معرفی
Kathleen Merrigan is the inaugural Executive Director of the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems and a Professor of Practice in the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University (ASU). She also holds appointments in the College of Health Solutions and School of Public Affairs. Previously, she served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture (2009–2013), leading initiatives like the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food program and co-chairing the UN FAO Ministerial Conference. Merrigan’s academic career includes roles at Tufts University and the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service.
She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Planning and Policy from MIT, an M.P.A. from the University of Texas, and a B.A. in English and Political Science from Williams College.
Her research focuses on sustainable food systems, organic agriculture, true cost accounting (TCA), and policy analysis. Key themes include bridging policy and practice, evaluating agricultural impacts through TCA frameworks, and advancing equitable food systems. Recent work emphasizes urban agriculture, climate resilience, and organic farming expansion.
Publications highlight TCA applications in agri-food systems, policy recommendations for farm bills, and analyses of organic food scalability. Her 2010 recognition by Time Magazine as one of the “100 Most Influential People” underscores her global impact.
Merrigan advises Astanor Ventures and sits on the CIFOR-ICRAF Board of Trustees and Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. She teaches courses on food policy, sustainable practices, and research methods, contributing to ASU’s pan-university sustainability initiatives.
