Faculty & Staff
Dan Finn, Professor of Economics and Theology
Clemens Chair in Economics and the Liberal Arts
Office: Main 319, CSB
Phone: 320-363-3048
Degrees and Post Graduate Research/Study
Ph.D. University of Chicago, Religious Social Ethics
M.A. University of Chicago, Economics
B.S. St. John Fischer College, Mathematics
Teaching Areas/Interest
Ethics and Economics, History of Economic Thought, Economics and Philosophy
Research Areas/Interest
Morality and markets, Ethics and International Trade, Power in Catholic Social Thought
Personal Information
Dan is a serious bridge player, loves to work with wood, (he made his own kitchen table) and enjoys gardening.
Michael Hemesath, President Emeritus and Professor of Economics
Email: [email protected]
Degrees and Post Graduate Research/Study
Ph.D. Harvard University
B.S. Saint John's University
Teaching Areas/Interests
International Economics, Health Economics, Transition Economics
Research Areas/Interests
Economics of Education, Transition Economics, Health Economics
Personal Information
Spouse: Elizabeth Galbraith; three sons, Cameron, Sebastian and Alexander.
Samrat B. Kunwar, Assistant Professor of Economics
Office: Main 305
Phone: 320-363-5401
Degrees and Post-Graduate Research/Study
Ph.D. University of New Mexico
M.A. Florida International University
B.A. Coe College
Personal Website: https://sbkunwar.weebly.com
Teaching Areas/Interests
Microeconomics, Environmental Economics, Public Economics, Introductory Economics
Research Areas/Interests
Freshwater Management and Ecosystem Services, Conservation Policy, Survey Design, Environmental Valuation, Governance, Coupled Human-Nature Dynamics, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Quality of Life, Global Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) programs, Environmental Resiliency & Vulnerability
Personal Information
Samrat enjoys spending his time watching sports (particularly, English soccer), checking out local breweries and exploring the outdoors.
Louis Johnston, Professor of Economics
McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement
Office: Main 307, CSB
Phone: 320-262-5683
Degrees and Post-Graduate Research/Study
Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley
M.A. University of California, Berkeley
B.S. University of Minnesota
Personal website: www.louisjohnston.com
Teaching Areas/Interests
Macreconomics, Economic History, Economic Growth, Introductory Economics
Research Areas/Interests
Evolution of Minnesota's economy, U.S. output and productivity before 1930. Columnist in MinnPost. Contributor to textbooks: a. Robert Frank and Ben Bernanke, Principles of Economics, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2009 and 2012 (4th and 5th editions); b. Robert Frank and Ben Bernanke, Principles of Economics, Brief Edition McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2009 and 2011 (1st and 2nd editions).
Personal Information
Louis centers his life around his wife, Susan Riley (also a professor at CSB/SJU) and his children, Olivia and John. Besides family and economics, his passions are history, music (especially big band jazz) and trains.
Theresa Bauer, Visiting Instructor
(Starts August 31, 2020)
Sucharita Sinha Mukherjee, Professor of Economics and Department Chair
Office: Main 302, CSB
Phone: 320-363-5259
Degrees and Post Graduate Research Study
Ph.D. University of California, Riverside, USA
M. Phil. Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai, India.
M.S. University of Calcutta, Calcutta, India.
B.S. St. Xavier's College, Calcutta, India
Research Areas/Interests
Economic Development; Economics of Gender; Gender and Development; Asian Development; Pedagogies in Economics.
Personal Information
Loves to spend time with daughter (Ahona) and husband (Kingshuk) especially in travel. When not reading or watching movies or tracking politics and public policy on television or radio, loves to cook and try out new dishes.
Parker Wheatley, Professor of Economics
Office: Main 309, CSB
Phone: 320-363-5917
Degrees and Post-Graduate Research/Study
Ph.D. University of Minnesota
M.A. George Mason University
B.A. Sewanee-the University of the South
Teaching Areas/Interests
Introductory Economics, Market Structures and Firm Strategy, Industrial Organization and Public Policy, Financial Markets and Institutions, and Microeconomics Theory
Research Areas/Interests
Recent research has focused heavily on household decision and consumption among low-income communities. Other recent work includes study of the structure, pricing, and location of financial institutions that service low-income communities. Past research has focused on a variety of topics in U.S. agriculture, including the role of organic food and the internet in these markets.
Personal Information
Parker enjoys spending time with his wife and son - bowling, watching birds, and enjoying the great weather in Central Minnesota.
Yasin Arafat, Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics
Office: Main 315, CSB
Phone: 320-363-5385
Degrees and Post-Graduate Research/Study
Ph.D. Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, VA
M.A. Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, VA
B.S. North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Personal website: https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/myarafat/
Teaching Areas/Interests
Microeconomics; Labor Economics; Education Economics; Inequality; Welfare Economics; Introductory Economics
Research Areas/Interests
Yasin's broad area of research interest is Applied Economics. His current research agenda is at the intersection of Labor Economics and Welfare Economics. His work investigates the different factors of poverty and inequality, and the policies to fight them. Specifically, he is enthusiastic to work on inequality of opportunity and its effects on the labor market outcomes. Yasin is currently working on the role of quality education in reducing inequality. His area of interest also includes Development Economics and Experimental Economics.
Personal Information
In his free time, Yasin loves to study history, watch and play sports. He is a big fan of Bangladesh Cricket and Manchester United. Yasin loves to explore new places with his wife Rabita Reshmeen Banee.
Ashley Koshiol, Department Coordinator
Office: Main 303, CSB
Phone: 320-363-5484
Personal Information
Ashley started as the Department Coordinator for Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics and Psychology in the Fall of 2019. She previously held a position within CSB/SJU Human Resources for about 3.5 years before joining the Main Building Team. Ashley is a graduate of St. Cloud State University with a B.A. in English: Rhetorical and Applied Writing and a Minor in Business. She enjoys spending time up north at the cabin with her family, husband and two little girls.
Judy Shank, Clemens/Koch Coordinator
Office: Main 338, CSB
Phone: 320-363-5216
Personal Information
Judy Shank began working for the Clemens and Myers Chairs in October of 2000 upon returning to this area from Long Island, New York. She held that position until adding the Koch Chair in 2015. In 2018 Judy became the coordinator of the Clemens Chair, Economics Department, and part-time help for the Koch Chair. Judy is a Saint Benedicts High School graduate and graduate of the Minnesota School of Business. She lives in Waite Park with her husband Ron. She has 2 children (Kelly and Kevin) and 3 beautiful grandchildren (Brooke, Bentley and Brielle) who live in Texas with their parents Kelly and Lyn!
Meg Lewis, Professor Emerita of Economics
Degrees and Post-Graduate Research/Study
Ph.D. University of Maryland
M.A. University of Maryland
B.A. College of William and Mary
Personal Information
Meg retired in December of 2019. She enjoys working with stained and fused glass, reading, and just hanging out with husband David and her four-legged guys: Simon, Ellery, and Homer, in her home on the Mississippi River.
John Olson, Professor Emeritus of Economics
Degrees and Post-Graduate Research/Study
Ph.D. University of Rochester
M.A. University of Rochester
B.A. DePauw University
Personal Information
John retired in June 2017. John is an avid golfer which substitutes for his earlier more youthful exploits on the soccer and softball fields. Other interests include stamp collection and reading about economics, history, and politics.
Ernie Diedrich, Professor Emeritus of Economics
Degrees and Post Graduate Research Study
Ph.D. Colorado State University
M.I.M. American Graduate School of International Management
B.A. University of Cincinnati
Personal Information
Ernie retired in the spring of 2013. Ernie enjoys community work, politics, world music, and hiking in Colorado.
Joe Friedrich, Professor Emeritus of Economics
Degrees and Post Graduate Research Study
Visiting Scholar-London School of Economics
M.A. University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.A. Saint John's University
Personal Information
Joe retired in June 2009. He continues to research in the areas of public policy, especially health care and enjoys keeping in touch with former students and colleagues. He and his wife, Kathy, enjoy traveling, gardening, golfing, reading, and grandchildren.
Chuck Rambeck, Professor Emeritus of Economics
Degrees and Post-Graduate Research/Study
Ph.D. and B.A. University of Minnesota
Personal Information
Chuck Rambeck was a valued member of the economics department from 1975 until his retirement in the spring of 2011. He passed away in the fall of 2014, and his insights and personality are missed by his former colleagues and students.