Advancing Economics, Transforming Lives

January 2009

Graduate Alumni Updates

We’d like to hear from you!  Post your update at: http://aec.msu.edu/alumniform2.cfm

The department does not release full addresses or email addresses of alumni unless the information is specifically included in the text of an update submitted for this publication.

Wilson Leite do Canto (MS 1972) has retired from his position as senior researcher for the Saõ Paulo State Government.  He lives in Saõ Paulo, Brazil. 

Tirso Paris (PhD 1979) is a professor in the Department of Economics in the College of Economics and Management (CEM) at the University of the Philippines, Los Baños. Paris, who served two terms as the Dean of the College, and in that capacity helped initiate a successful exchange program between UPLB and MSU, recently met Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics Associate Chairperson Scott Loveridge during his visit to CEM as part of a CEM review team. 

Howard Sigwele (MS 1982) writes, “I retired from the Government of Botswana (Ministry of Agriculture) and am undertaking several consultancies.  I completed my PhD in Agricultural Economics with the University of Pretoria, South Africa in 2007.  My thesis examined the effects of international trade liberalization on food security in Botswana.”

Alhaji Alieun Njie (MS 1983) from Banjul, The Gambia writes “I am now engaged in providing consulting services to a diverse group of clients covering government departments, NGO's and commercial banking Institutions.  I would like to renew contact with colleagues, faculty and alumni with a view to exploring ways of more beneficial cooperation. Would appreciate contact from all.”

La Verne Andrew Norman (MS 1983) is employed as a Coordinator by the MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology, in Traverse City Michigan, and lives in Beulah. 

James Boomgard (PhD 1983) has been selected as Chief Executive Officer of Development Alternatives Inc., effective January 1, 2009.  The decision was announced by Board Chair David H. Gunning, who addressed several hundred of DAI’s employee-owners at the company’s Bethesda, Maryland office. In making the announcement, Gunning paid tribute to Boomgard’s proven leadership skills and commitment to DAI’s long-held development mission.  Boomgard has extensive experience in both corporate and project management. Having managed development programs in Washington and overseas, he was named a DAI Vice President in 1998, became Chief Operating Officer in 2005, and was appointed President in September 2006. In addition to his MSU degree, he holds a B.A. in economics from Miami University, and completed the International Executive Program at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France. He and his wife, Mary, have two grown children, John and Elizabeth, and reside in Bethesda.

Jim Phillips (MS 1987) is President of Phillips International.  He writes, “I currently live in Tampa Florida with my wife Kim and our two kids.  I helped form a non profit Sierra Leone Village Partnerships, www.slvp.org. I just left the corporate world to work as an independent consultant primarily to do work in developing countries.”

James Lloyd (PhD 1989) has been named Associate Dean for Budget, Planning, and Institutional Research at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM).  In his new role, Lloyd, who is also jointly appointed as a faculty member with CVM and the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, will provide leadership for a complex $83M budget that increasingly relies on entrepreneurial and research activities. 

Mark Anibal (MS 1989) is President of Anibal & Company, P.C. in Okemos Michigan.  He lives in Mason, Michigan. 

George Dimithe (PhD 1997) writes, “Now based in Abuja, Nigeria, I am currently a Senior Policy Economist and the leader of a 24 million euros regional project aimed at facilitating the development of regional agricultural input markets in West Africa. Prior to that, I worked as a Policy Economist in the same project, primarily focusing on: 1) leading assessments of the structure, conduct and performance of national agricultural input markets throughout West Africa. 2) Providing technical assistance to the Regional Economic Organization of West Africa States (ECOWAS), the West Africa Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and their Member States in (a) developing a regional agricultural policy and strategies on agri-inputs markets related issues, (b) facilitating the setting up of national and regional regulatory frameworks governing seed, fertilizer and pesticides production and trade, and  (c) improving the VAT and tariff regimes applicable to agricultural inputs.  3) Providing technical assistance to a number of ministries of agriculture in West Africa in developing national policies and strategies for promoting fertilizer marketing and use.