Economist takes over for Wendong Zhang at Iowa State University and says she’s excited to share data with Iowa farmers each year.

As a youngster growing up in a relatively small town in central Pakistan, Rabail Chandio had no idea that one day she’d be traveling the Iowa countryside talking with farmers and appraisers about farmland values.

Raised in a small town and brought up on a public university campus where her father serves as a professor, it’s no surprise that Chandio followed in his academia footsteps, albeit earning a Ph.D. in agricultural economics versus a specialization in Siraiki literature.

Her studies brought her to the U.S., where she received advanced degrees at Ohio State University before accepting an assistant professor position at Iowa State University (ISU) this past fall.

Chandio is involved in Extension, research and teaching in the...