Madhavi Venkatesan

Madhavi Venkatesan is an Associate Teaching Professor of Economics at Northeastern University’s College of Social Sciences and Humanities. She also serves as a faculty affiliate at Vermont Law School, founder/CEO of the Cape Cod-based non-profit Sustainable Practices, and editor-in-chief of Sustainability and Climate Change. Her work bridges economics, sustainability, and social justice, emphasizing practical implementation of sustainable practices globally. She has received prestigious recognitions, including USA Today’s 2024 Massachusetts Woman of the Year and MacMillan Learning’s 2024 Instructor Innovation Award.

Educations:

• PhD, MA, BA in Economics from Vanderbilt University
• Master’s in Sustainability & Environmental Management (Harvard University)
• Master’s in Environmental Law & Policy (Vermont Law School)

Research Interests: Madhavi’s work focuses on sustainability integration in economics education, policy analysis for environmental challenges, and addressing systemic inequities. She explores topics like bioeconomies, consumer behavior, climate change adaptation, and the ethics of economic practices. Her approach emphasizes actionable solutions through education, policy, and community engagement.

Recent Trends in Publications: Her recent works highlight sustainability in higher education curricula, decoupling economic growth from environmental harm, and leveraging cultural values to drive sustainable practices. She critiques traditional profit-maximizing models and advocates for metrics aligning economic success with well-being and ecological health.

Awards & Recognition:

• USA Today Woman of the Year (2024)
• Fulbright Distinguished Lectureship
• Governor of Massachusetts Citation
• NYSE Closing Bell (2020)
• MacMillan Learning Innovation Award (2024)

Advising & Grants: While no formal advisees are listed, Madhavi leads initiatives like Sustainable Practices, mobilizing stakeholders for plastic reduction and community resilience projects. She collaborates with global organizations on SDG-aligned research and policy advocacy.

Labs & Teams: Directs Sustainable Practices, a nonprofit advancing grassroots sustainability solutions. Co-edits academic journals and collaborates with international networks to integrate sustainability into educational frameworks.