UTIA Professor receives SAEA Emerging Scholar Award

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Karen DeLong, associate professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA), was recently presented with the Emerging Scholar Award by the Southern Agricultural Economics Association (SAEA). The award is presented to high-performing, early-career professionals with demonstrated research and resulting publication activity.

DeLong received the award in February at the annual SAEA meeting, which was held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her research focuses on livestock economics, agricultural policy, international trade and experimental economics, which allows her to serve local, national and international audiences. She has been highly successful at obtaining grant funding to support this research, with awarded grants totaling nearly $4.7 million. Her research efforts are often comprised of multidisciplinary, multi-institutional teams, providing additional fortification of research integrity and reach.

A recent example of her multi-institutional research is a joint project with Arizona State University examining consumer preferences for U.S. beef and estimating beef import demand in select countries within Asia, Europe and Latin America. Results from this project will provide insights regarding economic implications of changes in trade policies and provide information on how the U.S. beef export market can be strengthened.

“Karen is a dynamic and productive researcher who is very deserving of this recognition,” said Chris Clark, professor and head of the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. “Addressing complex real-world problems requires teamwork, and Karen’s expertise and attitude make her a valued team member and leader. She has an incredibly bright future, and we’re lucky to have her.”

In the classroom, DeLong is an award-winning, highly sought-after instructor. She also codirects UTIA’s Farm Credit Scholars program and is currently serving as president of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association’s Experimental Economics Section.

Last year, the University of Tennessee Herbert College of Agriculture awarded DeLong with the W.S. Overton Faculty Merit Award and the W.F. and Golda Moss Outstanding Teaching Award.

She has published 38 peer-reviewed journal articles in a variety of economics, agricultural economics and interdisciplinary journals, and her work has been cited 320 times.

She earned her Ph.D. in business administration from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, a master’s in agriculture, food and resource economics from Michigan State University, and a bachelor’s in general mathematics and economics from Western Michigan University.

DeLong is the third faculty member from the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics in the past seven years to receive this prestigious award.

Through its land-grant mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions.

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