Nicoară Olga

About

Olga Nicoară, born in the Republic of Moldova, is a remarkable economist who has built a brilliant career in the United States, becoming an Associate Professor in the Department of Business and Economics at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, starting in 2016. Holding a Ph.D. and an M.A. in Economics from George Mason University, as well as a B.Sc. in International Business and Economics from the Bucharest University of Economic Studies, she previously taught as a visiting assistant professor at Denison University. Her research focuses on development economics, post-communist economies, social change through culture, entrepreneurship, migration, and remittances, with notable publications in volumes such as the Oxford Handbook of Austrian Economics or Palgrave Macmillan, analyzing lessons from the collapse of communism and the role of culture in peaceful transitions, such as Estonia's Singing Revolution. At Ursinus College, Olga Nicoară teaches essential courses such as Macroeconomics, Development Economics, Senior Seminar in Economics, and an innovative study abroad program called "Economies in Transition," which includes travel to former communist countries like Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Romania. She co-directs the Economic Ambassadors program and integrates personal experiences from her childhood spent in Moldova, Russia, and Romania to illustrate economic concepts, offering students an authentic comparative perspective. Her previous collaborations include the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where she was a fellow and researcher, as well as the Centre for Institutional Analysis and Development in Bucharest, strengthening her expertise in Austrian political economy and market processes. With native fluency in Russian and Romanian, plus fluent English and French, Olga Nicoară exemplifies the resilience of Moldovan women in the international academic environment. Although details of her personal life remain private, her experiences in post-communist countries profoundly influence her teaching and research, promoting an understanding of the role of institutions and entrepreneurship in economic freedom. Her contributions inspire generations of students, demonstrating the impact of talent migration from Moldova on global education.