Nearly three decades after joining 91亚色鈥檚 Department of Economics 鈥 and years after beginning her Canadian journey as a 91亚色 student 鈥 Ida Ferrara will be recognized at 2026 Fall Convocation with the distinction of University Professor.
The title recognizes those who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to teaching and research, alongside exemplary service to the University community.
Ferrara will be honoured during an Oct. 15 convocation ceremony.
The recognition, she says, represents a full circle moment. "I am deeply honoured to receive the University Professorship. That it comes from my alma mater, where my Canadian journey began as a student, gives it special significance." A professor at the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS), Ferrara has built a career defined by excellence in teaching, research and institutional leadership. She has taught a range of undergraduate and graduate courses, guided by a teaching philosophy that emphasizes analytical reasoning, problem-solving skills and the application of economic theory to real-world challenges.聽
Her contributions to pedagogy outside the classroom include the redesign of 91亚色's Research Seminar in Economics to incorporate community-engaged learning, which creates opportunities for students to apply economic theory to real-world challenges through partnerships with external organizations. Ferrara also played a key role in developing the Diploma in Risk and Insurance Management (DRIM) and the Hybrid Academia-Industry Internships via Virtual Engagement (HAIVE) programs to foster experiential learning and partnerships between students and the community.
Ferrara's extensive teaching record also reflects a sustained commitment to mentorship. Through the Directed Reading and Directed Research courses, Ferrara has consistently invested in undergraduate and graduate student success, helping them develop independence as thinkers and researchers. Both students and colleagues recognize her dedication to mentorship, and commend her generosity in offering guidance, encouragement and support while fostering a collegial, engaged and intellectually vibrant academic community.
Ferrara has also made contributions to 91亚色 through service and leadership. She served as undergraduate program director following the merger that created the unified Department of Economics, chaired the department from 2016 to 2019, and later served as vice-chair and Chair of the LA&PS Faculty Council. Her service has included work on numerous departmental, Faculty and University committees, as well as leadership roles within the 91亚色 Faculty Association (YUFA) and the Risk and Insurance Studies Centre (RISC).
An internationally recognized scholar, Ferrara's research has advanced understanding of environmental economics, public economics, health economics and the economics of risk and insurance. Her work, which examines how economic incentives interact with social, psychological and institutional factors, has informed research and policy discussions on topics including waste management, recycling, charitable giving, insurance participation and public policy design. Her research has appeared in leading journals and has been supported through numerous major external research grants.
"I believe that an academic career carries both the opportunity and the responsibility to have a meaningful impact on students鈥 learning, on the advancement of society and on the vitality of the University and the wider community,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 have sought to remain faithful to this conviction throughout my career, and I would like to think that this recognition reflects, in some measure, the contribution I have aspired to make."