Dr. John C. Whitehead has built a career that sits at the intersection of rigorous economic research, practical policy application, and a genuine passion for teaching. A professor in the Department of Economics at Appalachian State University, Whitehead is as comfortable in a classroom explaining benefit–cost analysis as he is parsing data on fisheries management or water quality.
His academic path began at Centre College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in economics, before pursuing a PhD at the University of Kentucky. That foundation launched a career defined by curiosity about how people interact with the environment and how economists can measure the value of resources that are not always bought or sold in markets.
Teaching and Research Focus
Whitehead’s teaching portfolio spans environmental and natural resource economics, microeconomics, business statistics, and the intricacies of benefit–cost analysis. His research has established him as a widely recognized figure in environmental and resource economics.
Specializing in nonmarket valuation, Whitehead often studies recreation, water quality, and sports—domains where the benefits of environmental goods elude traditional pricing systems. He is especially energized by combining revealed preference data (what people actually do) with stated preference data (what they say they would do), producing more nuanced estimates of how individuals and communities value environmental change.
His contributions include more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, alongside two co-edited books that have advanced conversations in his field.
Editorial and Scholarly Leadership
Whitehead currently serves as an associate editor at Marine Resource Economics and sits on the editorial council of the Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists. He previously completed a term as associate editor for the Journal of Environmental Management, a role that underscored both his range and the community’s trust in his judgment.
Policy Engagement and Professional Service
His expertise has been consistently tapped by agencies and councils. Whitehead is a long-time member of the Socioeconomic Panel of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, where he completed five years as chair and contributed eleven years as a member of its Statistics and Scientific Committee. He has also served on review panels for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, and Sea Grant.
Within the profession, Whitehead has served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists and led the Socioeconomics Section of the American Fisheries Society—where he championed a balanced approach to growth and sustainability in fisheries policy.
His professional memberships include the American Economic Association; Association of Environmental and Resource Economists; North American Association of Fisheries Economists; North American Association of Sports Economists; and the Southern Economic Association.
Awards and Recognition
- Walker College of Business Research Award (2007)
- Kentucky Economic Association Distinguished Economist Award (2008)
Beyond Academia: A Competitive Edge
Whitehead’s competitive spirit extends well beyond journals and seminars. He earned the “Most Valuable Non-letterman” honor on the Centre College (D3) football team in 1982, was voted “Player with the Best Attitude” in a faculty-staff basketball game, and has turned in spirited performances in swimming events—clocking the “Dad 50” in 48 seconds at the Bob Pratt Invitational on Father’s Day 2017. As team captain, he helped guide a 50+ 3v3 squad to the Final Four of the North Carolina Senior Games State Tournament.
A Legacy of Balance
Taken together, Whitehead’s story is one of balance: serious scholarship and policy impact on one side, matched with humor, collegiality, and athletic enthusiasm on the other. His work underscores economics not as an abstract exercise, but as a practical toolkit for understanding the choices people make about their environment—and how those choices can inform better policy.