Curriculum Vitae       

1120 15th Street, EB-1006
Dept of Health Management & Informatics
College of Allied Health Sciences
Georgia Regents University
Augusta, GA 30912
vheboyan [at] gru.edu
skype: vahe.heboyan
www.heboyan.com

Education

PhD, Applied Economics, The University of Georgia, 2011
 MS, Applied Economics, The University of Georgia, 2001
BS, Economics and Management, Armenian State Agrarian University, 1999

Professional Experience

Assistant Professor, Georgia Regents University, Dept. Health Management and Informatics, Augusta, GA, 2014 -present
  • Teaching:                Quantitative Methods in Health
  • Research:                Health and behavioral economics, economic evaluations, econometric applications

Post-doctoral Fellow | Health Economist, Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 2012 - 2014
  • Teaching: economic evaluation, health economics.
  • Research: health and behavioral economics, socio-economic and behavioral determinants of health, substance abuse economics, economic evaluations, impact assessment of policies and programs, efficiency analysis. 

Research Associate & Instructor. University of Georgia, Athens,GA, 2010–12
  • Teaching: AAEC 8020: Econometric Applications and Programming (Fall 2011); AAEC/ENVM 3020: Analysis of Agribusiness and Natural Resource Issues (Spring 2011)
  • Research: Microeconomics (agribusiness production and marketing, consumer economics, health economics, environmental economics, climate change); Macroeconomics international trade and policy, monetary economics); Economic/Community Development.

Research Assistant & Instructor. University of Georgia, Athens, GA,  2004-2010
  • Teaching: AAEC 4610 - Applied Econometrics
  • Research: International and Monetary Economics, Exchange Rate Dynamics, Development Economics.
  • Service: (i) Developed and led UGA Study Abroad program in International Business & Relations. (ii) co-Coordinated USDA-FAS Monitoring & Evaluation Initiative.

Instructor of Economics, Agribusiness Teaching Center, Armenian State Agrarian University, Armenia (Managed by Texas A&M University and established by USDA), 2001-2004
  • Teaching:  international trade, agricultural policy, introductory economics, futures and options.
  • Research: supervised and mentored research teams; implemented various market research studies aimed at market development and promotion of new agribusiness products and understanding consumer behavior.
  • Service: coordinated curriculum development activities, managed donor relations.
  • Grants: authored and received grants for research and education purposes.

Economic Development Specialist, USDA Marketing Assistance Project, Armenia, 2002-04
  • Designed, coordinated and implemented various marketing and rural development projects aimed at improving rural livelihoods and export capacity of local producers and agribusinesses.
  • Conducted project evaluation and market research; identified future development needs and strategies.
  • Managed and mentored marketing research teams, worked closely with private firms to effectively develop and promote new value-added products.
 
Research and Teaching Assistant, The University of Georgia, 1999-2001
  • Research areas: trade negotiations, agricultural trade policy, political economics, futures and options.
  • Teaching Assistant: AAEC 2580 – Applied Microeconomic Principles.

Teaching Experience

Course

Economic Evaluation *
Econometric Programming *  
Analysis of Agribusiness and Natural Resource Issues
International Business
Applied Econometrics
International Trade 
Microeconomics
Futures and Options (course module)


* graduate courses

Term

Spring 2013; Spring 2014
Fall 2011  
Spring 2011   
Summer 2007 
Fall 2005  
Spring 2002; Fall 2002; Fall 2003
Summer 2003
Fall 2001 

Enrollement

20; 13
21
27
8
14
28; 30; 29
37
28

Scholarly Activities

Working Papers

  • Heboyan, Vahé. “Estimating the Impact of 2010 Cigarette Tax on Cigarette Consumption in South Carolina.”
  • Heboyan, Vahé, Bergstrom, John C., Santos, Florence, Cordell, H. Ken. “Estimating the Effects of Natural Amenities on Future Rural Population Migration Patterns under Alternative Climate Change Scenarios.”
  • Vahé Heboyan, Daniel Sarpong, and Wojciech J. Florkowski. “Vegetable, Fruit and Peanut Product Expenditure in Urban Households in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case of Ghana.” 
  • Wojciech J. Florkowski, Vahé Heboyan, and Daniel Sarpong. "Consumer attitudes and preferences for peanut product attributes in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Evidence from Ghana."
  • Vahé Heboyan, Wojciech J. Florkowski, and Daniel Sarpong. “Consumer Attitudes and Preferences for Peanut Paste in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Ghana.”
  • Vahé Heboyan and Lewell F. Gunter. “Real Exchange Rate Determinants in Transition Economies: Do Investment Risk and Diaspora Play a Role?”

Work in Progress

  • Estimation of Hospital Efficiency in Turkey (with M. Mahmud Khan and Mustafa Said).
  • Vahé Heboyan, Andy Pope, Theresa Oniffrey, Louis Eubank, and Doug Outlaw. “Determinants of Preferences for Smoking Cessation Services: Case Study of the South Carolina’s LGBT Population.”
  • Vahé Heboyan, Andy Pope, Theresa Oniffrey, Louis Eubank, and Doug Outlaw. “Socio-Economic and Demographic Determinants of Smoking and Quitting Behavior among LGBT Population in South Carolina.”
  • Vahé Heboyan, M. Mahmud Khan, and Meifang Chen. “Determinants of Patient Satisfaction at Public Sector Health Facilities in Bangladesh.”
  • Economics of Time Allocation for Meal Preparation in the Sub-Saharan Africa: Results from Ghanaian Household Surveys (with Wojciech J. Florkowski).

Publications

  • Turner, P.R., Heboyan, V., Dick, V. & Atiles, J.H. “Assessing home energy use by low-income consumers before and after weatherization”. In Kathleen Parrott (Ed.), LINKing Home and People: Trains, Trolleys and Automobiles, Roanoke, VA, October 2012. Available at: http://www.housingeducators.org/MEMAREA/HERAMEMpastpapers.shtml.
  • Vahé Heboyan and Mayis Vanoyan. "Final Evaluation of the Armenia Small Scale Infrastructure Project (SSIP)." Evaluation Report for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), March 2012. Available at: http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pdact406.pdf 
  • H. Ken Cordell, Vahé Heboyan, Florence Santos, and John C. Bergstrom. "Natural amenities and rural population migration: a technical document supporting the Forest Service 2010 RPA Assessment". Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-146. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 2011. [ Link to website ]
  • Kelly, J., V. Heboyan, B. Rasulnia, G. Urquhart. “Progress in Immunization Information Systems - United States, 2008.” MMWR 2010;59(05):133-135, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5905a3.htm 
  • Vahé Heboyan. “Armenia” in The Handbook of Research on Asian Entrepreneurship, ed. Dana, L., Welpe, I., Han, M. and Ratten, V., UK: Edward Elgar, 2009. Available at: http://www.e-elgar.co.uk/bookentry_main.lasso?id=12939 .   
  • Vahé Heboyan and Lewell F. Gunter. “Exchange Rate Dynamics in Armenia: How Predictable are They?” Armenian Journal of Public Policy, 3(1): 33-52, March 2008.
  • Vahé Heboyan, Glenn C.W. Ames, and James E. Epperson. “U.S.-EU Banana War: Implications of Retaliatory Tariffs on Pecorino Cheese.” The Journal of Euromarketing, 11(3): 53-69, 2002.
  • Steven C. Turner and Vahé Heboyan. “Managing Price Risk in Cotton Production Using Strategic Rollover Hedging.” Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 33:3(December 2001):617.
  • Vahé Heboyan and Gerasim Davtyan. “Improving Agricultural Product Marketing and Farm Level Income Using Small Refrigerated Storages in Ararat Region.” Agrogitutyun, 3-4(547-548): 113-117, 2004. (Armenian with English abstract).
  • Vahé Heboyan. “Marketing Efficiency of Agricultural Products through Cooperatives.” Bulletin of Armenian State Agrarian University, 4: 156-159, Yerevan, Armenia, 2003.

Conference Presentations

  • Theresa Oniffrey*, Andy Pope, Vahé Heboyan, Louis Eubank, and Doug Outlaw. "Exploring Tobacco Use Among South Carolina’s LGBT Population." Accepted for presentation at the 2013 SC Public Health Association Annual Conference, Myrtle Beach, SC, May 22-24, 2013.
  • Turner*, P.R., Heboyan, V., Dick, V. & Atiles, J.H. “Assessing home energy use by low-income consumers before and after weatherization”. The 2012 National HERA Conference, Roanoke, VA, October 28 - 31, 2012. Available at: http://www.housingeducators.org/MEMAREA/HERAMEMpastpapers.shtml. 
  • Glenn C.W. Ames and Vahé Heboyan. “Frontiers of Research on Foreign Assistance and Food Security: Observations on the Global Agricultural Development Initiative, Feed the Future.” International Section Track Session, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Meetings, Seattle, WA, Aug 11-15, 2012.
  • Vahé Heboyan, Wojciech Florkowski, Daniel Sarpong, Anna Resurreccion, and Manjeet Chinnan. “Consumer Attitudes and Preferences for Peanut Paste in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Ghana.” Selected Paper presentation at the Southern Agricultural Economics Association Meetings, Birmingham, AL, February 4-7, 2012.
  • Wojciech J. Florkowski, Vahé Heboyan, and Daniel Sarpong. "Consumer attitudes and preferences for peanut product attributes in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Evidence from Ghana." 2011 Conference of the Food Distribution Research Society (FDRS), Portland, OR, October 15 – 19, 2011.
  • Vahé Heboyan, Daniel Sarpong, Wojciech J. Florkowski, A.V.A.R Resurreccion, and M.C. Chinnan. “Vegetable, Fruit and Peanut Product Expenditure in Urban Households in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case of Tamale, Ghana.” 2011 Congress of the European Association of Agricultural Economists, Zurich, Switzerland, August 30 – September 2, 2011.
  • Vahé Heboyan and Lewell F. Gunter. “Real Exchange Rate Determinants in Transition Economies: Do Investment Risk and Diaspora Play a Role?” Accepted for presentation at the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Meetings, Pittsburg, PA, July 24-26, 2011.
  • Ken Cordell, Vahé Heboyan, Florence Santos, and John Bergstrom. “Estimating and Projecting the Effects of Natural Amenities on Future Rural Population Migration Patterns Under Alternative Climate Change Scenarios.” Western Agricultural Economics Association Meetings, Banff, Canada, June 29 – July 1, 2011.
  • Vahé Heboyan, Janet Kelly, and Bobby Rasulnia. “Understanding Immunization Information Systems (IIS) Performance and Dynamics: A Different Way of Looking at IIS Data.” 44th National Immunization Conference, Atlanta, GA, April 19-22, 2010.
  • Vahé Heboyan. “Exchange Rate Dynamics and Macroeconomic Performance in Armenia.” AIPRG Annual Conference, The World Bank Headquarters, Washington, DC, May 17-18, 2008.
  • Vahé Heboyan, Orion Stavre, and Uthra Raghunathan. “Stahlbush Island Farms, Inc.: Innovation and Growth in Sustainable Food Products.”  Graduate Case Study Competition, American Agricultural Economics Association Meetings, Portland, OR, July 28-August 2, 2007.
  • Vahé Heboyan and Gayaneh Kyureghian. “Opening Armenia-Turkey Border: Measuring the Economic Impact.” International Food & Agribusiness Management Association Meetings, Montreux, Switzerland, June 12-15, 2004.
  • Vahé Heboyan, Gagik Sardaryan and Jeffrey Engels. “Consumer’s Attitudes and Preferences for Armenian Wines.” International Food & Agribusiness Management Association Meetings, Montreux, Switzerland, June 12-15, 2004.
  • Vahé Heboyan, Daniel J. Dunn, and John P. Nichols. “Establishing A New Undergraduate Agribusiness Program in the Caucasus: An Addition to the Curriculum of the Armenian Agricultural Academy.” American Agricultural Economics Association Meetings, Long Beach, CA, July 28-31, 2002.
  • Vahé Heboyan, Glenn C.W. Ames, Lewell F. Gunter, and Jack E. Houston. “U.S.-Mexico Sugar Dispute: Impact of NAFTA on the Sugar Market.” American Agricultural Economics Association Meetings, Chicago, IL, August 5-8, 2001.
  • Vahé Heboyan, Glenn C.W. Ames, and James E. Epperson. “U.S.-EU Banana War: Implications of Retaliatory Tariffs on Pecorino Cheese.” Southern Agricultural Economics Association Meetings, Fort Worth, TX, January 28-31, 2001.
  • Steven C. Turner and Vahé Heboyan. “Managing Price Risk in Cotton Production Using Strategic Rollover Hedging.” Southern Agricultural Economics Association Meetings, Fort Worth, TX, January 28-31, 2001.
  • Vahé Heboyan, Ecio F. Costa, and Yvonne Acheampong.  “Smithfield Foods, Inc.”  Graduate Case Study Competition, American Agricultural Economics Association Meetings, Tampa, FL, July 29-August 3, 2000.
  • Vahé Heboyan, Glenn C.W. Ames, and James E. Epperson. “U.S.-EU Banana Dispute: A Case Study of Retaliatory Tariffs on Pecorino Cheese.” 23rd West Indies Agricultural Economics Conference, Caribbean Agro-Economic Society, Nassau, The Bahamas, November 15-18, 2000.


* presenter 

Invited Presentations

  • Vahé Heboyan. “How to Apply and Succeed in American Graduate Schools.” Friday Seminar, Department of Agribusiness, Armenian State Agrarian University and International Center for Agribusiness Research and Education (ICARE), Yerevan, Armenia, December 2, 2011 [pdf].
  • Vahé Heboyan. “Economics and Public Health.” Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, November 15, 2011.
  • Vahé Heboyan. “20 Years of Economic Engagement: Rethinking Values and Approaches.” Annual Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) Conference, Washington, DC, February 28 - March 2, 2010 [Power Point    Link].
  • Vahé Heboyan. “The Role of Education in Economic Development.” Armenia Investor Conference, organized jointly by The World Bank and IMF, Plaza Hotel, New York City, NY, May 9-11, 2001.

Grants 

  • “Using a novel experimental approach with eye tracking to examine how different front-of-package labels influence parents selection of foods and beverages for their children.” ASPIRE Program, Office of the Vice President for Research, University of South Carolina, 2013-2014, PI: Dr. Christine Blake, $14,997 (Role: Lead Data Analyst).
  • Strategic Planning Workshop for Farm Credit Armenia.” Project extension, USDA FAS, $54,082 (with Rusty Brooks and Vicki McMaken), October 2008 (proposal development).
  • “Grant to Develop UGA Study Abroad in Armenia Program in International Business and Relations.” International Academic Program Development Fund (IAPDF), $3,938 (with Glenn Ames), January 2006 (Co-Principal).
  • Global Supplementary Grant for PhD research, Open Society Institute, $1,500, August 2004 (Principal).
  • “Establishment of a Career Placement and Counseling Office at the Armenian State Agrarian University.” The Eurasia Foundation, Cafesjian Family Foundation, and USDA, $52,382 (with Susanna Mezhlumyan), March 2003 (Co-Principal).
  • “Study Visit to Germany by Students of the Agribusiness Teaching Center.” Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD), $10,000 (with Susanna Mezhlumyan), March 2003 (Co-Principal).
  • “The Economics of Adoption of a New High-Protein Feed in Armenia: The Case of Cotton Seed Meal (CSM).” Research Grant. Foundation of Applied Research & Agribusiness/USDA MAP, $5,000, December 2002 (Principal).
  • Travel Grants, IAMA World Food & Agribusiness Forum and Symposium and AAEA annual meetings (Principal). Tampa, FL 2000; Netherlands 2002; Switzerland 2004; Providence, RI 2005.

Consulting

  • 2011 – present. International Development Consultant. Grant/project proposal development; monitoring and evaluation project and evaluation framework design; impact assessment of intl. development programs.
  • 2008-2010. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Program Evaluation Specialist, Atlanta, GA. Managed Immunization Information Systems Annual Report implementation and data quality analysis. Designed and conducted evaluation studies aimed at identifying efficient intervention strategies.
  • Center for Agribusiness and Rural Development (USDA FAS Implementing Partner). Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E): Developing Policy Framework and Guide, May-July, 2006
  • 2007-2010. Kentrik, Inc. Business Development Advisor for Infrastructure Investment & Development Projects, Eastern Europe and Caucasus.
  • 2004.  Country Consultant/Lead Researcher. World Bank. “A Comparative Study of Agrifood Chains in Moldova, Armenia, Georgia, Russia, and Ukraine” in The Dynamics of Vertical Coordination in Agrifood Chains in Eastern Europe and Central Asia ed. Johan F.M. Swinnen, The World Bank, 2005. Available at http://go.worldbank.org/DM53HP3RQ0, Jan-June 2004.

Honors and Awards

  • Outstanding PhD Student, Dept. of Ag. & Applied Economics, The University of Georgia, 2007
  • Claudia DePalma Davis Outstanding MS Student, Dept. of Ag. & Applied Economics, The University of Georgia, 2001
  • Rod F. Ziemer Outstanding MS Paper, Dept. of Ag. & Applied Economics, The University of Georgia, 2001
  • Graduate Assistantship, Dept. of Ag. & Applied Economics, The University of Georgia, 2004-08
  • Graduate Assistantship, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1999-2001
  • Graduated summa cum laude (Red Diploma), Armenian State Agrarian University, 1999
  • President, Armenian Club, The University of Georgia, 2000
  • President, Graduate Student Association, Dept. of Ag. & Applied Economics, The University of Georgia, 2000-01

Languages

  • Armenian (native)
  • English (near native)
  • Russian (near native)

Computer Skills

  • Econometric/Statistical Software: STATA, SAS, TSP, MATLAB, GAUSS, MICROFIT
  • Economic Modeling Software: GEMPACK w/ GTAP database, SimSIP SAM simulation
  • Geographic Information Systems: ArcView/Map GIS

References

Please contact me for a list of current references.
Copyright © 2014 Vahé Heboyan, PhD