I serve as Chair-Elect of the AAEA Health Economics Section. In this role, I contribute to section programming, outreach, and professional engagement related to health, food, nutrition, and applied economics.
In this position, I developed the Health Economics Section website to support member communication and increase the visibility of section activities and research.
My role as the Coordinator of the Master of Agribusiness Program allows me to combine teaching, advising, curriculum development, and industry-oriented student mentorship. I work to strengthen the program’s visibility, student support structure, and applied training mission, with the goal of preparing students for leadership in agribusiness, food systems, agricultural finance, and policy-related careers.
Working in this position, I perceive that the student pool and their challenges and perspectives are diverse across the U.S. Every student is unique. Academic advising is individualized. I work with each student to develop an appropriate course plan based on their academic and professional background, program requirements, professional goals, and workload, particularly for students who are employed full-time.
I work with a wide range of students of different ages. I have students who are fresh graduates, and some of them had to make the tough decision to choose a job over graduate school a decade ago. The choice was tough. Everyone deserves a second chance. The U.S. education system is designed to cater to the eclectic diversity of students.
At the 2026 Agricultural & Applied Economics Association Annual (AAEA) Meeting, I organized and moderated professional sessions that brought together scholars working on food assistance, nutrition policy, health outcomes, and emerging technologies in agricultural and applied economics. These sessions reflect my broader commitment to advancing policy-relevant research dialogue in food security, SNAP, WIC, underserved communities, and applied economic methods.
Track Session title: Food Access, Food Participation and Health: Evidence from Underserved Communities
This session focused on food assistance participation, food access, and health outcomes among underserved communities, with presentations on SNAP enrollment, food deserts, and WIC-related maternal and fetal health outcomes. [LinkedIn]
Track Session title: Evidence on SNAP Benefits, Participation, and Policy Shocks
This session aligns closely with my research interests in SNAP policy, food assistance participation, and food insecurity.
We received public acknowledgment for this session. A participant publicly thanked me and Hannah Wich (co-organizer) for organizing “such a great session” after his first AAEA presentation, noting the high-level feedback and valuable discussion the session generated. [LinkedIn]
Panel Discussion title: Drawing the Line on AI: Moving Beyond the Hype and Taking Action in Agricultural and Applied Economics
This panel examined how artificial intelligence is shaping research, teaching, and extension in agricultural and applied economics. My colleague Luis Sandoval and I organized the session, and the AAEA International Section sponsored it. This has been the most popular session at the AAEA meeting. [LinkedIn]
I serve as Coordinator of the Master of Agribusiness Program in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at Texas Tech University. In this role, I support graduate program coordination, student engagement, recruitment, outreach, and program development.
The MAB program has transitioned to an 8-week online session format in partnership with TTU Online, expanding flexibility for working professionals and students balancing career, family, and academic goals. My role as Program Coordinator was highlighted in the Texas Tech AAEC Department News & Updates and the Fall 2026 Academic Program Updates. [Texas Tech AAEC Newsletter]