Boessen joins faculty

September 7, 2016
News

Dr. Christian BoessenChristian Boessen joined the economics department this fall as senior lecturer. He will divide his time equally between advising and teaching both sections of Econ 230 and one section of Econ 102.

He grew up on a row-crop and livestock farm in the hills and river bottoms along the Missouri River in central Missouri. The nearest town was Loose Creek, which, according to him, was a collection of “100 or so families of the most skeptical and hard-headed German descent.”

“Growing up, I loved all things outdoors by day and by night, reading about faraway places while also contemplating careers in piracy and the circus. I am still into all that.”  

When asked when he decided to study economics, Boessen answered, “I think coming of age in the boom and bust around the farm crisis of the 1980’s made me interested in understanding it. I majored in agricultural economics in the midst of all that. Given that background, I have always appreciated the power of economics to help us understand the world around us.”

Boessen’s strong suits and interests center on finance, management, and international development in the farm and agribusiness context. He’s had a finance-heavy career prior to coming to academia and has worked domestically and in developing countries in agribusiness and finance related positions and projects.  

Boessen comes from the University of Missouri, where he was a teaching associate professor for 11 years and where he received all three of his academic degrees in agricultural economics. His teaching there related to fundamentals of economics, finance, marketing and international agribusiness/food systems.

“I have always wanted to teach at the university level and I thoroughly enjoy it,” said Boessen. “A teaching position at a land grant university and one with the stature of Iowa State, provides an incredible opportunity to make a difference while using my background, skills and interests related to business, economics, food and agriculture.”   

“The ISU campus is at least as beautiful as the brochures report!  And the move to Ames has involved the smallest of cultural adjustments. Perhaps tops on the adjustment list is wondering if all these freakishly nice people are for real. The weather has been great and everyone tells me winter is ‘no big deal.’”

Outside of the classroom, Boessen enjoys cooking, charcuterie, foraging for wild edibles, reading, and travelling. He also loves watching independent, foreign, and alternative films. He hasn’t figured out where that regularly happens around Ames, and would appreciate any guidance he can get.  

 

 

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