In his 20 years at Boston University, professor Laurence Kotlikoff has done more than catapult a fledgling economics department into the top 10 in the country. The department chairman has also made friends and earned respect along the way – everyone from President emeritus John Silber to his students has something nice to say about Larry Kotlikoff.

The New Jersey native came to BU when the economics program was ranked 86th in the nation. Today, with Kotlikoff serving as chairman, the program ranks seventh and garners high praise in the academic community. Colleagues said Kotlikoff and his quest for more funds and quality faculty deserve credit for much of the transformation.

But for Kotlikoff, 53, the connection between economics and education stretches beyond BU. Much of his research examines the future of the economy, and he said he is concerned about the financial situations his two sons will face as they get older.

He spends most of his free time in Lexington with his family, skiing alongside them and teaching them new skills.

“I get a kick out of teaching my 6-year-old how to play chess and jamming with my 13-year-old – who plays guitar better then I do at this point,” he said from behind a desk lined with pictures of his wife (professional stage actress Dayle Vallentine) and his sons.

FROM REAGAN TO SILBER

“I think that Boston University’s economic program to a very large extent is the creation of professor Kotlikoff,” fellow economics professor Todd Idson said. Idson said he left a teaching post at Columbia University when he heard rave reviews of Kotlikoff’s department.

Professor and Economics Department Vice Chairman Michael Manove said he would attribute almost all of the department’s success to Kotlikoff, who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1973 and got his doctorate from Harvard University in 1977. Manove described Kotlikoff as an “entrepreneur.”

“He is a true believer in what he does,” he said.

With experiences both in the classroom (Kotlikoff had previously taught at the University of California at Los Angeles and Yale University) and in the real world (he served as a senior economist with President Ronald Reagan’s Council of Economic Advisors from 1981 to 1982), Kotlikoff accepted a teaching job at BU in 1984. Just three years later, he became the head of the Economics Department.

His goals were attracting top faculty who would focus on publishing in respected journals and strengthening the graduate program. Kotlikoff’s energy and willingness to approach difficult situations are the keys to his success, Manove said, citing Kotlikoff’s enthusiasm in pursuing funds from administrators.

Kotlikoff called the department “a jewel in the BU crown” and attributed its success to his outstanding faculty. As chairman, he said one of his greatest challenges is retaining faculty and maintaining the department’s quality.

“When I look around at the faculty, I am really proud,” he said. “I am constantly learning from them. They give outstanding lectures and have the ability to connect research to the real world.

“It’s a great thrill,” he continued, “because I can claim some responsibility and share some of the credit.”

He shares some of that credit not only with the faculty he praises but also with administrators – specifically Silber, President emeritus Jon Westling and Provost Dennis Berkey. Thanks to these men, he said, the economics program received the support that enabled the department to grow. Though he did not agree with all of Silber’s decisions, Kotlikoff said Silber took a personal interest in the department and understood that higher salaries were necessary to attract top economists.

“I have rave reviews of John Silber,” he said. “Because of him, we have this department.”

And the Silber-Kotlikoff admiration is a mutual one. In an interview last fall, Silber cited Kotlikoff as an example of how BU’s faculty has improved over the years.

“One of [Kotlikoff’s] greatest traits is that people believe in him,” Manove said. “John Silber believed in him, and that was very important because Silber was able to give us the funds … to build a great department.”

Good relations with administrators have benefited the Economics Department, and Kotlikoff was prepared to build a relationship with BU’s new president this year. Though he only met former President-elect Daniel Goldin briefly, he said the former NASA administrator had the ability to push the university in the right direction, and he was “disappointed” that the Board of Trustees rescinded their offer of the presidency in October. However, Kotlikoff said he retains faith in the board and BU’s direction.

SPREADING HIS WEALTH

Beyond BU, Kotlikoff has made valuable contributions to the financial and economic worlds, doing financial consulting for a number of governments, including Great Britain, Russia, Bolivia and Bulgaria. His own company, Economic Security Planning, creates financial planning software and offers it to all BU employees.

He has published a number of books, including The Coming Generational Storm, which he wrote with journalist Scott Burus and is due out next month. He also wrote the textbook BU uses in its intermediate macroeconomics class. A Fortune magazine article recently highlighted these accomplishments.

But his influence also stretches to where it is most important – the classroom. BU’s best professors can push students to use their full potential and learn beyond the confinements of a textbook, Kotlikoff said.

“Kids here at BU have no problem handling information,” he said. “To do our job right, we have to push students to their limit.”

Since he came to the university, Kotlikoff said he has seen the caliber of students increase as they’ve become more serious and developed a greater desire for a challenges.

Students like those in the “Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis” class he teaches Tuesdays and Thursdays describe Kotlikoff, who insists that top faculty teach introductory courses, in equally glowing terms.

“He’s a genius,” said School of Management freshman Chris Henderson.

“He seems like an intelligent man,” agreed College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Mehul Shah. “He knows what he’s talking about. He’s very knowledgeable about the economics.”

Beyond the classroom, Kotlikoff’s personality also ranks high.

“He’s very witty and a very clever fellow,” Manove said.

Idson also described Kotlikoff as a positive person to be around.

“In my opinion, he is an absolutely outstanding professor and economist. He’s a truly warm, compassionate person,” Idson said. “He’s an extremely nice, loveable person – a person you always want to have around you.”