September 25, 2013

Dr. Nazma Latif-Zaman

Dr. Nazma Latif-Zaman, an economics professor at Providence College for nearly 24 years, died June 8 after an illness.

A native of Bangladesh, Dr. Latif-Zaman was appointed assistant professor of economics in 1989 and promoted to associate professor in 1993. She taught Principles of Macroeconomics, Macroeconomic Analysis, Econometric Models, and The Economics of Developing Nations, her academic specialty and a subject on which she published internationally. She also taught in the Liberal Arts Honors Program.

From 1993-1996, she was director of PC’s Southeast Asian Scholarship Program, established for the benefit of Hmong, Cambodian, and Vietnamese youth in the Providence area whose families fled military conflict in southeast Asia.

Dr. Latif-Zaman was remembered by colleagues across academic disciplines for her academic expertise, soft-spoken nature, and willingness to assist in all projects, including speaking to their classes about Islamic art and her Muslim heritage. She was a sought-after member of many College committees, serving on the Faculty Senate and the Asian Studies Committee, among others.

She held master’s degrees from Williams College and Dhaka University in Bangladesh and a doctorate from Northeastern University.

A funeral and graveside service were held June 10 at the Islamic Center of New England in Sharon, Mass.