Rate My Professor Jon Smith

Jon Smith serves as Associate Professor of Economics in the Economics, History, and Political Science Department at Palomar College. He instructs a range of foundational and specialized economics courses, including ECON 100 Basic Economics, ECON 101 Principles of Macroeconomics, ECON 102 Principles of Microeconomics (Principles of Economics - Micro), and ECON 120 Environmental Economics. His classes are offered in various formats, such as fully online sessions, for example, ECON 100 from August 25, 2025, to October 18, 2025, and ECON 102 during summer sessions like July 7, 2025, to August 2, 2025. Previously, he taught Principles of Macroeconomics on Mondays at 9:30 a.m. in MD-380. Smith is the designated contact for part-time faculty positions in Economics, reachable at 760-744-1150, extension 3703. He maintains an office presence and supports departmental hiring and curriculum activities.

During a sabbatical leave between 2011 and 2015, Jonathan Smith conducted in-depth research on the history of environmental economics, exploring the underlying economic theory and environmental issues that led to its emergence as a mainstream specialty. His project also covered current policy challenges in regional water and air management, as well as the design and implementation of international environmental agreements addressing climate change. Smith read and took detailed notes on selected books and journal articles, culminating in a monograph intended for student use, along with sample handouts and a question-and-answer bank. These materials were designed primarily for ECON 120 Environmental Economics but applicable to ECON 100 and 102 as well. The final deliverables included copies of the monograph, a minimum of 10 handouts, the answer bank, and an annotated bibliography of reviewed sources. Beyond research, Smith has contributed to college governance, participating in the Academic Technology Committee and Distance Education Committee meetings in October 2012, January 2013, and October 2014. He served on work groups addressing policies like proxy access and security, and engaged in discussions on faculty internet utilization and sponsored testing sites for Palomar College. His involvement underscores a commitment to instructional technology and environmental economic education.