Christine Downs

Professional Summary:

Christine “Christie” Downs is an Assistant Professor with the U.S. Army-Baylor University Graduate Program in Health & Business Administration, bringing over two decades of experience as a professional military officer specializing in a wide range of planning, resourcing and educating functions. Her career includes leadership of teams ranging from two to over 400 personnel, with a consistent focus on operational excellence and organizational development.

As a scholar, Christie is committed to advancing financial decision-making through rigorous research and community engagement. Her academic interests lie at the intersection of financial economics, consumer psychology and public sector resource allocation, with a focus on translating complex theory into actionable insights. Her doctoral dissertation research centered on household finance, examining refinancing frictions in the U.S. mortgage market and the impact of political uncertainty on household consumption.

In the classroom, Dr. Downs is known for fostering intellectual curiosity, analytical rigor and ethical decision-making through her unique blend of scholarship and practical experience. She is passionate about mentoring students and contributing to a dynamic academic community through teaching, publishing, and service.

Education:

• 2025 – PhD, Finance; University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
• 2019 – MPS, Legislative Affairs; George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
• 2011 – MS, Finance; University of Michigan, Dearborn, MI
• 2005 – BS, Psychology; United States Military Academy, West Point, NY

Courses:

• Finance I
• Finance II
• Foundations of Artificial Intelligence
• Executive Certification: AI in Healthcare

Research Interests:

• Household finance
• Residential real estate and mortgage markets
• Political uncertainty and consumer choice
• Resourcing government healthcare
• Artificial Intelligence and machine learning models