Gerald "Jerry" Shively, associate dean and director of International Programs in Agriculture (IPIA) and professor in Purdue University’s Department of Agricultural Economics, has been honored as a 2025 Fellow of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA). This recognition represents the association’s highest honor, celebrating individuals whose contributions to agricultural and applied economics—across research, teaching, extension, administration and other areas—have made a lasting impact. Shively will be one of only five individuals to receive this esteemed honor at the 2025 AAEA Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado.
Reflecting on his success, Shively shared, “I’ve been at Purdue for almost 30 years. I think the reason I’ve been able to succeed here is I’ve had great colleagues and mentors, and a very supportive environment.”
However, Ken Foster, a professor and former department head in Purdue’s agricultural economics department, said that Shively made his mark long before arriving at Purdue. “Shively’s impact in the field began during his time as a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin, where he published his first article in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics and served as president of the Taylor-Hibbard student club. Since then, Shively has continued to make outstanding contributions to agricultural and applied economics, offering three decades of impactful research, mentorship and leadership.”
During his career, Shively authored or co-authored over 200 scholarly works with 100+ professional colleagues, with 100+ being peer-reviewed. His research has been featured in top scientific journals, such as the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), Food Policy and World Development.
Shively’s contributions extend beyond the written word. He has worked on-site in more than a dozen developing countries, gaining firsthand experience while collaborating with students and professionals from a diverse set of countries and backgrounds. His focus on the challenges facing developing nations began in 1993 during his Ph.D. studies, which included a year of fieldwork in the Philippines as a Fulbright Scholar.
“I’ve always tried to provide empirical evidence on how the workings of economic systems can change peoples’ lives on the ground,” explained Shively. “I’ve worked in Malawi studying the impacts of input subsidies on poor farmers, and in Nepal studying the impact of roads and bridges on the health and nutritional outcomes of children. There are multiple examples in my portfolio, but the really important thing for me as an economist is to think about the economy as something that has real impact on real people.”
Shively’s numerous accolades over the years are a testament to his global impact and exceptional career.
-
Purdue University’s Agricultural Research Award, 2007
-
Purdue University Faculty Scholar, 2009
-
Fellow of the African Association of Agricultural Economics, 2016
-
AAEA Distinguished Graduate Teaching Award, 2018
-
Honorary Life Member (Fellow) of the International Association of Agricultural Economist, 2018
-
Inducted into Purdue’s Book of Great Teachers, 2018
-
Purdue University Faculty Fellow for Global Affairs, 2019
“One rarely succeeds in academia without very good students and colleagues, because at the end of the day, most achievements are shared achievements with those you’ve worked with. In that sense, this isn’t just my award—it’s an award for the many people I’ve worked with over the years,” said Shively. “I hope this will help inspire others, showing them what’s possible in their own careers, and add to the recognition reputation of Purdue’s Department of Agricultural Economics as one of the best and most impactful in the profession.”
