Brenna Ellison, a professor and the undergraduate program coordinator in the Department of Agricultural Economics, has been named a 2025 University Faculty Scholar in recognition of her research on how human behavior influences food-related decisions.
Ever since I started graduate school, I had a natural curiously about how people make food choices, and I wanted to understand the psychology behind that. Over my career, I shifted from studying what people choose to eat to what they choose not to eat and why waste happens.” -Brenna Ellison
Now a nationally recognized expert in the economics of food loss and waste, Ellison works to address global issues that affect every stage of the supply chain.
“Food loss and waste are global issues, and we know that households are actually one of the largest contributors to food waste in developed countries like the United States,” said Ellison. “In order to stay on track with goals set by the United Nations and within the U.S., we really have to work on reducing this to make sure that we have a healthy planet for many generations to come.”
Ellison also established the Center for Food Conservation and Waste Reduction at Purdue in 2024. The center is largely dedicated to reducing household food waste and improving nutrition security.
Ellison earned her bachelor’s degree in agribusiness from Abilene Christian University and holds both a master’s and Ph.D. in agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University. Before joining Purdue in 2021, she spent nine years on the faculty at the University of Illinois. Ellison has published 59 peer-reviewed journal articles, five book chapters and 55 outreach publications.
In 2022, Ellison co-created the Gardner Food and Agricultural Policy Survey (GFAPS) alongside colleagues at the University of Illinois. This quarterly, cross-sectional survey of approximately 1,000 consumers monitors public opinion on critical food and agriculture issues. Most recently, the GFAPS team has focused on providing timely analyses and tracking of public perceptions of food price inflation and tariffs.
She was honored with the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Educator Award in 2019, then in 2024, received the Purdue College of Agriculture Spotlight Educator Award.
Ellison contributes her success to the supportive leadership at both Purdue and the University of Illinois, as well as her students. “My graduate and undergraduate students and collaborators are great supporters in my research. They make it much more fun and worthwhile,” Ellison said.
I really want to thank the College of Agriculture for nominating me for this award. Being a University Faculty Scholar is a big achievement here at Purdue, and it’s something I’m really proud of.” -Brenna Ellison
