financial literacy focuses on the the way in which community-based financial arrangements in Canada's inner cities promote financial stability, local economic development, and financial inclusion. More broadly, she is interested in the preconditions for, evolution, transmission and impact of financial crises. She is particularly interested in the similarities between and differences among financial crises occurring at various stages of development in capitalist economies and how that instability shapes and is shaped by the distribution of wealth.
Teaching
Professor Spotton Visano is an award winning teacher--recipient of the University Wide Teaching Award (2001) and the the provincial OCUFA award for teaching excellence (2000). Undergraduate teaching interests include courses in Money and Banking, International Economics, and Economic Theory. Graduate teaching interests include seminars in Financial Crises, International Money and Economic Sociology. Graduate students under her supervision work on a variety of topics related to her research.
Service to the University and Other Communities
Professor Spotton Visano has been Chair of the York University Senate and Managing Editor of the Journal of Economic Asymmetries. She is a recipient of the Canadian Association of University Teachers Dedicated Service Award (2004). Other professional service contributions include/have included Chair of Atkinson Faculty Council; Chief Negotiator (YUFA); President of the Canadian Women Economists Network/Réseau de Femmes Économistes (CWEN/RFÉ); Chair of the joint CWEN/RFÉ-Canadian Economics Association committee surveying and examining the status of women economists in Canada; Executive Member of the Progressive Economics Forum; Associate Dean (Atkinson).
