Kimberly Rollins

Kimberly Rollins is a Professor and Department Head in the Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics at the University of Connecticut, leading the Zwick Center. She holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural & Applied Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1990) and a B.A. in Zoology from the University of Maine (1982).

Her research focuses on environmental economics, natural resource management, and policy design, particularly addressing water use efficiency, wildfire risk mitigation, and climate change impacts. Current projects include evaluating water allocation under shifting snowpack conditions, nutrient management in Northeastern watersheds, and innovative resource recovery from dairy manure (NEWIR Manure project).

Her scholarship bridges ecological and economic systems, emphasizing institutional frameworks (e.g., prior appropriation water rights) and behavioral responses to environmental policies. Recent work analyzes wildfire preparedness in urban-rural interfaces, social comparison effects on water conservation, and climate adaptation strategies for agriculture.

Rollins collaborates widely across disciplines and regions, with funding supporting applied research on invasive species management, fuel treatment economics, and ecosystem valuation. Her Google Scholar profile highlights over 30 years of impactful publications addressing pressing resource challenges.