Professor Fleck has been a professor at Hollins since 1984. He received his B.A. at Eberhard-Karls University and his M.A. and Ph.D. at SUNY-Stony Brook. This semester he is teaching Principles of Macroeconomics (ECON 158), Public Finance (ECON 251) and Money, Credit and Banking (ECON 272).Â
If you could meet anyone living or dead who would it be and why?Â
Hard to say, but probably Albert Einstein. He was born not too far from my hometown and was pretty smart and—most importantly, he had the ability to think “outside the box” (a term that is overused, but an activity that is underused).
What is your favorite beer?
I do not have one favorite beer; that all depends on what mood I am at the moment. If I had to name one that is easily available here in Roanoke, it would be Becks Dark. But I also like Guinness (especially on draft) and Pilsner Urquell. Back in my old German neighborhood I like to drink Alpirsbacher Klosterbraeu.
What is your favorite group/song?
Again, that depends on the moment and whether I’d like to dance, just sit and relax, or sing along (though, some people wouldn’t call it singing). But if I had to pick a group in would be the Beatles. I do not think that any band (before or after) lives up to their standards. (I just hope this pick doesn’t show my age.)
If you had a million dollars how would you spend it?
Being German, I probably would save most of it. But I also would spend some of it to take my wife on a nice trip, as we both like to travel and there are many places around that world that we still would like to see.
What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever experienced?
Oh, there are lots of them, but I probably couldn’t mention them here. However, one time in Oxford, England, Wayne Markert had me tell my most embarrassing moment to one of his former Professors—and that was pretty funny—though I only told it after they swore to keep it a secret.
How did you meet your wife?
We both met in an international dormitory in Tuebingen, Germany, the university town we both studied in. She spoke German without a detectable dialect and when I finally asked her where she was from and she said “the USA,” I was exceedingly impressed.
How would you describe your self in three words?
Loyal, persevering, and strong-willed (though some would say stubborn).
Which super power would you like to have and why?
None—I probably couldn’t handle it anyway.