Charting Your Path in Agricultural and Applied Economics: Career Strategies from a Department Head’s Perspective
Presented by:
Sarah Low
Agricultural & Consumer Economics
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Friday, April 24, 2026
12:00 pm-1:15 pm
Taylor-Hibbard Seminar Room (Rm103)
Graduate students in agricultural and applied economics face a rapidly evolving professional landscape, with opportunities spanning academia, Extension, government, NGOs, and industry. In response to interest from AAE graduate students, this seminar offers a candid, experience‑based look at career development in our field. I begin by outlining my own career trajectory across agricultural policy, academia, and leadership. I then discuss key challenges and shifts in higher education and how they may shape the future of work in AAE. The seminar concludes with my top ten tips for launching a successful and fulfilling career in agricultural and applied economics. These reflections draw on my experience as department head at the University of Illinois and as a director of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.