Department Head's Welcome
AAE Colleagues, Students, Alumni, and Friends,
As the spring semester winds down and the stress of microeconomics and econometrics exams begins to fade, I hope you will take a few moments to explore the achievements and activities highlighted in this Spring edition of the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics newsletter. From impactful research and guest lectures to student awards and industry engagement, this semester reflects the breadth of work happening across our teaching, research, and outreach programs.
This spring brought significant recognition for our faculty across research, teaching, and extension. Dr. Cesar Escalante was honored with a Fulbright Teaching Fellowship in Japan through the U.S. Global Scholar Program and received the Outstanding Teaching Award from CAES. Dr. Yukiko Hashida was named Japanese Female Economist of the Year by the Japanese Economic Association. Dr. Yangxuan Liu received the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Distinguished Extension and Outreach Program Award for early career achievement. Dr. Gopi Munisamy was recognized with both the Borealis Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Minnesota and the Donnie H. Morris Award for Extension Excellence. Dr. John Salazar was named Postsecondary Teacher of the Year by the Georgia Marketing Education Association, and Dr. Lusi Xie was selected as a Lone Mountain Fellow by the Property and Environment Research Center. These honors reflect the depth and impact of the work being done across the department.
In April, we hosted Conner Connects, our annual spring awards ceremony, at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education and Hotel. The event celebrated the accomplishments of our students, faculty, and staff, with 34 scholarships awarded totaling more than $28,000. We also recognized individuals for outstanding achievement across the department, including Susmitha Kalli (Outstanding PhD), Lynes McKinney (Outstanding MAB), Shikshit Parajuli (Outstanding MS), Ellen McCullough (Outstanding Faculty), and Jeanne Taylor (Outstanding Staff), along with outstanding undergraduate students across each of our majors: Henry Bush, Anna Clifton, Haden Drake, Maverick Garcia, Analyn Ingram, Jay Lavender, Katie McNeese, and Lucy Ray. These recognitions highlight the talent, commitment, and community that define AAEC.
We also held the second annual AAEC Three Minute Thesis Competition, which continues to grow as a showcase of graduate student research and communication. In the doctoral competition, Susmitha Kalli received first place and Kealey Collison placed second. In the master’s competition, Katie Harper earned first place and Shikshit Parajuli placed second. Congratulations to all participants for their excellent presentations.
As always, guest speakers played an important role in connecting classroom learning with real-world applications. This semester, we welcomed professionals and alumni across several courses. In Food and Fiber Marketing, Cassady Ellis shared insights on product development and sustainability, while Lee Fongeallaz discussed launching a nutritional energy drink and building a brand. In Principles of Resource Economics, Dan Meyer spoke about marine protected areas through National Geographic’s Pristine Seas initiative, Jonathan Smith discussed timber markets and price reporting, and Mark Masters provided perspectives on water policy and conservation in Georgia. In Hospitality Human Resource Management, Katia Hudspeth shared insights from her experience in luxury hospitality and consulting. We are grateful to all who engaged with our students this semester.
You will also see highlights throughout the newsletter that reflect the continued strength of our programs, from student engagement and experiential learning to faculty research and outreach efforts across the state and beyond.
Thank you for being part of our community. Whether you're an alum, student, faculty member, or friend of the department, we appreciate your continued support and hope you enjoy reading about the accomplishments of Spring 2026. Stay connected with us on social media, including our 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!