Polly Ericksen

Dr. Polly Ericksen serves as the inaugural Director of the Food Systems Research Institute and Research Professor in Community Development and Applied Economics at the University of Vermont. With over two decades of international experience spanning Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia, she pioneers interdisciplinary approaches to complex food systems challenges amid global environmental change.

Her academic background includes:

• PhD in Soil Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1998)
• MS in Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1991)
• BA in History, Swarthmore College (1987)

Ericksen's research bridges agricultural science, policy, and social dimensions, focusing on sustainable livestock systems, smallholder farming resilience, and climate adaptation strategies. Her seminal work emphasizes linking scientific evidence with development policy and resource mobilization to address food security challenges in vulnerable regions.

During her nine-year leadership at the International Livestock Research Institute in Nairobi, she managed $10-15 million annual budgets and directed 40+ staff across Africa and Asia. At UVM, she builds institutional capacity through the Food Systems Research Institute to advance transdisciplinary solutions for equitable food systems.