Agricultural & Resource Economics

AREc Professor Penny Diebel has been selected to receive the Western Agricultural Economics Association (WAEA) Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award (for those with 10 or more years of experience).  The purpose of the award is to recognize an association member who has made outstanding contributions to teaching (and related activities) during their career. Dr. Diebel works very closely with students in AREc. In addition to teaching a handful of courses, Dr. Diebel advises the Preparing & Exploring Agricultural Careers Club and the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association Quiz Bowl Team.

Students recognize the value of Dr. Diebel’s presence and efforts in AREc: “It is clear that the depth of knowledge and understanding possessed by Dr. Diebel regarding complex subject matter is great, but it is her ability to communicate these difficult ideas in a variety of ways that sets her apart. It reflects not just her superior knowledge, but her genuine interest in the welfare of all students.” (Quoted from a letter written by 3 undergraduate students in support of her nomination for this award.)

Beyond her teaching duties, Dr. Diebel explores research programs including studies on student preferences and views of distance education, student retention and recruitment, assessment of agribusiness and environmental resource student learning, and other teaching topics. In addition, she maintains several small research programs dealing with local topics including no-till/direct seed adoption, the economics of grass seed field burning alternatives, and other natural resource topics.

The award will be presented to Dr. Diebel at the Awards Luncheon on June 28^th, 2013 at the WAEA Annual Meeting in Monterey, CA.