Guest Lectures

The 38th Annual J.W. Fanning Lecture was held on Friday, November 10, 2023, at the Tate Center on the Athens campus. Over 90 people attended to hear Dr. Will Masters, Professor of Food Economics and Policy at the Friedman School of Nutrition at Tufts University. His lecture discussed "Access to a healthy diet: Evidence from food prices, diet costs and affordability worldwide".

J.W. Fanning Lecture

Grad Student Association Rod F. Ziemer Lecture

In April, the Agricultural Economics Graduate Student Association, headed by President Beatrice Robson, hosted Professor Jay Shimshack of the University of Virginia (UVA) for their annual Rod F. Ziemer Lecture in Conner Hall. Dr. Shimshack focuses his research on environmental economics and and regulation, corporate social behavior, and applied microeconomics for public policy. In addition to teaching economics for public policy and cost-benefit analysis at UVA, he has authored a number of publications within the field including top-tiered journals such as the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management (JEEM). Outside of the UVA and academic realm, Dr. Shimshack has spoken before the House of Representatives as well as served as a consultant for the EPA, FDA, and the USDA. In his lecture, he discussed environmental complaints and how the government reacts.

Rod F. Ziemer Lecture

This spring, in their first year on campus, the Environmental Economics and Management (EEM) Club hosted CAES Alumna and Shark Tank entrepreneur, Kristen Dunning, in Conner Hall. During her lecture, she discussed sustainable business practices, her life's journey leading to starting a clean (no pun intended) soap brand, Gently Soap. In addition to striking a deal on Shark Tank, Kristen's company has won many awards--from Aveeno's 2023 Skin Health Startup of the Year to being Pharell's Black Ambition 2023 Finalist and Award Winner.