As a professor, he teaches courses in market and price analysis and applied econometrics within the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the LSU College of Agriculture.
BATON ROUGE, LA, January 29, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Hector O. Zapata, PhD, has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Leveraging more than three decades of excellence in time series and financial econometrics, Dr. Zapata has earned distinction as a professor with Louisiana State University. Since 1987, he has focused his efforts on conducting research in statistical modeling of financial markets, with a specific focus on agriculture. He has engaged in extensive research in the development of computer models for statistical simulation over the course of his career as well. As a professor, he teaches courses in market and price analysis and applied econometrics within the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the LSU College of Agriculture, guiding numerous undergraduate and graduate students as well. He also lends his expertise as a chair for the academic graduate programs of his department, coordinating qualifying and general examinations for graduate students and ensuring that they adhere to their schedules. He is a highly cited author of numerous scientific journal articles and over the past several decades has secured millions of dollars in collaborative research funding at LSU and the LSU Agricultural Center. He has headed numerous educational missions and conducted consultancies in most continents. He also has recruited numerous students to LSU and collaborated with visiting scholars from around the world.
Outside of his primary career efforts, Dr. Zapata worked as the senior international officer at Louisiana State University from 2012 until 2019 and served as book editor for the American Journal of Agricultural Economics. He also served as the president of the Southern Agricultural Economics Association and was a valued member of the Association of International Education Administrators, and the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, among other professional organizations. He also served on the School Board of Democracy Prep, Baton Rouge, and co-developed a visiting scholar program targeted to graduates from the National Agricultural University (UNAG), Catacamas, Olancho, Honduras; the 2022 graduating class of UNAG was named to honor Dr. Zapata's name.
Before embarking on his professional journey, Dr. Zapata earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics in 1981 and a master's degree in the same field of study in 1983, both from Louisiana State University. Following these achievements, he attained a Doctor of Philosophy in econometrics and agricultural economics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1987.
After losing his father in his youth, Dr. Zapata gained a strong sense of responsibility and cultivated a hard-working attitude, which contributed greatly to his success throughout his life. He also developed a steadfast policy of honesty, dependability, and mutual respect that has served him well in his career. Among his professional accomplishments, he is proud to have been named the Best Professor of the Year and was awarded the "Past Presidents of the LSU Alumni Association Alumni Professorship" by Louisiana State University in 2012, which he considered a significant achievement for someone who had to overcome numerous challenges, including learning English as a non-native speaker. He attributes and dedicates his humble success to a strong spiritual conviction, and to his family and friends who have always supported him. He has lived through the challenges and opportunities that standing up for your core values entails and has no doubts that one must stand up for them.
Looking to the future, Dr. Zapata intends to continue contributing to the enhancement of the university's graduate programs in statistics and mathematics, which are highly valuable skills across various fields. He aims to make a lasting impact by improving the way students are prepared for success in mathematics and statistical fields. He also plans to author a book on econometric simulation modeling, which is a learning technique that bridges theory and practice and provides a reliable means for students and researchers to study statistical modeling problems with greater accuracy. Added to these goals, he aspires to instill financial literacy in his children, enabling them to make sound financial decisions, while co-developing a company that provides credit to individuals, allowing them to pursue their dreams and gain financial literacy and independence.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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