Cheryl Wachenheim, professor of agribusiness and applied economics, has been selected to give the 60th Faculty Lectureship, one of NDSU’s oldest and most prestigious awards. The honor recognizes excellence in teaching, scholarly achievement and service.
Her lecture, “Understanding Decision-Making Through Behavioral Economics,” is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday, May 5 in the Memorial Union Anishinaabe Theater. The presentation also will be available on Zoom. A reception is slated to follow in the Butte Lounge.
“I am honored to be selected to represent the amazing work of so many NDSU faculty in research, teaching, and service, and thankful for the supportive and encouraging environment offered by those who surround me here at NDSU,” Wachenheim said. “This is a great opportunity to share a small part of the fascinating world of agribusiness and economics.”
Wachenheim’s lecture will address at how cognitive, psychological, and social factors influence decision-making beyond that considered in classical economics. The audience will discover that economics can be fun for everyone. The presentation will look at how heuristics and other tools influence decision-making and investigate how applying behavioral nudges are used to motivate people towards social and personal goals.
Wachenheim has been at NDSU for 24 years. She teaches agricultural finance, agricultural sales, and principles of real estate. Her research focuses on farm and agribusiness firm decision-making, precision agriculture, and pedagogy. Wachenheim has been a member of the Army National Guard for 25 years and has deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Wachenheim has earned several awards during her time at NDSU, including the North Dakota State University Excellence in Mentoring Award, North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Distinguished Educator, USDA Excellence in Teaching Award, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Distinguished Teaching Award, Sloan Consortium Board of Director’s Award and Fulbright Distinguished Chair Scholarship.
She also has been awarded the Bronze Star and Army Combat Action Badge during her active-duty service in the Army National Guard.
Wachenheim holds an undergraduate degree in animal science from the University of Minnesota, and masters and doctorate degrees in agricultural economics and an MBA from Michigan State University.
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