James Siodla

James Siodla(opens in new window), who graduated with a BA in Economics in December 2003, is an assistant professor in the Department of Economics at Colby College(opens in new window), a private liberal arts college in Waterville, Maine.  After graduation, he took a job as a real estate appraiser for the County of Tulare(opens in new window) in 2004.  He worked there until 2008 when he entered graduate school at UC Irvine(opens in new window). He earned his PhD in Economics in 2013 and he began his career at Colby College.  His research and teaching interests are in urban economics and U.S. economic history. 

"I credit my passion for economics, and my decision to pursue graduate school, to my time at Chico State," James said in a recent email.   "I decided to major in economics after a discussion with the chair of the department, Barney Hope, who convinced me that I should pursue an economics degree. I quickly found the discipline to be both relevant and intellectually satisfying, and I couldn't get enough! I am confident that, had it not been for my training and the wonderful faculty in economics, I would not be where I am today. I often draw on my experience at Chico State, where class sizes were small and student-faculty interaction was common. In many ways, I feel that my time at Chico State prepared me well for teaching at a liberal arts college. Overall, the Chico Experience played a large role in my life, one that comprised both intellectual and personal growth."  (Last Updated 1/27/19)