Tracy Boyer

Dr. Tracy Boyer is a Professor in the School of Freshwater Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (since 2018), specializing in environmental economics. Her research focuses on valuing water-based amenities, climate change adaptation, and conservation policies in the Great Lakes region. Previously, she served as an Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics at Oklahoma State University for 15 years.

• Education: PhD in Applied Economics (University of Minnesota, 2003); MA in Public Affairs (Humphrey Institute, 1997); BA in International Relations (Stanford University, 1993).
• Key Research Areas: Recreation economics, soil/water conservation, producer behavior, and policy analysis.

Her recent work examines recreational values in Great Lakes parks and Indigenous water valuation frameworks. She collaborates extensively with natural resource agencies and publishes in journals like Journal of Environmental Management and Environmental Policy and Law.

Dr. Boyer’s research integrates economic modeling (e.g., discrete choice experiments, Bayesian analysis) with environmental data to address complex resource management challenges. Notable projects include cost-benefit analyses for irrigation development and frameworks for evaluating sediment reduction practices.