Nake M. Kamrany

Economic Expert and Economics Professor at USC for over 30 Years

Prof. Kamrany taught economics and law at USC, encouraging many students over the decades to pursue higher education. Prof. Kamrany was a popular professor, winning the Excellence in Teaching award in 1981 from the USC Associates.

Nake M. Kamrany, USC Economics professor and humanitarian, has died. He passed October 24, surrounded by family, at the age of 87 years old from complications of strokes. He was a resident of Pacific Palisades since 1964.

Kamrany taught at USC for over 30 years and was loved by his students. He was passionate about teaching and often encouraged his students to go after their PhDs. He often hosted luncheons and dinners for his students for years and years. And he never wanted to retire, he loved teaching so much. It was with great reluctance that he finally retired.

Kamrany was survived by his four children, Michael Shair Kamrany, Lilia (Lily) Kamrany- Jackson, Dennis Kamrany and Michelle Kamrany. He was the loving grandfather to Lisa Malous Kamrany, Brian Arya Kamrany, Matthew Scott Jackson and Sydney Katherine Jackson.

He is survived by a brother, Saleh Kamrany, and two sisters, Shaesta Qudrat and Aziza Yaqubi, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by four sisters and his parents.

He led his entire family to migrate to the United States, starting in 1963 and continuing for over 25 years. He encouraged them all to obtain higher education and leaves behind a well-loved family of doctors, lawyers, teachers and professionals.

Kamrany was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and came to this country to obtain an education. He obtained a scholarship to study in the United States. This was his life ambition he set in the eighth grade. He graduated high school among the top three students. He obtained a PhD in economics.

His plan was to go back to Afghanistan and build it up to the standards of Europeans and the United States. But he fell in love with the United States and stayed.

He graduated from UCLA with a BS decree, and enrolled at USC for the PhD program and completed it in two and a half years.

He began teaching at USC in the Department of Economics. He published numerous books, and scientific papers and articles, and co-authored many with his colleagues and students. He obtained a law degree.

He worked at the World Bank, MIT, Stanford, UCLA, United Nations and helped many third world countries with their economic development, such as Ghana, Lebanon, Jamaica, Sudan and many others in Africa.

He worked for the U.S. government. He also helped numerous people with immigration issues, so they too could come to this country and live a better life, and he worked as an economic expert. Kamrany has over 20 publications on the political economy of Afghanistan. His lifelong dream was to see Afghanistan stabilize and become a first world country.

When he wasn’t teaching, researching, traveling or writing, he spent time with his large, devoted family. He will be missed by those who knew him.

The funeral will be private, due to COVID-19. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to USC, The Economic Opportunity Fund, giveto.usc.edu.