Agricultural Economics
Esther George to speak at 50th James C. Snyder Memorial Lecture
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue University Department of Agricultural Economics is honored to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the James C. Snyder Memorial Lecture by welcoming Esther L. George, former president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, as this year’s guest speaker.
The lecture, which is free and open to the public, is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on April 4 in the Agriculture’s Deans Auditorium (Room 241), located in David C. Pfendler Hall, 715 Mitch Daniels Blvd.
“As economies evolve, they can alter well-worn paths and blaze new trails for businesses, households and policymakers alike,” says George. “Today’s economic landscape features notable adjustments, especially related to fiscal and monetary policies and technology. I’m honored to discuss these issues as we navigate this new era and consider what it means for the future.”
George’s lecture, “The Shifting Economic Landscape,” will explore the domestic and global dimensions of the current economic outlook and its implications for key industries like agriculture. With more than 40 years of experience at the Federal Reserve, including serving as a member of the Federal Open Market Committee (2011-2023) and leading efforts to modernize U.S. retail payments, including the establishment of the FedNow Service, she brings a wealth of knowledge on banking regulation, financial markets and economic policy.
Throughout her tenure at the Federal Reserve, George played a pivotal role in overseeing the stability of the nation’s financial system, hosting the Jackson Hole international Economic Policy Symposium and managing the Tenth Federal Reserve District, which serves seven states. She currently serves on the boards of the Hallmark Corporation, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Peterson Institute for International Economics, National Bureau of Economic Research, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and the Kansas City 2026 World Cup. Additionally, she continues to operate her family farm in northwest Missouri.
This milestone 50th annual lecture continues the tradition of bringing distinguished thought leaders in economics and business to Purdue University. The James C. Snyder Memorial Lecture was established in 1975 in honor of Dr. James C. Snyder, a respected Purdue professor whose pioneering research in agricultural economics and quantitative analysis left a lasting impact on the field. His contributions to education, industry and research continue to inspire generations of scholars and professionals.
For more information about the event, visit the James C. Snyder Memorial Lecture website or contact Tracy Buck at tbuck08@purdue.edu, 765-494-4191.
About Purdue Agriculture
Purdue University’s College of Agriculture is one of the world’s leading colleges of agricultural, food, life and natural resource sciences. The college is committed to preparing students to make a difference in whatever careers they pursue; stretching the frontiers of science to discover solutions to some of our most pressing global, regional and local challenges; and, through Purdue Extension and other engagement programs, educating the people of Indiana, the nation and the world to improve their lives and livelihoods. To learn more about Purdue Agriculture, visit this site.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 107,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 58,000 at our main campus in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its comprehensive urban expansion, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.
Writer: Morgan French, mmfrench@purdue.edu, 765-494-6999
Event contact: Tracy Buck, tbuck08@purdue.edu, 765-494-4191
Agricultural Communications: Maureen Manier, mmanier@purdue.edu, 765-494-8415
