Mario Ortez

Dr. Mario A. Ortez is a Collegiate Assistant Professor of Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship at Virginia Tech, holding the James A. and Renae C. Pearson Collegiate Faculty Fellowship. He specializes in agribusiness, finance, price analysis, and farm management, with interdisciplinary research on consumer behavior and agricultural markets. His work bridges academia and industry, leveraging AI to analyze online sentiment's impact on commodity prices.

Education:

• PhD in Agricultural Economics, Purdue University (2022)
• MS in Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University (2015)
• BS in Agribusiness Administration, Panamerican Agricultural School Zamorano (2011)

His research focuses on beef and dairy markets, including price dynamics, consumer preferences, and local food production. He has collaborated with institutions like Purdue, Cornell, and Oklahoma State. Dr. Ortez teaches applied economic analytics, forecasting, and problem-solving at Virginia Tech and previously served as a teaching assistant at Purdue and Indiana University. He has industry experience as an investment associate, beef pricing manager, and co-investor in a Nicaraguan coffee farm.

Awards:

• James A. and Renae C. Pearson Collegiate Faculty Fellow

He actively engages in outreach via industry publications (e.g., Hoards Dairyman), podcasts, and as Guest Editor of the Purdue Agricultural Economics Review. His lab focuses on applying data-driven approaches to address contemporary challenges in agribusiness.