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Thomas Johnson
Profile Frank Miller Professor of Agricultural Economics Director of the Community Policy Analysis Center I've been at the University of Missouri--Columbia since January 1997. Prior to that I was on the faculty of Virginia Tech for 15 years and the University of Saskatchewan for 3 years. In addition to teaching and research, I direct a university center called the Community Policy Analysis Center (CPAC). CPAC includes six permanent staff, 2 or 3 part time associates, and usually about 12 graduate and undergraduate students. We conduct research and outreach programs focused on the economic and social decision-making in small communities. We have projects in several communities in Missouri as well as communities in Ireland. If you would like to pursue an exciting graduate program in Agricultural Economics, Rural Sociology, Public Administration, or in a new program called Community Decision Support Systems, please e-mail me. Biography Johnson's research areas include rural economic development, fiscal and economic impact analysis, local government finance, and transportation economics. Dr. Johnson has studied the role of education, health care, infrastructure, and industrial development policies, in rural development in Canada, United States and Europe. He has published two books and more than 100 articles and chapters. Dr. Johnson has served on the Editorial Boards of the American and Southern Journals of Agricultural Economics, the Executive Council of the Southern Regional Science Association, the Advisory Board of America Runs on Local Roads, and numerous state and national committees and task forces. He is past-president of the Southern Regional Science Association. He has served as consultant to the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Governors' Association, the Government Finance Officers' Association, the Council of State Governments, the states of Missouri, New Jersey, Oregon State, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia, and the governments of Canada, Ireland and the Czech Republic. He is a member of the Academic Cabinet of the European Union Center at the University of Missouri and directs the EU Graduate Certificate Program. Projects The Community Policy Analysis Network Since the mid 1990s the Rural Policy Analysis Institute (RUPRI) has had a goal of creating a network of rural social scientists interested in creating better decision-making tools for the residents and leaders of rural communities. This effort has lead to the establishment of the Community Policy Analysis Network (CPAN), which now include about 45 members from 27 states. I am currently chair of CPAN. The network meets periodically to introduce new members and to facilitate the advance of the various decision-making tools in the CPAN toolkit. European Union Center at the University of Missouri-Columbia I am a member of the academic cabinet of the University's EU Center. The Center, one of 10 funded by the EU in the US, develops educational material and programs related to the institutions and policies of the EU. We held a very successful conference on EU and US rural policy in St. Louis in May 1999. John Hume the Nobel Peace Laureate from Northern Ireland was the keynote speaker. Saline County Project An excellent example of a CPAC project is the Saline County Project. This community-based project is an example of the kind of participatory action research that CPAC strives to undertake. The Saline County project is a collaborative effort of CPAC, the Center for Agricultural, Resource and Environmental Systems (CARES), University Outreach and Extension, and Saline County residents. It is also an example of Community Informatics. Be sure to take a look at Saline County Project's own web page. Teaching AG EC 8230 - Welfare and Consumption Economics Introduces welfare economic principles; application to problems of resource allocation. Appraises economic policies, programs; consumers' choice; measurement of consumption; living standards; household decisions and markets relation. AG EC 442 - Regional Economic Theory and Methods Introduces regional economic structure: social account, input-output model, and application to problems regarding affects of economic activities to single/multi regions. PA 8850 - Policies and Institutions of the European Union Provides an in-depth look at the institutions, policies and contemporary issues that shape the European Union. Develops an understanding of the institutional composition of the EU, how policies are made within this institutional framework, and how policies made at the supranational level impact on the member states. Covers the various policies which make up the three pillars upon which the EU rests. Personal Running I have been running seriously for about 9 years. I enjoy the social aspects of running as well as the occasional competition. I've raced at almost every distance from the mile to the marathon. I've competed in seven marathons including Boston (twice), New York, Marine Corp, Richmond (PB 3:10), Virginia Beach, and St. Louis. A high light was the one hundredth running of Boston in 1994. The greatest joy has been running with my kids, Harley and Jill. Both ran in college--Harley at Georgia Tech and Jill at Illinois. Genealogy I spend a few minutes most days working on my family tree. The internet is ideally suited to collecting and sharing information. I have about 2100 names in my genealogical data base, all related in some way. My known lines go back to the mid 17th century, and to many countries including England, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland. You can see my family tree is on line. My current genealogical research is focused on obtaining more information on a few key ancestors in order to solve some genealogical mysteries. In particular I need information on the Johnsons, Sabins and Sheldons, when they lived in the Eldora, Hardin County area of Iowa during the latter half of the 19th century. The parentage of my Great Great Grandmother, Mary Caroline Sabin is not yet settled. I am also trying to establish if my Great Great Great Great Grandfather William Darwin of London is related in some way to Charles Darwin. Contact 215A Middlebush Hall |
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