Welcome to Ecological Economics in Arizona

Today is the first day of a new and innovative course, a partnership between the Business Department and Athletics.  Jerrell Ross Richer, professor of economics, and Rustin Nyce, head coach of the men’s and women’s cross country and track teams, are team-teaching a class called Ecological Economics in Arizona.

Here is how we described the course to the students:

Southeastern Arizona, a diverse and thriving region near the western end of America’s sunbelt, provides a beautiful setting for students to experience the intersection of land, people and economy.  The course examines how cultures and landscapes shape local economies, assessing their viability and resilience in an era of globalization and rapid change.

The course was designed for a select group of student athletes and scheduled during the month of June — the off-season for athletes who run cross country in the Fall and compete in track and field in the Spring and May terms.  Along with the learning objectives that are typical for cross-cultural immersion courses, we’ve added a focus on leadership and communication to help prepare this group to work as a team in the seasons to come.  More on this in the next post.