Provost Peggy Agouris sent the following message to the campus community on May 8, 2025. -Ed.

Dear colleagues,

I write to share that Dr. Will Hausman, Professor Emeritus of Economics, passed away on April 17.

Prof. Hausman’s generosity of time, intellect, and so much more made him a keystone of the Economics Department for decades. He was an exemplary teacher, scholar, leader, and colleague. 

Prof. Hausman earned a BA in Economics from William & Mary in 1971. During his time on campus, he had an expansive and diverse set of friends, with surprisingly few fellow Economics majors among them. From a young age, his interests were amazingly broad. He received his PhD in Economics from the University of Illinois in 1976. He began teaching at William & Mary in 1981 and was eventually appointed Chancellor Professor of Economics. 

Prof. Hausman loved his alma mater and attuned himself closely to college affairs. He was committed to melding excellence in teaching and scholarship. Prof. Hausman was particularly concerned about the student experience and was guided by what was best for students in his classroom and when taking positions on university policy. He taught many courses through the years, especially in statistics and in economic history. He also vigorously defended the role of the faculty in university governance as a faculty member and in his many service roles at the College. Prof. Hausman served multiple terms as Chair of the Economics Department and was also a faculty representative to the Board of Visitors.

With his research, Prof. Hausman made substantial contributions to both economic history and business history. He was proud of his role in founding the journal Enterprise & Society, which has now reached its 21st volume. His book Global Electrification (Cambridge University Press, 2008), was a highly acclaimed, comprehensive account of how multinational enterprises and international finances shaped the evolution of electrification across the globe that helped fuel the modern economy. Prof. Hausman kept economic history alive at William & Mary, making the College somewhat exceptional in routinely offering courses in both American and global economic history, with those courses routinely in high demand by students. 

Prof. Hausman was a stalwart member of the Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa and a dedicated contributor to all the chapter’s efforts. He served many years as the chapter’s treasurer. His participation in Alpha Chapter activities and leadership embodied both the Society’s emphasis on “jollity and mirth” and also its serious intellectual intent. 

Outside of academics, Prof. Hausman always showed tremendous compassion for family, friends, and his community. A memorial service for Prof. Hausman will be held on June 24 at 10:30 a.m. in the Wren Chapel.

Best,
Peggy