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.
Asif Khan

Asif Khan

Ph.D. Student (Agricultural Economics)
From Bangladesh to Purdue – Pioneering Research in Behavioral Economics

“Persistence and out-of-the-box thinking are the two key elements of success in any form of research. There is a lot of scope for collaboration in behavioral economics with psychologists, sociologists and policymakers—key insights can be gained from a multidisciplinary approach. Rigorous experimental design that incorporates ethical considerations and contextual nuances is also important. In the current age of AI, it is critical to leverage data-driven techniques to validate the theory.”

ASIF'S STORY

Lorenzo Alegria

Lorenzo Alegria

M.S. Student (Agricultural Economics)
A Journey of Resilience and Rediscovery

“Make sure you’re not defaulting to a graduate degree; you shouldn’t be indifferent about attending. You may earn the degree and perform admirably in the end, but you won’t enjoy your time, and I believe enjoyment is what this is all about. If that means getting a job after undergrad and then returning for a graduate degree, then I think that’s fine. Don’t feel like you need to continue studying just because you don’t know what else you’ll do.”

Lorenzo'S STORY

Koustuv Saha

Koustuv Saha

Ph.D. Student (Agricultural Economics)
From Kolkata to Purdue: A Journey to Uncover Gender Inequities in Agriculture

“Agricultural economics offers diverse research opportunities. It’s helpful to find a topic that genuinely interests and motivates you. A Ph.D. can be long and challenging, but having a passion for your research topic makes the journey much more fulfilling.”

KOUSTUV'S STORY

Dewey J. Robertson

Dewey J. Robertson

M.S. Student (Agricultural Economics)
Connecting Local Agriculture to Global Trade

“Look at the work put out by people in our department/field. Agricultural economics is a large field with many interesting and impactful subfields. Most people are interested and motivated to work on issues they don’t realize are part of our field of study.”

DEWEY'S STORY

Emma Donnelly

Emma Donnelly

Ph.D. Student (Agricultural Economics)
Diverse Academic Journey Equips Purdue Ph.D. Student to Influence Policymakers

Emma'S STORY

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
Assistanship 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

Ph.D. 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

M.S. Student
Analytically Driven, Hailey Utech is Being Challenged to Look at Data Differently

Hailey's story

Pedro  Antonio Díaz Cachay

Pedro Antonio Díaz Cachay

M.S. 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

Ph.D. 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

Ph.D. Student
Zack Neuhofer Shares His Path to Purdue and Plans as Incoming President of Ag Econ’s Graduate Student Organization

Zack’s story

Effective May 30, 2025, the university has undergone a strategic restructuring, resulting in the sunset of the Office of Multicultural Programs and related DEI offices in accordance with institutional policy. While historical references to these offices remain in past publications, our commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable academic environment continues through new and evolving initiatives.