The Economics Department faculty has been recognized for their excellence in teaching. With strong academic and professional experience, our professors are industry leaders and have been published in various journals, books and publications as well as presenters and lecturers for conferences nationally and internationally. More information about our professors can be found through the link on their name.
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Satis Devkota
Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics
Beacom Hall 326
(605) 677-6643
Satis.Devkota@usd.edu
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Emeriti Faculty
Ralph Brown is a Professor of Economics. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in 1970. Professor Brown is a long-time student of the South Dakota economy. He has written many articles and research reports on the South Dakota economy and regularly consults with state government and other groups. He is a member of the Governor's Council of Economic Advisors and has been since its inception. He specializes in labor economics, economic development and econometrics. He has been employed at USD since 1977.
Dennis A. Johnson taught as an economist in the School of Business for 35 years. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa and his M.B.A. from the University of South Dakota. Professor Johnson extensively consulted for the Bell system phone companies throughout his career and continues to consult for various law firms and economic analysts. Through his involvement in professional activities, Dr. Johnson chaired the Editorial Board of
The Journal of Economics. He also presided as president of the Missouri Valley Economic Association, and in the same year (1991) won the Belbas-Larson Award for teaching by a tenured faculty member. Dr. Johnson continues to teach in the
Honors program.
Jerry W. Johnson served as Dean of the School of Business at USD for 11 years, from 1990 to 2001. Prior to this service, he was Director of the School's Business Research Bureau. A specialist in macroeconomic modeling, Dr. Johnson taught courses for many years in the Economics department after receiving his Ph.D. from Iowa State University in 1971. He has also served on the corporate boards of several prominent firms in South Dakota, and has been widely recognized for his service to the state. Recently he completed a stint at the Congressional Budget Office in Washington, D.C. as a visiting expert.
Robert Reinke was a Professor of Economics and Executive Director of the SD Council on Economic Education. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and came to USD in August of 1987. His special areas of interest include economic education, environmental economics and business fundamentals. His hobbies include sailing, wood working and home remodeling.
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Raymond Ring
(605) 677-5455
ray.ring@usd.edu
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Raymond Ring received his B.S. from St. Benedict's College in 1967, his M.A. in 1973 and Ph.D. in 1980, both from the University of Kansas. He worked for the Illinois Bureau of the Budget and the U.S. Congress's Joint Committee on Taxation before coming to USD in 1978.
Professor Ring's major interests are economics of state and local governments and ethical and philosophical aspects of economics. He has done consulting and research for South Dakota's Legislative Research Council, Governor's Commission on Tax Fairness and Governmental Cost Effectiveness, Governor's Advisory Commission on Taxation and several private sector organizations. His several refereed publications in national journals include three in the National Tax Journal. Professor Ring served as Director of the University Honors Program from 1999 to 2001, and continues to be involved in undergraduate research. He and his wife have four children.
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Robert J. Tosterud
(605) 677-5455
btosteru@usd.edu |
Robert J. Tosterud is a Professor of Economics and Freeman Chair of Entrepreneurial Studies. He joined USD in 1991. Tosterud received his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in 1973. He believes that "The meaning of life is to add value to the lives of others."
Benno Wymar led USD student groups on the European Business Study Tour for over 30 summers during his tenure at the School of Business. Born in Hannover, Germany, Dr. Wymar grew up in Duesseldorf during WWII, from where he moved to the US in 1954. He came to USD in 1968 and completed his Ph.D. at the University of Nebraska in 1973. In addition to leading the study tour, Dr. Wymar taught numerous classes including international trade theory. He has worked and conducted research in such interesting and remote places as Saudi Arabia, Kenya (East Africa), Afghanistan and Japan. He continues to be active in campus life, organizing monthly International Forums for the University community.
