Ovaska Named Paul J. Thomas Endowed Chair in Economics at YSU

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Tomi Ovaska, a professor of economics at Youngstown State University’s Lariccia School of Accounting and Finance, has been named the Paul J. Thomas endowed chair in economics.

“We are so appreciative of the Lariccia Family for the endowed professorship,” said Kelly Wilkinson, dean of the Williamson College of Business Administration. “Dr. Ovaska has plans to use this professorship to impact the college, university and the Mahoning Valley community in a variety of ways.”

Ovaska said he is honored by the appointment.

“This position not only recognizes the significant legacy of Paul J. Thomas in our community, but also emphasizes the critical role of economics education in understanding and shaping public policies and practices,” Ovaska said. “I am grateful to the Thomas family for their generous support and commitment to advancing education in economics and entrepreneurship. As I accept this role, I look forward to fostering an environment where research and education can thrive and make a lasting impact on our students and the broader community.”

Ovaska is a lieutenant in the Finnish Naval Reserve. He received his Master of Arts degree in political science from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, in 1997 and a Ph.D. in economics from West Virginia University in 2003. He has been a professor at YSU since 2007. 

Ovaska’s research interests include behavioral economics, comparative economic systems, entrepreneurship and life satisfaction. His awards and honors include the Distinguished Professor Award at YSU in 2014, 2019, 2020 and 2022; a Docenture in political economy at the University of Jyväskylä in 2020; and the Top Downloaded Paper Awards from the Economic Affairs journal in 2019 and 2021.

The endowed faculty position was created in honor of Valley businessman Paul J. Thomas through a $1.5 million donation by his daughters in 2018. Thomas, a Niles native, was vice president of Superior Industries and vice president of Easco Corp. He served on the boards of Ohio Bank Corp., McKinley Bank and WKBN-TV. He also was a trustee for many area nonprofit organizations, including the Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corp., the Mahoning County Library System and The Butler Institute of American Art.

Pictured at top: From left are Kelly Wilkinson, dean of the Williamson College of Business Administration; Tomi Ovaska, the Paul J. Thomas endowed chair in economics; and Kevin Ball, associate provost for Academic Programs and Planning.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.