Jonathan Yoder

Jonathan Yoder is a distinguished Professor in the School of Economic Sciences at Washington State University (WSU), affiliated with the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS). He serves as Director of the State of Washington Water Research Center and has held leadership roles such as President of the Universities Council on Water Resources. His expertise spans environmental and natural resource economics, water law, wildfire economics, and health-economics integration.

Education includes a PhD in Economics from North Carolina State University (1999), an MS in Applied Economics from Montana State University (1994), and a BA in Biology and Journalism from Indiana University (1990). His research emphasizes policy-relevant solutions for sustainable development, including water resource management, livestock disease interventions, and climate adaptation.

Yoder’s work bridges economic theory and practical applications, such as analyzing irrigation efficiency impacts, wildfire suppression costs, and rabies eradication strategies. Notable contributions include the PNAS Cozzarelli Prize Finalist (2022) for linking chicken vaccination to child nutrition in Kenya and the Bruce Gardner Memorial Prize (2016) for Yakima Basin water policy analysis.

• Labs/Teams: State of Washington Water Research Center, One Health platforms integrating livestock and human health
• Grants/Advising: Extensive grant-funded research, with focus on interdisciplinary projects addressing global challenges like water scarcity and zoonotic diseases