About Me

Welcome to my professional website! In the various pages of this site you can find more information about my work as a research economist, an instructor, and the service and outreach activities I engage in. But first, a little about me... 

Currently I am a PhD Candidate in Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Missouri. It is there that I work for the McQuinn Center for Entreprenurial Leadership, an endowed research institute focused on understanding various topics related to entrepreneurial ventures, innovation, and organizational economics in agro-food systems. The Center is housed within the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources and is funded by a generous gift from Al and Mary Agnes McQuinn. I am honored to work along side Dr. Randall Westgren, our Director and Professor of Applied Economics, as well as fellow graduate researchers from the Division of Applied Social Sciences.

Today I am an organizational economist but I always joke that "in a previous life" I was an international development and trade economist. Prior to joining Mizzou I worked in positions focused on international trade, agricultural and rural community development, as well as in agribusiness education. My research for the past several years focuses on understanding collective entrepreneurial strategies and the evolution of organizational forms. I currently teach courses on agro-food systems, strategic management, and managerial economics. 

On a personal note, I grew up in Reno, Nevada where I also completed my undergraduate work. (Go Wolfpack!) I love travelling, which is always great as it lets me practice one or more of the six languages I speak, albeit to varying degrees of fluency. I am the proud dad of an English Pointer named Lizzie, who I enjoy taking on hikes.