David Swenson
Associate Scientist, Dept. of Economics
Iowa State University

Associate Scientist. Department of Economics, College of Agriculture, ISU (1989 to Present) Adjunct Assistant Professor. Department of Community and Regional Planning, ISU (1995 to Present) Adjunct Lecturer. Graduate Program in Urban and Regional Planning, The University of Iowa (2000 to Present) Lecturer. Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (IDEA), ISU (2007 to Present) Columnist. Insider Iowa (www.insiderIowa.com). I write a weekly Iowa Economy column.

I am a community economics research and education specialist at the Regional Capacity Analysis Program, Department of Economics, ISU. My work centers on community and statewide economic analysis and affiliated projects in support of the College of Agriculture’s efforts in community development and in extending economics education services to the public. Areas of research and specialization include community and regional industrial studies and evaluations, economic development research and technical assistance, input-output (economic impact) studies, fiscal impact research, public finance and tax policy analysis, community change and worker mobility issues, and public program and project evaluation.

My services are delivered to communities, citizens, public and private organizations and to local or state government via research reports, on-site training and education programming, community and staff educational curriculum development, frequent print and broadcast media interviews, and through seminars and public speaking appearances. I work in collaboration with and directly in support of all ISU and College of Agriculture economic outreach activities, to include ISU extension services and other university centers.

I annually teach an undergraduate planning course on research methods for the social sciences, and three graduate courses: economic analysis for government decision making (ISU), economic impact analysis (U of I), and community economic analysis and methods (IDEA).

I have won several awards as a scientist and researcher the most recent of which were: 2006 Award for Excellence in Economic Development Research, University Economic Development Association annual meeting, Savannah, Georgia, 2006; Iowa State University Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement in Extension or Professional Practice, Ames, Iowa. 2002; and the RUPRI/CPAN Outstanding Award for Modeling Innovation for 2000 Community Policy Analysis Network, North American Regional Science Association Meeting, 2001.

I have been a Regent’s employee since 1983. I have a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from The University of Iowa (1985), and a master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Political Science from the University of South Dakota (1981, 1979). I am an army veteran and a South Dakota native.