Graduate Program

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Alumnus Profile: JunJie Wu, 1992

JunJie Wu, Emery N. Castle Professor of Resource and Rural Economics at Oregon State University. UConn Ph.D. 1992.

JunJie Wu’s exemplary career began as an undergraduate in at Henan Normal University in China where he completed his B.S. in mathematics in 1983. After continuing on to receive at graduate diploma in Business Economics in 1987 from Yellow River University in China, he continued on to UConn, where he earned a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics in 1992 and became one of UConn’s most renowned graduates.

Now the Emery N. Castle Professor of Resource and Rural Economics at Oregon State University, Dr. Wu’s research has focused on the balance between environmental and conservation policy, agricultural production and water quality, land use economics and policy, rural-urban interface, and economic geography.

As one of the premier environmental economists in the world working on the link between agriculture and the environment, Dr. Wu’s prolific research spans a variety of topics and he is regularly published in top academic journals. Well known for his research in developing models for analyzing factors that include spatial patterns of development, Dr. Wu applies his findings to the field by using his models to evaluate alternative land use policies.

The recipient of numerous research grants and awards, Dr. Wu is an associate editor of American Journal of Agricultural Economics and serves on the editorial council for the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Land Economics, and Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics.

Professor Wu, one of the world’s leading environmental economists, is among the most distinguished Ph.D. graduates from the department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at UConn.

Alumnus Profile: Ellen Shea, 1998

Ellen Shea attends CANR Career Night.

Facing the challenge of returning to college after a 5 year career as an X-Ray Technician and the birth of her children, Ellen Shea knew that she wanted something different. She began coursework at Manchester Community College found that she excelled in economics. “ I love economics, but I wanted to do something that I believed in,” she said. “I really take to heart what I do and Resource Economics combines economics with the management of natural resources-something I care about” After reentering college with coursework at MCC, she found that Uconn and the Resource Economics Department provided the individual attention to assist a returning student, and transferred to Storrs.

While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Ellen became interested in combining the Resource Economics program with courses in the sciences. “I took every science I could,” she says “from meteorology to geology to G.I.S. It is a benefit to understand the sciences in combination with the ARE degree. It really adds to your value as an employee.”

And, while her initial goal was to finish her coursework with a Bachelor of Science in Resource Economics, Ellen, under the guidance of former Resource Economics Department Head and Professor Emeritus Emilio Pagoulatos, decided to study for a Master’s Degree. “I’m not a mathematician,” she says “but I realized I was capable and had a lot of strength in analyzing data rather than developing it. Emilio saw a value in that skill set and guided me to get the Master’s.”

After graduation, Ellen began her career at The Hartford working in Environmental Claims. “ I provided investigation and cost/benefit analysis for large environmentally based claims,” she said. “And I knew that I wanted to diversify what I was doing. I took a chance and used my degree to carve out a position for myself working in catastrophe management”

Now working as Coordinator for Catastrophe Management at The Hartford, Ellen is responsible for the planning and coordination in handling catastrophes in which the Hartford has insured properties or structures. She helps to determine how the company will respond to an emergency and aids in seeking out the infrastructures that allow the company’s “Catastrophe Troopers” to get on the ground to assess damages and aid customers.

Because of her unique background, Ellen is able to use varying aspects of what she learned in the Resource Economics program. “When a catastrophe occurs, I use risk analysis tools such as G.I.S.mapping and satellite technology to pinpoint damaged areas,” she said. “During Hurricane Katrina, I used technology tools to estimate wind speeds, and then used economic principles to calculate potential damages.”

The devastation of Hurricane Katrina or the massive destruction of the recent California wildfires are examples of the large catastrophes that The Hartford must face. “No matter what the situation, getting to people proactively, contacting the insured and getting displaced people on their feet are our biggest priorities in a catastrophe,” she said. “You can never predict what is going to happen or when.”

The nonstop, 24 hour a day aspect of her work during a catastrophe makes her position demanding, but Ellen thrives on helping others and finding solutions to seemingly insurmountable problems.

She credits what she does to the support and education she had in the Resource Economics Department. “Because the program is small, the professors see what your strengths are and help you to succeed. It’s amazing the amount of support. They don’t let you fall through the cracks. Everyone I learned from was incredible.”