Bowles both teacher and farmer
Tyler Bowles, professor, strives to keep a light atmosphere in his class and enjoys getting to know students through department advising.
“For the last three or four years, I have taught large sections, 275 students, of Introduction to Economic History and Principle Institutions … in which I really enjoy … there’s something about my style that works well in large classes,” Bowles said.
Bowles is well-known for his teaching methods in his economic classes For example, Bowles shows five-minute clips of Western movies before each test “to set the proper tone for exams,” he said.
At one time, Bowles said he used to have foreign language specialists repeat economic phrases in their language to see what sounded the best. The class would then vote on which one they liked.
“We try to create a certain light entertaining mood in that class. I have an open personality,” Bowles said. “I think that’s why it works in econ.”
Steven Bender, a sophomore in marketing, said, “I think he’s an excellent teacher that I actually learn from, too. He makes [economics] interesting.”
Bowles is also the adviser for the economics department.
“I have made a number of very close friends through advising,” Bowles said. “I quite enjoy getting to know individual students.”
Cris Lewis, professor, said, “[Bowles] may be the most important in the department. Without him, there would not be as many economic majors … He knows the economic students by name. He really is the prime mover behind agri-business and he is also the department advisor. He has an enormous workload.”
Bowles said, “Advising is time-intensive but I enjoy it.”
Bowles said the highlights of his research are the number of articles published in Forensic Economics.
“Forensic Economics is legal economics – economics as applied to courts,” Bowles explained.
Before coming to Utah State University, he worked as a CPA.
“I wouldn’t make it a career,” he said. “But I liked it. I would much rather work in academia … the more I do it, the more I like it.”
In addition to teaching economics, Bowles owns a farm in Idaho, 30 miles from Logan.
“I enjoy cows, horses and getting your hands in the dirt … I own nine horses, assorted animals and children,” he said.
Lewis said, “[Bowles] is smart, fun and approachable. He is a scholar as well as a farmer.”
Referring to what he would like to see in future, Bowles said, “I would like to see [USU] raise the hurdle for entering freshman to increase the average quality of students.”
Bowles said, “With the economy right now, I’m not overly concerned. The long term looks great. Our fundamental institutions are strong, we have strong growth and productivity, and we are attracting the brightest from all over the world. Who knows what will happen in the short term, but the long term looks bright.”