Epstein's visit is part of the John William Pope Lecture Series through the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism in the College of Business and Behavioral Science.

Epstein is the James Parker Hall Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago Law School and is director of the university's law and economics program. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including "Takings," "Principles for a Free Society: Reconciling Individual Liberty with the Common Good" and "Overdose: How Excessive Government Regulation Stifles Pharmaceutical Innovation." He has published hundreds of articles on antitrust law, property rights, intellectual property, medical ethics, eminent domain, tort law, contracts, legal theory and constitutional history.

The Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism was founded in 2006 with a grant from the BB&T Charitable Foundation. The institute explores the moral, legal, constitutional, political and economic foundations of capitalism with a particular interest in fostering a serious examination of a free society.

For more information about the MBA program, visit www.grad.clemson.edu/programs/MBA.

For more information about a degree in economics, visit www.grad.clemson.edu/programs/Econ.

For more information about a degree in marketing, visit www.grad.clemson.edu/programs/Marketing.

Caron St. John, associate dean of the College of Business and Behavioral Science at Clemson University, has received the Dr. Charles Townes Individual Achievement Award for outstanding leadership, innovation and technological excellence in the Upstate community.

St. John is the founder and director of the Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Clemson and director of the MBA program.

The Dr. Charles Townes Individual Achievement Award honors an individual who exhibits a commitment to the advancement of technology and the Upstate community through technology-oriented contributions. Such contributions may be business, civic and/or educational in nature and must benefit the Upstate.

InnoVision is the premier awards program focused exclusively on celebrating achievements in innovation and technological excellence in the South Carolina Upstate region. The following 10 counties are in the South Carolina Upstate region: Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg and Union.

For more information about Clemson's graduate programs in the College of Business and Behavioral Science, visit http://business.clemson.edu/.

On August 21 Clemson economics alumni Kurt Rotthoff rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, signaling the start of trading. Rotthoff earned his Ph.D. in Applied Economics in May of this year, writing his dissertation under the supervision of Economics Professor Michael Maloney. This month he begins an appointment as Assistant Professor of Finance at Seton Hall University. While at Clemson, Rotthoff worked as a graduate instructor for the John E. Walker Department of Economics, and as a volunteer coach for the Clemson swim team. Earlier this summer, he served on the teaching staff of the American Institute on Political and Economic Systems, at Charles University in Prague. The bell-ringing ceremony stems from Rotthoff's participation in the NYSE Euronext Teachers Workshop Program, a five day program which provides educators with an enriched understanding of capital markets and institutions, in order to strengthen the teaching of courses on financial markets.

For more information about Clemson's graduate program in economics, visit http://www.grad.clemson.edu/programs/Econ/

Baier will move to Washington, D.C., this summer to serve the one- to two-year appointment. His work will include contributing to two of the council's major projects - a biannual economic forecast for the country and a yearly economic report for the president.

The CEA consists mostly of academic economists from outside the capitol who can provide a fresh, non-partisan perspective on economic events. The group of advisers is led by a chairman, who is a cabinet member; two members placed by Senate confirmation; seven senior economists; and a research staff. Baier is one of the seven appointed economists. Much of the CEA work involves providing the president and his cabinet background research on the impact and feasibility of any bill, project, event or topic.

Baier joined the John E. Walker Department of Economics at Clemson in 2001 after serving on the faculty of the Mendoza School of Business at Notre Dame University. He earned his Ph.D. from Michigan State University.

Rotthoff and Reed will be continuing the goal of introducing free market thinking to former communist countries by leading and developing discussion and activity sessions for over 100 students from more than 25 countries all over Eastern Europe. Dr. Yandle, Dean Emeritus of the College of Business and Behavioral Science, and a few additional professors, will be lecturing on topics varying from government interaction in markets to environmental economics.

The goal of this academic program is to help students understand the economic and political transitions taking place in their former communist countries.