“I am not here to tell my students what to think but to introduce them to what I call the way of thinking that economics provide” – Guest Professor Joni Seaton James Charles from Texas State University, US.

Professor Joni Seaton James Charles is an Associate Professor of Economics in the McCoy College of Business Administration at Texas State University. She graduated from Howard University and Purdue University. In addition to her work at the university she researches the field of groundwater governance and groundwater management, grassroots organization, collaborative partnerships, as well as participatory decision making on water-related issues. She visited Pforzheim University in the summer semester 2024 in order to teach the Bachelor’s course Introduction to Microeconomics.

Welcome to our campus, Joni and thank you very much for taking the time for an interview. You arrived in Pforzheim just a few days ago. Is this your first time over here?

It is my first time in Germany, but I have been to Europe before. I have some relatives in England, taught at a Swedish university and travelled to Paris as a tourist, for example.
  

When you first arrived here in Germany, did you notice any major differences as far as everyday life as well as life on campus are concerned?

Well, I've only been here a week, so I have little experience there. When I was driving from the airport, in some ways, I could have been anywhere. It could have been somewhere in the Midwest of the US for example. The landscape as well as the industrial areas I saw on the way to Pforzheim seemed similar to the landscape in the Midwest. I loved seeing the Black Forest – it’s beautiful.

I definitely noticed some differences in terms of the university system, especially the impact of tuition on student enrollment. The financial responsibility (tuition, fees, textbook expenses, etc.) that falls on students here is very different from the one in the US and vice versa. Also, I was surprised at how cheap meals for the students are here. And the fact that it seems like the whole university pauses for a lunch time period, whereas in the US you just grab whatever you can between classes and keep going.
 

Upon your arrival on campus what was your first impression of our school?

In some ways, it was a typical campus, you know, the way the students gathered outside and socialized with each other. I definitely noticed the size of campus. There are many buildings, but everything is so walkable. At Texas State University the campus is very spread out. We have an internal shuttle system to move students between classes and buildings.

I don't think a lot of students take the city busses at all at Texas State. Most students have their own private means of transportation or use the shuttles that apartment complexes provide as a convenience. Over here I have met a lot of my students taking the bus to and from campus and walking as well. I also had to learn my way around public transportation when I first got here.
 

Why did you decide to come here to Business School Pforzheim?

Actually, one of your professors who came to visit Texas State exposed me to your school. I invited him to speak in one of my environmental economics classes since he has had a lot of experience in the industry and with the subject of sustainability. The students enjoyed having him in class. He was able to take his whole industry experience and bring it down to their level. 

In casual conversation he told me about the way that students in Pforzheim are exposed to local industries, how they take a semester to intern or cooperate with them. And he invited me. Well, and I love teaching the classes that I do so being able to teach a course that I love to a different set of students sounded very attractive. I decided to follow up on his invitation and here I am.
  

You are teaching a course on Introduction to Microeconomics to our Bachelor students. What fascinates you most about that topic?

Introduction to Economics, or specifically introduction to microeconomics is usually a very fundamental basic level course. I love teaching the introductory level of economics and microeconomics, because it’s the groundwork of understanding economic concepts and terms.  I keep telling my students that I am not here to tell them what to think but I do think it's important to have what I call the way of thinking that economics provide so that whatever arguments you want to make or you hear, it's now possible for you to have an approach of thinking about those things. So I love to introduce students to economic concepts or economic terms. I think it will help them in all their courses across the business spectrum.

I also find it fascinating how useful those concepts and terms are in everyday life. How does the consumer make decisions? How about trade offs? And how comfortable are you with the trade offs that you're making? So it challenges me to think about my decisions as well. Are they made based on emotion or impulse? What are the consequences of my decisions?
 

Besides your work as a professor at the university, do you have any current research projects?

My research interest primarily lies in the field of water resource management, especially here in Texas, where we are facing increasing climate variability and more frequent drought periods. The legal aspects of groundwater use, such as the property rights to groundwater under the rule of capture, are particularly intriguing to me. As an economist, I study the social and economic impacts of these laws on community behavior and economic outcomes. My research involves conducting interviews with stakeholders and surveys to gauge public opinion on groundwater governance.
 

I understand that sustainability is important to you. At Pforzheim University, we also focus a lot on research and efforts in this field. Are there specific actions or behaviors you would recommend to our students to become more sustainable?

Students generally seem aware of their responsibility to take personal actions, whether it's related to water usage or the products they choose to buy. In my environmental economics class, I try various approaches each semester. One consistent method is inviting speakers from government agencies, nonprofits, and businesses to discuss their professional perspectives and how students can learn from them to change their behaviors. For instance, last semester, a local coffee shop owner popular among students spoke about running his business sustainably—using eco-friendly utensils, offering discounts for bringing reusable cups, and conserving water with efficient fixtures.

In some semesters, I structure my course as a service learning opportunity. This involves students working as a research team to assist local communities or organizations with sustainability or environmental challenges. For example, one semester, we examined how neighborhood lighting affects bird flight patterns and insect behavior, similar to the Dark Skies initiative. Students designed surveys to gauge community support for such efforts.

I'm passionate about teaching sustainability and integrating it into my classes, particularly focusing on water-related issues. For example, another semester, my class collaborated on a study to determine the economic impact of a natural swimming hole, Jacob's Well, in Central Texas. This involved assessing tourist spending and the environmental impact due to drought.

Teaching sustainability in these ways requires significant effort and engagement from both myself and my students. It's not always easy—some students may prefer traditional lectures and exams. However, these hands-on experiences challenge students to grow, especially in skills like interviewing and engaging with businesses, which are crucial for their future careers.

You mentioned earlier that you grew up in Bermuda. You also lived in DC, in the Midwest and now in Texas. How was it to move from an island to mainland US?

Growing up in Bermuda was wonderful. I still have family there, and I visited recently in March. My parents always emphasized traveling.

Moving to mainland US wasn't entirely new to me because my family often traveled to England and the US. When I attended Howard University in Washington, DC, I loved being in the nation's capital. Living there for four years was quite different from visiting, but I enjoyed the diverse experiences and learning to be independent.

Transitioning from DC to Purdue University in Indiana was a big change. Purdue is in the Midwest, which was very different from the cosmopolitan DC. West Lafayette, where Purdue is located, is even smaller, with lots of cornfields around. It was a major adjustment, but being in a quieter, smaller town was conducive to studying, especially since I was there for grad school.

When my husband got a job in Austin, Texas, known for its tech industry, I moved there too. Texas brought another set of adjustments, but I adapted, and here I am, adjusting to life in Texas.
 

Thank you very much, Joni, for this very interesting interview.

Texas State University is a public research university located in San Marcos, Texas. It was founded in 1899 and has since grown to become the fifth-largest university in Texas by enrollment. The university offers over 200 undergraduate and postgraduate programs through its nine colleges, including business, education, fine arts, health professions, liberal arts, science and engineering, graduate studies, and the Honors College.
Texas State is known for its picturesque campus situated along the San Marcos River and its commitment to providing a supportive learning environment for its diverse student body. The university emphasizes hands-on learning experiences, community engagement, and research opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students.