Lisa Jordan Powell

Lisa Jordan Powell is an Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Agriculture at Sweet Briar College, serving as STEM Division Head and Director of the Center for Human and Environmental Sustainability. She holds a B.A. in Mathematics (Harvard), M.S. in Mathematics (Vanderbilt), and M.A./Ph.D. in American Studies and Sustainability (University of Texas at Austin). Her research focuses on human-environment relationships, food systems, policy, and education, with emphasis on sustainability initiatives, agricultural diversification, and community engagement. She leads programs in Sweet Briar’s vineyards, apiary, greenhouse, and forests, and supervises student research teams through summer fellowships.

Her interdisciplinary work bridges natural and social sciences, informed by her family’s grain farm in Kentucky and prior research in British Columbia on regional food systems and agri-food technology adoption. Key projects include phenology data collection in vineyards and food literacy education partnerships. She advises students on topics like environmental policy, crop technology, and food tourism, and has contributed to national and international studies on climate vulnerability and cellular agriculture.

Dr. Powell’s leadership extends to managing Sweet Briar College Farm, LLC, and advancing the college’s wine and produce businesses. Her teaching spans courses on environmental policy, sustainable agriculture, and natural resource management. She actively collaborates with local communities and institutions to strengthen food systems resilience and environmental stewardship.