John R. Kimberly Distinguished Professor
Department of Economics
Lawrence University
210 Briggs Hall
(920) 993-6035
david.gerard at lawrence.edu
I am the John R. Kimberly Distinguished Professor in the department of economics. I have broad interests in risk regulation and public policy, with my research predominantly focusing on energy and environmental issues.
I came to Lawrence in 2009 after eight years at Carnegie Mellon University, six as executive director of the Center for the Study & Improvement of Regulation (CSIR). At Carnegie Mellon I taught courses in the Department of Social & Decision Sciences and for the masters program in Engineering & Technology Innovation Management (ETIM). I maintain a connection as an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Engineering & Public Policy.
In 2015 I received the Faculty Convocation Award for distinguished professional work, and gave a talk on climate change at that year’s Honors Convocation. I have several other talks available online, including at Grinnell College’s Rosenfield Symposium on corporate social responsibility, and a First-Year Studies’ lecture on Thomas Schelling’s Micromotives & Macrobehavior.
In Fall 2016 I was a Visiting Scholar at the Ostrom Workshop in Political Theory & Policy Analysis at Indiana University.
I was named to the John R. Kimberly Distinguished Professorship in the American Economic System beginning in 2016-17. The Kimberly-Clark corporation established the Chair in honor of its former CEO and director in 1977. I am the third professor to hold the Chair, following in the footsteps of Jim Dana and Marty Finkler.
In 2021, Lawrence University interviewed me on the snow-covered Main Hall Green.
I have a Ph.D. is in economics from the University of Illinois and a B.A. in American studies and economics from Grinnell College.