Department of Agricultural Economics

https://agecograds.tamu.edu/

Department Head: Rodolfo M. Nayga, Jr., PhD

Graduate Advisor: D. J. Leatham, PhD

The Department of Agricultural Economics engages people in the use of economic analysis for making decisions involving agribusiness (including food and fiber production, supplying inputs, processing products and marketing), natural resources and communities. The MS and PhD degrees in Agricultural Economics are now classified as Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) degrees.  The discipline has evolved to highly quantitative using mathematics and statistics to study real world complex agricultural, resource, and economic problems. Students are taught to develop their leadership, analytical and communication skills. Disciplinary research and graduate education enhance the use of economic principles and research methods in solving economic problems facing society. Applied research programs emphasize the analysis of business and public policy issues.

In planning a student’s program, the need for broad training, rather than narrow specialization, is recognized. Students (regardless of their primary interests) are encouraged to take not only advanced courses covering various fields within the department but also essential supporting courses in other departments. Students are expected to acquire a knowledge of economic theory, its application to contemporary agricultural production, agribusiness and resource problems, and the ability to employ analytical techniques in making policy and business decisions.

The teaching and research activities are grouped broadly as follows:  agribusiness (finance, marketing, management, and supply chain management), applied market analysis (behavioral economics, development, policy analysis, and  trade), and resource economics. The present and expanding program of research in the department affords the student a wide choice and capable guidance in thesis or dissertation research.

Master of Science (MS) and Master of Agribusiness (MAB) degrees are offered. MS students may choose between the thesis option (recommended for those students who plan to go on for further graduate studies) and the non-thesis option. Students who choose the MS non-thesis option take a greater number of courses. The Master of Agribusiness degree program is non-thesis, interdisciplinary and jointly administered by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Mays Business School. This professional curriculum is designed to provide a broad preparation for economic, financial and marketing analysis of agribusiness, food and fiber industry decisions.

The PhD program concentrates on the theory, quantitative tools and methodology required of the professional applied economist. Field areas offered within the PhD program include: Agribusiness,  Applied Market Analysis, and Resource and Environmental Economics.  A PhD in Agribusiness and Managerial Economics is also offered by the Intercollegiate Faculty of Agribusiness.  However, this program is being phased out and no new students will be admitted.

Baffoe-Bonnie, Anthony, Assistant Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, University of Georgia, 2018

Boadu, Frederick O, Professor
Agricultural Economics
JD, Georgia State University, 1988
PHD, University of Kentucky, 1981

Bryant, Henry, Research Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2003

Feldman, Paul, Assistant Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, University of California - San Diego, 2019

Garcia, Lucas, Instructional Assistant Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, Walden University, 2019

Ishdorj, Ariun, Associate Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, Iowa State University, 2008

Leatham, David J, Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, Perdue University, 1983

Lepper, Marissa B, Assistant Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, University of Pittsburgh, 2023

Li, Liqing, Assistant Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign, 2020
PHD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2020

Liu, Yong, Assistant Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, University of Guelph, 2019

McCarl, Bruce A, Senior Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, The Pennsylvania State University, 1973

Menzies III, Max D, Instructional Associate Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2017

Mjelde, James W, Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1985

Ng, Desmond W, Associate Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001

Nguyen, Ly, Instructional Assistant Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, Auburn University, 2016

Palma, Marco, Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, University of Florida, 2005

Park, John, Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, Texas A&M University, 1996

Peguero Perez, Felipe, Assistant Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, Louisiana State University, 2018

Price, Edwin C, Senior Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, University of Kentucky, 1973

Rister, M E, Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, Michigan State University, 1981

Rouhi Rad, Mani, Assistant Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, University of Illinois, 2017

Salin, Victoria S, Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, Purdue University, 1996

Senarath Dharmasena, Kalu A, Instructional Associate Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2010

Somogyi, Simon A., Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, University of Adelaide, Australia, 2011

Springfield III, Henry C, Professor of the Practice
Agricultural Economics
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2008

Thomas, Chrystol, Instructional Assistant Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, Texas A&M Univeristy, College Station, 2022
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2022

Vedenov, Dmitry, Associate Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, Ohio State University, 2001

Weber, Kaitlyn, Instructional Assistant Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, Kansas State University, 2022

Woodward, Richard T, Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, University of Wisconsin, 1997

Wu, Ximing, Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, University of California at Berkeley, 2003

Zapata Raudale, Samuel, Associate Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, Clemson University, 2012

Zhang, Yu, Professor
Agricultural Economics
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2010