Chris Finaret

Professor Chris Finaret

Assistant Professor
Business & Economics, International Studies

Allegheny College, Quigley Hall 225
Meadville, PA 16335
cfinaret@allegheny.edu
(814) 332-3340

As a former U.S. diplomat and monitoring and evaluation consultant, I bring a perspective heavily grounded in the “real world” into the classroom and campus community. My interests include economic development, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and teaching the fundamentals of economics.

 Foreign Service in South America and Africa

Fresh from my master’s degree from the London School of Economics, I joined the Foreign Service, where I went on to serve our country in Colombia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Colombia, I worked on human rights and on “consolidation” (an effort to preserve peace gains from the illegal armed groups like FARC). In DRC, I worked to replace violent, illegal supply chains (think blood diamonds) with “conflict-free supply chains” for gold, tin, copper, and other rare earth metals abundant in Congo.

After retiring from the Foreign Service, I became an independent M&E consultant. I travelled again to the eastern Congo to monitor a training program designed to enhance the effectiveness of army magistrates in prosecuting environmental and economic crimes. I was also able to lay the evaluation groundwork for programming in Nigeria aimed at mitigating the fallout from Boko Haram. I handed off this project to my partner after accepting my position here at the college.

 Teaching and Service at Allegheny College

Outside of the classroom, I am an engaged member of the campus community. I am part of the International Studies department (including the steering committee); a Title IX investigator (called upon to gather evidence in sexual harassment cases); and the coach of the women’s Ultimate Frisbee team. I am also active in the community, providing free tax preparation through the VITA program at the county library, and as a member of a local investment cooperative.

On a personal level, I am a proud husband and father of three. I enjoy a wide variety of activities: visiting our beautiful national parks; playing and spectating sports both e- and regular; participating in book clubs for fantasy and nonfiction; and all things parenting (okay, not all).

I grew up in California. Though as you may have sensed, I have roamed far and wide, living in: Bolivia, Mexico, Scotland, England, Washington D.C., Colombia, DR Congo, Massachusetts, and now Pennsylvania. I adore Meadville. The small-town charm is real, and I’m grateful to experience it with my wife (also an Allegheny professor) and children. You’ll see me regularly at Diamond Park, Julian’s restaurant, Hank’s Frozen Custard, and community events like Second Saturday, the Halloween Parade, and the County Fair.

Degrees: B.A., UC San Diego, 2006; M.S. London School of Economics, 2008. Development Economics; Policy, Strategy, and Programming Evaluation

Vitae: Click here