Staff

Eddie Chavez - Program Associate; Analyzes the performance of USDA’s Farm Service Agency regarding their direct farm loan programs. echavez@uark.edu

Erin Cohen - Program Specialist; Student Relations and Recruitment Coordinator. Assists faculty in student recruitment and retention; serves as the representative for the department in student recruitment activities; assists in developing awards and in reporting scholarships and student fellowships; assists in conducting and reporting on research in teaching, student recruitment, retention, achievement and alumni relations. emyersc@uark.edu

Diana Danforth - Senior Program Associate; Software development and support for COTMAN[tm] cotton management expert system. Cotton research. Opinion survey research. SAS statistical package programming. ddanfort@uark.edu

Dr. Biswaranjan Das - Program Associate I; Maintain an active research program in Regional and Community Development and local public finance. Current projects include assisting in the development of a general equilibrium model of Arkansas' tax system and an analysis of changes in state and local economic structure 1980 - 2000. bdas@uark.edu

Melinda Dunlap - Administrative Assistant; typing, data entry, receptionist duties, develop monthly AEAB newsletter, maintain undergraduate spreadsheet and handbook. mdunlap@uark.edu

Alvaro Durand Morat - Program Associate; Analyzes the impacts of the EU CAP reforms on U.S. and global rice markets and analyzes the effects of biotechnology on the competitiveness of U.S. agriculture in global markets. adurand@uark.edu

Tridena Feaster - Systems Analyst; Computer and technical support to faculty/staff/students. tfeaster@uark.edu

Tonya Foster - Departmental Administrative Manager; Supervises office administrative personnel and assistant to the department head. trfoste@uark.edu

Sandy Hamm - Program Associate I; Analyzes the performance of USDA’s Farm Service Agency regarding their direct farm loan programs. shamm@uark.edu

Nathan Kemper - Program Associate; Analyzes the economic impacts of industries and policy on the region's economy using Input-Output analysis techniques with an emphasis on the agriculture, poultry, and water recreation industries. nkemper@uark.edu

Alicia Minden - Secretary II; Handles initial inquiries and correspondence about the Master’s program, tracks progress of current graduate students, maintains database on the MS graduates; assists with academic reports, questionnaires, class schedules; supervises student workers. aminden@uark.edu

Dianne Pittman - Program Associate; Data analysis and manipulations, web site design and maintenance, presentation design and assistance, general computer/technical support to faculty/staff/students. pittman@uark.edu

German Rodriguez - Program Associate; Analyzes the economics of investing in water conservation practices under declining ground water conditions. hrodrig@uark.edu

Jim Smartt - Program Associate; Software development and support. Projects include MARORA, COTMAN, and Basis Trader. Provides technical assistance for both hardware and software. jsmartt@uark.edu 

Trish Watkins - Accountant; Handles departmental budget purchases, travel, hourly wages, transfers and distribution changes. plwatki@uark.edu