Kathleen Bell

Kathleen Bell is a Professor of Resource Economics and Policy at the University of Maine, affiliated with the School of Economics within the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry and Agriculture. She is also supported by the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station and leads the Hatch Multistate project ME031802. Her work integrates economics with environmental and public health issues, focusing on sustainable land and water management, rural development, and climate resilience.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Economics, University of Maryland
• A.B. in Economics & Environmental Studies, Bowdoin College

Her research spans environmental economics, public economics, and data analysis, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches. Key interests include rural economic development, natural resource management, outdoor recreation, public policy, and risk communication. She studies how individuals, organizations, and markets interact with environmental systems, using spatial analysis and decision-making models to inform private and public policies.

Dr. Bell's publications appear in top journals such as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Land Economics, and Marine Resource Economics. Her work reflects a trend toward integrated, evidence-based solutions that bridge economic, social, and environmental systems, with increasing focus on climate adaptation, stakeholder engagement, and valuation of ecosystem services.

Scientific Awards:

• University of Maine’s Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award (2018)

Dr. Bell advises undergraduate and graduate students in Economics and Ecology & Environmental Science. She has led large interdisciplinary research projects funded through the Experiment Station and federal programs. Her leadership extends to service on editorial boards and as a reviewer for major journals and federal grant panels. She is committed to workforce development and mentoring future leaders in data-driven environmental policy.

She is actively involved in research programs that connect science with decision-making, particularly through the School of Economics and the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station. Her lab and research team focus on economic valuation, risk communication, and modeling human-environment interactions in rural and coastal communities.