Currently Dr. Stephens serves Tennessee Tech University as Professor of Economics and Interim Dean of the College of Business. In addition, he is the Director of the World Cultures and Business program and TTU coordinator of the Magellan Exchange Program. He holds the Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Tennessee and has 27 years of university teaching experience in the areas of international economics and economic development. His primary research areas of interest are in the relationship of structural adjustment policies of the IMF and economic performance of developing countries with a special emphasis on Latin America. He has also written on various aspects of Brazilian industrialization policies and the Brazil automotive industry. He lived in Brazil for 2 ½ years and has traveled extensively through Europe, Asia, and Australia.