STEUBENVILLE, OHIO—Franciscan University of Steubenville announced the appointment of Dr. Stephen Lewarne as visiting professor of economics and finance. Lewarne will begin teaching on campus during the fall semester.

Lewarne brings over 30 years of distinguished experience in international economic policy, post-conflict reconstruction, and applied financial and development economics. His appointment reflects Franciscan University’s ongoing commitment to forming students who will lead with excellence, integrity, and faith in a rapidly changing world.

“I’m delighted to welcome Dr. Lewarne to Franciscan University,” said Douglas Perry, chair of the Department of Accounting, Business Administration, and Economics. “His deep background and commitment to economics grounded in free market principles coupled with his enthusiastic embrace of Catholic teaching will inspire the next generation of students and thinkers as we face a changing technological landscape.”

Before joining Franciscan, Lewarne served as a senior partner at Deloitte Consulting, where he led the applied economics practice within the firm’s international donor advisory portfolio. He previously held executive roles at AECOM International.

Over the past three decades, Lewarne has worked in some of the most complex and high-stakes geopolitical environments in the world. His public sector roles included leading post-war economic reconstruction efforts as head of economic reconstruction for the NATO-led force in Kosovo. He also served as chief economist for U.S. government reconstruction programs in Montenegro, Afghanistan, Iraq, South Sudan, and most recently, Ukraine.

In the early 1990s, Lewarne became the first monetary policy advisor to the newly independent central Asian republics following the fall of the Soviet Union, guiding the introduction of national currencies and early institutional reforms.

His additional work in international trade and development finance includes leading the U.S. trade team in the Philippines (2010–2015) and advising on the implementation of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (2004–2008).

Lewarne also brings a strong entrepreneurial background, having helped launch Western-backed investment ventures across the post-Soviet region.

Lewarne has taught courses in macroeconomics, microeconomics, mathematical economics, corporate finance, and money and banking at Indiana University, Bates College, the Moscow Financial Institute, and the American Institute for Business and Finance at Moscow State University.

He has published extensively on topics ranging from monetary policy in emerging markets and post-war economic recovery to fiscal policy in the Middle East and Africa, Russia’s oil and gas sector, and the global implications of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

“I have always known that God is in everything, especially in economics and the decisions it helps us undertake. I thus felt called to join Franciscan University of Steubenville to try to instill in students the skills necessary to join the fury of the public square as both devout Catholics and shrewd policy analysts. To not shy away from debates about our daily lives as if they are separate from our faith. Rather so they may engage in, listen to, and ultimately help change our political culture toward mercy and common sense,” Lewarne said.

A photo of Lewarne can be found here.