Susan Capalbo

Susan Capalbo is Professor of Applied Economics at Oregon State University, affiliated with the College of Agricultural Sciences and the Department of Applied Economics. She previously served as Department Head (2008–2016) and Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs (2016–2021). She holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of California-Davis and has held faculty positions at Montana State University. She is currently a Commissioner for the Northwest Commission for Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and a member of the National Academy of Sciences’ Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources (BANR).

Her research focuses on the economics of climate change, agricultural sustainability, food systems, and non-market valuation. She has contributed extensively to integrated policy analysis, carbon sequestration economics, and the assessment of tradeoffs in sustainable agriculture. Her work bridges science and economics to inform policy decisions on climate adaptation and sustainable land use.

Her recent publications reflect a strong emphasis on climate change impacts in the Pacific Northwest, with interdisciplinary contributions to agriculture, water resources, forestry, coasts, and human health. She has led and contributed to major climate assessments, particularly through the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute, and has pioneered the use of big data and decision-support tools in agro-environmental policy evaluation.

• Roy G. Arnold/Agricultural Research Foundation Leadership Award (2014)
• Distinguished Scholar, Western Agricultural Economics Association (2012)

Dr. Capalbo has advised numerous research initiatives and contributed to national and regional policy frameworks. She has led OSU’s strategic planning efforts (SP3.0, SP4.0, Vision 2030) and continues to play a pivotal role in higher education governance through her NWCCU commissioner role. While she has stepped down from administrative leadership, her academic and research contributions remain active and influential.

She is affiliated with key research teams involved in climate-smart agriculture and regional climate assessments, often collaborating with interdisciplinary groups across OSU and national institutions like Resources for the Future and Columbia University.