Sean Fox to lead department of agricultural economics at Mississippi State

Mississippi State University has appointed Sean Fox as head of its department of agricultural economics.

He joins the institution from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he was a professor and head of the department of agricultural and consumer economics.

Previously, Fox has worked at Kansas State University, where he worked as director of graduate studies, and was also a research assistant at Iowa State University.

Much of Fox’s research has focused on food safety and non-market valuation. His work has involved the design and implementation of surveys, market experiments, and retail trials to assess consumer preferences and to estimate values for food safety, new food products, technologies, and information.

He obtained his Ph.D. in agricultural economics from Iowa State University and his bachelor’s degree in agricultural science from University College Dublin.

Commenting on the appointment, Dean of Mississippi State University’s College of Agriculture and life sciences Scott Willard said: “Dr. Fox brings three decades of academic experience to the Department of Agricultural Economics,”

He added: “I am confident in his ability to lead this department in continuing to train future leaders in agribusiness and environmental economics and sustainability. His research expertise in agricultural markets will be a great benefit to stakeholders in Mississippi.” 

MSU’s department of agricultural economics offers majors in agribusiness and environmental economics and sustainability.

Earlier this year the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign appointed Sarah Low as head of its department of agricultural and consumer economics. She joined the institution following the departure of Fox earlier this year.

Fox started work at MSU on Nov. 1.