Calling him "a terrific colleague who has taught us how to teach," Professor of Economics Frank Howland paid tribute to fellow econ professor Bert Barreto during a reception yesterday in Baxter Hall marking Barreto’s final days as one of the College’s most effective teachers. Barreto leaves Wabash after more than 20 years for a post at DePauw University.
"It’s very bittersweet—it’s very tough to go," Barreto told faculty/staff colleagues and students. "I’m going to miss everyone at Wabash—you guys are really wonderful people.
"I love my students, but I know, for me, it’s the right thing to do," said Barreto. "I have another 15 to 20 years, and I hope I can do some good things down there. I hope I can be a part of some good changes there, like happened here."
Holding up several books Barreto had written or co-authored, Howland said his friend and colleague had contributed "in many ways" to teaching and scholarship at Wabash.
"He’s taught two terrific all-college classes," Howland said, singling out Barreto’s "History of Economic Thought" course as "one of the few history of economic thought courses taught in the nation—it held up for study the humanistic end of economics.
"He’s taught law and economics courses, and with Professor Kay Widdows and I, Bert taught a generation of students how to use Microsoft Excel and how to solve optimization problems with it."
Most recently, Barreto and Howland co-authored Introductory Econometrics: Using Monte Carlo Simulation with Microsoft Excel, a groundbreaking book based on the course they team-taught at Wabash.
The 1995 recipient of the College’s McLain-McTurnan-Arnold Award for Excellence in Teaching, Barreto has also led the Opportunities to Learn About Business program at the College.
"He’s been a mentor to others in the department, and we’ve learned a great deal from him watching his interaction with students and his careful attention to detail," Howland said. "We hope to continue to learn from him, only from a little farther away."
Photos: Barreto (above, right) speaks to faculty, staff, and students gathered to wish him well; Howland (left) holds up one of Barreto's earlier books.