Letter from Department Head

AAE Colleagues, Students, Alumni, and Friends,

This fall, the UGA Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics continued our tradition of welcoming an outstanding group of new and returning undergraduate and graduate students. Across all four undergraduate majors - Agribusiness, Agricultural and Applied Economics, Environmental Economics and Management (EEM), and Hospitality and Food Industry Management (HFIM) - we experienced another year of growth, thanks to our exceptional faculty, the support of alumni, and the strong job market and career opportunities for our students.

Reflecting the department’s tradition of excellence, both students and faculty received numerous awards and recognitions this semester. While you can read about many of these in our Awards Highlights Section, I’d like to spotlight three notable achievements:

• Jack Lingenfelter (Agribusiness, 2027) was elected as a 2024-25 National FFA Officer and will serve as the Southern Region Vice President. This prestigious honor reflects Jack’s passion for agriculture, education, and leadership.
• Beatrice Robson, a current Ph.D. student, was accepted as a Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research Fellow. This highly competitive three-year program develops the next generation of food and agricultural scientists through professional development workshops and mentorship with leaders from government and industry.
• Dr. Yangxuan Liu received the esteemed Farm Foundation Emerging Leader Award for her impactful extension and research programs focused on cotton and peanut production in Georgia.

Congratulations, Jack, Beatrice, and Yangxuan!

This fall also marked the launch of Climate Change Economics and Policy (ENVM 3050), a new course taught by Dr. Susana Ferreira and Dr. Lusi Xie. This innovative course explores climate policy from an economic perspective and has been well-received by students. The class featured guest speakers from government and industry, including several alumni of our Environmental Economics and Management program including Sarah Anderson (EEM 2017, MS 2019), Samantha Siragusa (EEM, 2017), and Alexandra Bull (EEM 2019). A special thanks to EEM alumni Isabella Canales Claudio, who coincidentally stopped by as I drafted this letter, for speaking with our students about environmental economics, climate risk, and how her degree prepared her for her consulting role at EY. Thank you to all the guest speakers who have shared your expertise and inspired our students to explore career opportunities for life after graduation.

While academic achievements are a cornerstone of our department, we also found time to connect and celebrate. This fall, we held our second annual Pumpkin Painting Competition in collaboration with student organizations, including the Environmental Economics and Management (EEM) Club, Ag Econ Graduate Student Association, Eta Sigma Delta, and the Club Management Association of America. The EEM Club won the week-long vote with their intricate tree design, securing back-to-back victories. Could a three-peat be in the cards next year?

Additionally, our Diwali celebration brought music, history, and a delectable spread of sweet and savory treats to Conner Hall. Students competed in a Rangoli art competition, creating stunning designs that now adorn the third floor. Many thanks to the students, staff, and faculty who organized these events, providing much-needed breaks from our academic routines.

In this newsletter, you’ll also learn about the International Agriculture Certificate from the perspective of three undergraduate students, explore a selection of the research published by our graduate students and faculty, and see how the HFIM program is preparing future leaders in the hospitality industry.

Finally, I want to extend my heartfelt well wishes to all those impacted by Hurricane Helene. The storm has had a devastating impact on livelihoods across Georgia, particularly within the agricultural industry. The losses faced by our producers and rural communities have been profound. I would like to commend the dedication and hard work of our department’s Extension faculty and staff, who, as part of the larger CAES natural disaster team, have been providing critical support to producers and the broader industry in Helene’s aftermath. Their efforts exemplify the resilience and community spirit that defines our department.

Stay connected with us on social media, including our newly launched LinkedIn page, where you can follow our journey, celebrate our achievements, and stay up to date with the latest from Conner Hall.

Thank you for being a part of our AAE family. Go Dawgs!

Greg Colson
Professor and Interim Department Head