Jessica Agnew joins CALS Global as Associate Director

In 2022, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences approved a full-time associate director role for CALS Global. Jessica Agnew accepted the position in February 2022. After earning her PhD in Planning, Governance, and Globalization from the School of Public and International Affairs at Virginia Tech and 2020 she served as the Assistant Director for Research, Operations, and Program Management. Agnew brings with her extensive experience and global network in agriculture and life sciences. She specializes in market-based approaches to nutrition and technological innovation for agri-food value chain development in a low- and middle-income context. Her research and strengths as an ideator and implementer will support the CALS Global strategy and development as a unit.

Agnew also holds a Master of Public Health (VT) and a Master of Science in Food, Agriculture, and Research Economics (University of Guelph). Her most recent research has investigated the role of blockchain technology to improve food security in western Kenya. This project has led to the development of an industry partnership with the Australian tech company, AgUnity, and relationships with the private sector and government officials in Kenya. Agnew is now leading the effort for Virginia Tech to be at the forefront of deploying blockchain technology in a lower-middle-income country context. Other countries Agnew has worked in include Dominican Republic, Mozambique, Bangladesh, and most recently, Cambodia.

In this role, Agnew will continue to develop her skills as a relationship builder, researcher, educator, and innovator to put the college and the university at the forefront of global challenges in agriculture and life sciences.