James Pritchett serves as the Executive Associate Dean in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Colorado State University. As a Land Grant economist, Pritchett’s interdisciplinary teaching, research and engagement activities include examining food systems, alternatives to ‘buy and dry’ agriculture water transfers, the economics of limited irrigation, the preferences that western households have for meeting future water needs and how ecology and economics might be combined to improve land management on ranches. Pritchett’s interests also include uncovering how innovative agricultural clusters are formed and how small and medium sized agribusiness can be more successful in today’s world.
James Pritchett teaches coursework in finance, business management and economics. Originally from southeastern Colorado, Dr. Pritchett attended Colorado State University and obtained a B.S. in Agricultural Business and an M.S in Agricultural Economics. Pritchett was awarded a doctorate in Agriculture and Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota in 1999, and then served as an Assistant Professor in Agricultural Economics at Purdue University before returning to Colorado State University in 2001.
Pritchett has partnered with CSU’s Agriculture Experiment Station, USDA’s National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the National Science Foundation, US-AID, the Colorado Corn Growers Administration, Ducks Unlimited, the Western Governors Association, Coca-Cola and other organizations interested in meeting water and agribusiness challenges. Pritchett’s efforts include experience in New Zealand, Mexico, Korea, Kenya, Peru, Russia, Afghanistan and China.