Paul E McNamara

Paul E McNamara is a Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with affiliations across multiple departments and centers including Agricultural and Consumer Economics, Nutritional Sciences, Center for African Studies, and the Center for the Study of Global Gender Equity. He serves as Director of the ADM Institute for the Prevention of Postharvest Loss and AgReach, both within the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

His research bridges agricultural economics with global health and gender equity, focusing on postharvest loss reduction, technology adoption in developing countries, and the socioeconomic impacts of water-sanitation-hygiene (WASH) interventions. He employs interdisciplinary methods spanning behavioral economics, policy analysis, and nutrition studies.

Recent publications highlight his work on decision-making frameworks for AI systems, gender equity in agricultural technology deployment, and decentralized extension services in Malawi. Key trends show integration of computational methods with development economics, emphasizing scalability and policy relevance.

Administrative roles include directing initiatives that combine technical and social science approaches to food security challenges. Contact details: mcnamar1@illinois.edu | Coble Hall, 801 South Wright Street, Champaign, IL 61820 | (217) 265-5186