Christine Brekken

Senior Instructor I
brekkenc [at] onid.orst.edu

2591 SW Campus Way

Corvallis, OR 97331

Fields: Environmental Law and Policy, Agricultural Law and Policy, Food Systems

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At OSU

Affiliated with:

Applied Economics

Headquarters:

OSU Main Campus

Career Links:

Department of Applied Economics

Courses Taught:

Since 2007, Ms. Brekken has taught undergraduate legal topics in the Applied Economics Department. Through offering legal concepts in the department of Applied Economics, students learn how to translate economic and scientific findings into effective legal and regulatory frameworks within the US legal system to create effective policy for the future. The legal and economic dimensions of agricultural, food and environmental issues to foster an in-depth understanding of public policy debates that affect agricultural production and environmental quality.

Ms. Brekken is the instructor for Agricultural Law (AEC 388, 4 credits), offered both on-campus and via E-campus. Students with a degree in Agricultural Business Management must grasp the legal constraints and consequences of their business decisions. Agricultural Law provides students with the concepts they need to understand the legal framework that agricultural businesses operate within and to engage in informed decision making.

Ms. Brekken offers Environmental Law (AEC 432/532, 4 credits) as both on-campus and Ecampus courses. She also teaches AEC 253, Environmental Law, Policy and Economics, (4 credits) for Ecampus students, which is a Bacc Core Western Perspectives course. Students in Environmental Economics and Policy must understand the historical and current legal and regulatory framework for environmental protection and natural resource management. Environmental Law introduces students to the existing pollution control laws in the US, analyzes choice of regulatory tools and evaluates outcomes of environmental laws and regulations. In particular, emphasis is given to how the constraints of the US legal system (federalism, separation of powers, Commerce Clause) impact the development and enforcement of environmental laws.

Ms. Brekken also teaches Food Systems (AGRI 411/511, 3 credits), an interdisciplinary College of Agriculture course incorporating content from 6 departments at OSU. Food Systems is a required course for the Food, Culture and Social Justice undergraduate certificate through the Department of Anthropology. Food Systems will be developed for Ecampus delivery in 2017.

Beginning in Winter 2017, Evolution of Environmental Law and Policy (AEC 253, 4 credits) will be fully redeveloped by Ms. Brekken and Chris Mihiar for Ecampus delivery. Ms. Brekken has previously taught AEC 253 on campus and for Chile Study Abroad program in Winter 2011.

In addition to her regular teaching schedule, Ms. Brekken has also co-Taught Toxicology 507/607 Fall Seminar: Science, the Law, and Environmental Policy with Jeff Jenkins and supervised ECampus Independent Projects for the Environmental Economics and Policy majors (AEC 406, 6 credits). She provides guest lectures for courses such as AEC 121, Introduction to Applied Economics; AGRI 438, Exploring World Agriculture; ECE 530, Contemporary Energy Applications.

In addition to teaching, Ms. Brekken is also the key advisor for students who aspire to attend law school after completing their undergraduate degree. As a member of the graduate faculty of Applied Economics, Masters of Natural Resources, Food in Culture and Social Justice, and Public Policy, she is available for MS committees for students who include legal concepts in their work.

Because of her commitment to student success, inclusion and diversity, Ms. Brekken has taken the lead on curriculum and academic initiatives in Applied Economics, acting as Ecampus faculty and curriculum coordinator, initiating the Accelerated Masters Platform (AMP) in Applied Economics, and coordinating a graduate certificate in Risk Analysis (forthcoming). She is also developing a faculty working group in conjunction with a graduate student seminar focused on pedagogy in both face-to-face and online courses. She regularly engages in professional development opportunities as both student and presenter to improve inclusion and pedagogy in the department and university.

Future expanded class offerings will give students a greater depth of knowledge on cutting-edge legal developments and tools used for environmental protection, with emphasis on the intersection with agricultural production, in particular the changing regulatory landscape and impacts in the face of climate change.

Biography

Christy Anderson Brekken is a Senior Instructor and Research Associate in the Department of Applied Economics at Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. She received her law degree from the University of Minnesota in 2005, then completed a Master’s degree in Agricultural and Resource Economics at Oregon State University in 2011.

From 2003 to 2006, she was a law clerk at Farmers’ Legal Action Group in St. Paul, MN, where she did legal research and writing on topics affecting family farmers. She was a contributing author of A Farmer’s Guide to Wind Energy, reviewer for A Farmers’ Guide to GMOs, and wrote internal memos on topics including: farmers’ First Amendment right to avoid compelled fees, dormant Commerce Clause challenges to state laws prohibiting corporate ownership of farms, farmer’s rights to information under the Privacy Act of 1974, administrative appeals process, contract and tort issues. While at the University of Minnesota Law school, she was a research assistant and editor for Prof. Ferdinand Schoettle, for whom she edited a textbook for publication: Teacher’s Manual to State and Local Taxation: The Law and Policy of Multi-Jurisdictional Taxation. Additionally, she conducted research and writing for additional papers, including the federal tax deduction for state and local taxes, and property tax valuation issues.

Professional Accomplishments

Curriculum Vitae:

brekken_2019_cv.pdf

Professional Affiliations:

Oregon State University Center for Small Farms and Community Food Systems: Affiliated faculty.

Impacts of Values-based Supply Chains on Small and Medium-Sized Farms, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Project 2015-68006-22938. Member of project team led by PI Hikaru Peterson, University of Minnesota. Co-Project Directors: Keiko Tanaka (University of Kentucky), Gail Feenstra (University of CA, Davis), Marcia Ostrom (Washington State).

Understanding and Designing Long-Term Resilience in the US Food System: the Role of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Supporting Regional Food Networks (RFNs). National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Project 2013-05181. Serving as Co-PI with Kathleen Liang (University of Vermont), Thomas Lyons (CUNY), Sue Lurie (OSU), et. al.

Renewing an Agriculture of the Middle: Value Chain Design, Policy Approaches, Environmental and Social Impacts: USDA Multistate research project NC-1198, member, 2010 to present.

Agricultural and Food Law Consortium, affiliated through E-Extension Agricultural and Food Law Community of Practice.

Oregon Bar, admitted May 9, 2007 (voluntary inactive status). Section Memberships: Agricultural Law, Environmental Law, Real Estate and Land Use.

Minnesota Bar, admitted May 12, 2006 (voluntary inactive status).

E-Extension Communities of Practice: Agricultural & Food Law, Land Use Planning, Sustainable Ag Energy, Wind Workgroup, Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network

Tradeoff Analysis Project: Completed training on Tradeoff Analysis Project, TOA-MD model, in 2013 at Oregon State University.

Education:

J.D., magna cum laude, University of Minnesota Law School, 2005
M.S., Agricultural and Resource Economics, Oregon State University, 2011
B.A., summa cum laude, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN, 1998

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