Professor Randoms

By Beth Reilly
Collegian Staff
December 6, 2006

Full name and title: David Peter O’Brien, Adjunct Professor of Economics (Evening Division).

Birthday: Oct. 26.

What classes have you taught at La Salle? He has taught both Introduction to Macroeconomics: The U.S. in the Global Economy I and Introductory Microeconomics: Business Firm and Market Analysis I.

Do you teach at any other university? Professor O’Brien teaches adult professional education courses in real estate evaluation, money markets and capital markets at Burlington County College in New Jersey.

What is your favorite movie and why? His favorite movie is The Fugitive (the remake with Harrison Ford), because it shows a man who has lost all that is dear to him, has his life at stake and is against all odds, and he manages to overcome it all with his spirit, drive and intelligence. He said, “My wife and I love the movie so much we own a copy and can recite lines from it. I guess we don’t get out much?”

What is your favorite book or author? His favorite book is Jesus’ Plan for a New World, the Sermon on the Mount, by Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest.   

What do you like to do outside of the classroom? Most of O’Brien’s time is spent with his family outside of the classroom. He and his wife have three boys, Michael, Davis and Nicholas, and a Shih Tzu, Buddy. His second love is coaching and playing sports with his children, along with the other children in his neighborhood and in the township recreation program.

What’s your favorite thing about La Salle?  “Without a doubt, the strength of La Salle is the environment that fosters increased interaction between the teachers and students, the small school feel with many big school amenities,” he said. In a smaller school, he enjoys having the ability to get to know all of his students, and he hopes that La Salle continues this tradition since he believes it makes for a better educational experience.

Where is the most interesting place you have ever visited? He enjoys being in an empty Catholic Church. “It is complete peace, and you get a very special sense of being in God’s presence there,” O’Brien said.

reillyb1@lasalle.edu