People Section

New Appointments: Mykel Taylor, ALFA Endowed Eminent Scholar Chair; Samir Huseynov, Assistant Professor

Positions Taken by Recent Graduates: Yitian Xiao, Ph.D., Quantitative Researcher, Shanghai Qianxiang Asset Management; Zachariah Rutledge, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Research Scholar, Arizona State University
Leave: Pierre Mérel, 1/1/2021 to 6/30/2021
Visitor: Leo Simon, Professor, University of California, Berkeley, Guest Instructor, 1/1/2021 to 3/19/2021

Positions Taken by Recent Graduates: Anders Van Sandt, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Wyoming; Kelvin Mulungu, PhD, Post Doctoral Fellow, African Climate and Development Initiative, University of Cape Town; Aaron Hrozencik, PhD, Research Agricultural Economist, US Dept. of Agriculture, Economic Research Service (USDA-ERS), Conservation and Environment Branch; Lacey Moore, MS, GIS and Economic Analyst, State of Utah, Division of Water Resources, Technical Services; Tim Kelley, MS, Public Utilities Economist, New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, Utilities Bureau; Nicole Didero, MS, Economist, Professional Administrator contracted through CSU by the USDA APHIS, National Wildlife Research Center; Erin Love, MS, Applied Economist, Research Triangle (RTI) in North Carolina, Center for Applied Economics and Strategy

New appointments: Carol Waweru, Research Associate; Charlotte Hebebrand, Director, Communications and Public Affairs; Cristhian Pulido, Research Analyst; Farell Waji, Research Assistant; Phyo Thandar Naing, Research Analyst; Sudha Narayanan, Research Fellow; Vishakha Wadhwani, Research Analyst; Yalew Marilign, Research Officer
Honorary Positions: Claudia Ringler, member of the Advisory Committee, United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health [UNU-INWEH], 2021-2024; Suresh Babu, Extraordinary Professor of Agricultural Economics, Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Award: Will Martin, AAEA, Fellow 2021

New Appointment: Mike Sykuta, Executive Director, Financial Research Institute
Award: Pat Westhoff, University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Driver of Distinction
Leave: Seth Meyer, USDA Office of the Chief Economist, January 2021, extended research leave

Award: Alfred Parks, Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, 2021 Fellow

Awards: James Mintert, Purdue University Extension, 2020 PUCESA Career Award; Michael Wilcox, Purdue University Extension, 2020 PUCESA Mid-Career Award
Retirements: Timothy Baker, 43 Years of Service; Lionel J (Bo) Beaulieu, 8 Years of Service (Purdue only); Larry DeBoer, 36 Years of Service; Craig Dobbins, 43 Years of Service; Joan Fulton, 23 Years of Service; Marshall Martin, 43 Years of Service; Paul Preckel, 37 Years of Service; John Sanders, 39 Years of Service

Awards: Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Extension Superior Service Award Specialist
Positions Taken by Recent Graduate Students: Katie Blakeley, MAB, Marketing Management Trainee, JBS; Garrett Pawlik, MAB, Internal Sales Coordinator, Capital Group; Shelbie Van Beveren, MAB, Marketing Manager, MW Rentals & Services and Pump Jack Cattle Company; Jonathan Schmidt, MAB, Senior Energy Buyer, Global Procurement, Pepsico, Inc.; Tammye Schandua, MAB, K-Coe Isom; Spencer Smith, MAB, Financial Analyst, Wells Fargo; Daniel Chavez, Ph.D., Post-Doctoral Researcher in the Marketing Department at Gatton Business School, University of Kentucky; Samir Huseynov, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Auburn University

Honorary Positions: Stephen Devadoss, WAEA Presidency, July 2021 – June 2024

New Appointments: Elinor Benami, Assistant Professor; Donna Faltin, Associate Professor of Practice
Position Taken by Recent Graduate: Ryan O’Reilly, M.S., Researcher, Energy Institute at Johannes Kepler University
Visitors: Mateusz Filipski, Assistant Professor, University of Georgia, virtual guest lecturer, October 2020; Becca Jablonski, Assistant Professor, Colorado State University, virtual guest lecturer, November 2020; Ariel Ortiz-Bobea, Associate Professor, Cornell University, guest lecturer, November 2020; Silvio Daidone, Econometrician, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), January 2020; Kadee Russ, Associate Professor, University of California at Davis, January 2020; Chris Barrett, Professor, Cornell University
Awards: Anubhab Gupta, Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Global Initiative Fellowship; Catherine Larochelle, Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Global Faculty Scholarship
Leave: Klaus Moeltner, Blacksburg, January-May 2021