AG ECON Graduate Student SPOTLIGHTS

Learn more about our graduate students in their own words. We asked M.S. and Ph.D. graduate students to share their path to Purdue as well as their experiences in AgEcon's graduate programs. We hope their profiles will give you insight into what it is like to be a graduate student in Purdue's Department of Agricultural Economics.
Rachel Zhang

Rachel Zhang

M.S. Student (AgEcon); Ph.D. Student (Hospitality and Tourism Management)

Connections, Referrals, Endorsements. Student harnesses the power of LinkedIn to land an internship with Zillow

RACHEL'S STORY

Nina Jovanovic

Nina Jovanovic

Ph.D. Graduate

A LITTLE LUCK, A COMPETITIVE SCHOLARSHIP, AND A SOLID RECOMMENDATION, LED SERBIAN NATIVE TO STUDY AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AT PURDUE

NINA'S STORY

Diamilatou Kane

Diamilatou Kane

Ph.D. Student

Diamilatou Kane is conducting field research to better understand food safety and consumer behavior in Senegal

DIAMILATOU'S STORY

Rebekah Olukayode

Rebekah Olukayode

M.S. Student

Nationwide Insurance internship gives Purdue student wealth of valuable insights

Rebekah'S STORY

Gloria Lenfestey

Gloria Lenfestey

M.S. Student

GRADUATE STUDENT TRAVELS ABROAD TO EXPLORE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND POLICY

GLORIA'S STORY

Alejandra Armesto Gómez

Alejandra Armesto Gómez

M.S. Student

Graduate researcher finds her perfect fit in the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development

ALEJANDRA'S STORY

Hari Regmi

Hari Regmi

Ph.D. Student

A UNIQUE JOURNEY, GRADUATE STUDENT STAYS DEDICATED TO HIS GOALS

Hari'S STORY

Emily Forsythe

Emily Forsythe

M.S. Student

Estimating the value of natural and environmental resources

EMILY'S STORY

Lauren Benavidez

Lauren Benavidez

Ph.D. Student

INTEREST IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE RESEARCH LEADS GRADUATE STUDENT TO PURDUE’S CENTER FOR GLOBAL TRADE ANALYSIS

LAUREN'S STORY

Margaret Lippsmeyer

Margaret Lippsmeyer

M.S. Student

PURDUE STUDENT EAGER TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN AGRICULTURE

MARGARET'S STORY

Eugene Nuworsu

Eugene Kwaku Mawutor Nuworsu

Ph.D. Student

Opportunity to research the food industry and consumer behavior attracts student to Purdue’s Agricultural Economics Ph.D. program

EUGENE'S STORY

Victoria Dell

Victoria Dell

M.S. Student

ASSISTANTSHIP PROVIDES GRADUATE STUDENT WITH NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AND ‘BEHIND THE SCENES’ LOOK AT COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION

Victoria'S STORY

Chad Fiechter

Chad Fiechter

Ph.D. Student

DESIRE FOR ADVANCED EDUCATION IN AGRICULTURAL FINANCE LEADS ALUMNUS (AND INCOMING FACULTY MEMBER) BACK TO PURDUE

CHAD'S STORY

Yizhou Hua

Yizhou Hua

Ph.D. Student

SEEKING BROAD, RIGOROUS TRAINING IN AGRICULTURE LED STUDENT TO DISCOVER OPPORTUNITIES AT PURDUE

YIZHOU'S STORY

Maria Berikou

Maria Berikou

M.S. Student

CAREER PROFESSIONAL TAKES LEAP ACROSS THE ATLANTIC TO STUDY AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS

MARIA'S STORY
Alex Robinson

Alex Robinson

M.S. Student

CAPITALIZING ON OPPORTUNITIES TO INTERACT WITH PROFESSIONALS ACROSS AGRICULTURE

Alex'S STORY

Alecia Evans

Alecia Evans

Ph.D. Student

Rebellious and passionate, Alecia Evans paved her own path to studying agricultural economics

ALECIA'S STORY

Fei Qin

Fei Qin

Ph.D. Student

Field experiments and visiting scholar opportunity stirs student's interest in studying agricultural economics

FEI'S STORY

Mati Mohammadi

Mati Mohammadi

Ph.D. Student

Assistantship opens a window of opportunities for agribusiness student

MaTi's story

Doug Abney

Doug Abney

M.S. Student

Analyzing the Ag Jobs Market

Doug's story

Mario Ortez

Mario Ortez

PhD Student

Mario’s bond with agriculture was rooted at birth; his passion for agribusiness is cultivating his future

Mario's story

Hailey Utech

Hailey Utech

MS Student

Analytically driven, Hailey Utech is being challenged to look at data differently.

Hailey's story

Pedro  Antonio Díaz Cachay

Pedro Antonio Díaz Cachay

MS Student

Deferred enrollment gives graduate student extra time to help his own students improve their English language skills

Pedro's story

Megan Hughes

Megan Hughes

PhD Student

Motivated and involved, AAEA GSS chair-elect Megan Hughes discusses many opportunities available in Ag Econ

Megan's story

Manuel Jimenez

Manuel Jimenez

Ph.D. Student

A research focus on maritime shipping gives Manuel a unique perspective into recent supply chain disruptions.

Manuel's story

Zack Neuhofer

Zack Neuhofer

PhD Student

Zack Neuhofer shares his path to Purdue and plans as incoming president of AgEcon’s graduate student organization

Zack's story