Douglas Jackson-Smith

Douglas Jackson-Smith is a Professor and the Kellogg Endowed Chair of Agroecosystem Management at The Ohio State University's School of Environment and Natural Resources. He serves as Director of the Agroecological Management Program and is based at the Ohio Agriculture Research and Development Center (OARDC) in Wooster, Ohio. His work focuses on interdisciplinary research at the intersection of social science and environmental systems, with particular emphasis on agricultural landscapes, water resources, and sustainable food systems.

Dr. Jackson-Smith earned his three graduate degrees from the University of Wisconsin: a MS in Rural Sociology, an MA in Agricultural Economics, and a PhD in Sociology. His undergraduate work was completed at Deep Springs College in California and Cornell University in New York. Born in Boston and raised in Utah, he brings diverse regional perspectives to his research.

His research program spans multiple scales to understand the structural and behavioral drivers of farm structural change, land use transformations, and environmentally-relevant behaviors. He employs mixed methods including surveys, interviews, focus groups, and geospatial analysis to investigate complex socio-ecological systems. His work frequently addresses questions of farmer decision-making, conservation behavior, water resource management, and the social dimensions of agricultural sustainability.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on participatory research methods, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the integration of social science into environmental modeling. His work spans multiple domains including soil health assessment, water conservation, crop-livestock integration, organic farming systems, and stakeholder engagement in environmental management. A consistent theme across his research is the importance of understanding human behavior within complex working landscapes.

• Director, Agroecological Management Program
• Kellogg Endowed Chair of Agroecological Management
• Professor, School of Environment and Natural Resources

Dr. Jackson-Smith has developed extensive collaborative networks across disciplinary boundaries, working with natural scientists, engineers, and policymakers to address complex environmental challenges. His research on participatory approaches to agricultural research has emphasized the importance of engaging farmers and stakeholders in the research process. He maintains active collaborations with researchers across the United States, particularly on projects related to watershed management, sustainable agriculture, and climate-resilient farming systems.

His laboratory and research team are based at the Ohio Agriculture Research and Development Center in Wooster, where he leads an interdisciplinary group of SENR faculty, graduate students, and post-docs focused on social and environmental aspects of complex working landscapes. The team frequently collaborates with agricultural producers, extension specialists, and policy makers to ensure research relevance and impact.