Jim Palmieri, associate professor of economics, started at Simpson in the fall of 1996. He chose to come to Simpson because he wanted to be around smart people with diverse interests. He believes it keeps his mind fresh.

“When I finished graduate school I had a choice between Simpson and a post-doc with the U.S. Department of Agriculture,” Palmieri said.

Palmieri is originally from LaGrange Park, Ill., which is a suburb of Chicago. After graduating high school, Palmieri went on to Northern Illinois University for his Bachelor of Science in economics and then to Indiana University for his Ph.D.

When asked about his life outside of Simpson, Palmieri said he enjoys food, on and off TV.

“I am addicted to the Food Network,” Palmieri said. “My favorites are Giada de Laurentiis, Tyler Florence and Jaime Oliver.”

Palmieri also enjoys going to the theatre and movies and he likes to support local, independent coffee shops and restaurants.

“I also enjoy talking politics and staying engaged in the community and to listen to the Gipsy Kings,” Palmieri said.