Don Ator
Senior Instructor & Undergraduate Advisor
Contact
DAtor@agcenter.lsu.edu
225-578-2375
125 Martin D. Woodin Hall
Mr. Ator holds an MBA with concentrations in Accounting and Finance, an MS in Economics and Agriculture Economics from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA, and a BS in Agribusiness from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX. Since 2015 he has served as an undergraduate academic advisor, Agribusiness Club Faculty Advisor, and Instructor for the following courses in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness: AGEC 3203 Marketing of Agricultural Products and Risk Management, AGEC 2003 Introduction to Agricultural Economics, and AGEC 4443 Farm and Rural Land Appraisal. In his spare time he serves as a 4-H Volunteer and serves on University Hearing Panels for the LSU Division of Student Affairs, Office of Student Advocacy & Accountability.
He joined LSU in 2014 as a Research Associate conducting research in financial resiliency analysis of local governments in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, and Nebraska. The research involved collection of Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports of local governments and analysis of data from the Statements of Net Assets, Changes in Capital Assets, Statements of Net Activities, and Combined Balance Sheets.
Prior to joining LSU Mr. Ator spent 35 years as an Economist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf South Research Institute (GSRI), and three Architect-Engineer (AE) firms developing and analyzing economic data and preparing reports evaluating the economic feasibility of civil works water resources projects for flood risk management and navigation improvement projects nationwide. In addition, he developed the socioeconomic sections of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance documents for coastal storm risk management projects, transportation projects, and military base activities.
Prior to completing Graduate School at LSU he served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Officer Training Program and as Student Body President at Tarleton State University.
MS Economics and Agricultural Economics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
BS Agribusiness, Tarleton State University, Stephenville, TX
AGEC 2003 Introduction to Agricultural Economics [Intensive learning Course], 2023
Role of agriculture in the general economy; economic principles applied to agricultural
production, marketing, consumption, and policy problems.
AGEC 3203 Agricultural Commodity Marketing and Risk Management, 2023
Description and analysis of agricultural and interdependent commodity markets within
the food and fiber systems of domestic and international markets; enhancing understanding
of market structure and risk management on farms and in agribusiness through a simulated
futures trading experience where quantitative and qualitative methods are used to
manage risk in commodity portfolios.
AGEC 4443 Farm and Rural Appraisal, 2022
Theory, methods, and procedures of real estate appraisal applied to rural property;
trends in rural real estate values; factors influencing rural real estate values;
approaches used in rural real estate valuation.
Sustaining Member, Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), Vicksburg Post,
Membership No. 327077
Associate Member, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Louisiana Section, Baton
Rouge Branch, Membership No. 9137013
ASCE - Coasts, Oceans, Ports and Rivers Institute Member
Louisiana Engineering Society Member
Gulf South Research Institute, Outstanding Achievement Award, Research Management
Agriculture Students Association Advisor of the Year 2018 - 2019
Center for Development of Security Excellence, OPSEC Awareness for Military Members, DOD Employees and Contractors Certification
Federal Highway Administration, NEPA and the Transportation Decision Making Process Certification, NHI Course No. 142005
UCLA/Arcadis Project Management Course Certification
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Planner Orientation Certification
USACE Forecasting Techniques Certification