Southwest Florida Research & Education Center

Agricultural Economics

Dr. Kimberly “Kim” L. Morgan joined the Food and Resource Economics Department at the University of Florida in August 2020 as an Associate Professor and Extension Agricultural Economist. She is the Coordinator of the UF/IFAS Farm Labor Supervisor Training program, leading a team of experts who provide educational programs to protect the health and safety of Florida farm workers, supervisors, and owners, as they work 24/7/365 to provide fresh, healthy food and food products locally, regionally, nationally, and globally.

Her extension program goal is to pursue multi-disciplinary, science-based, objective research that serves to inform decisions made by consumers, producers, and policymakers who are connected by Florida’s food and resources.

Dr. Morgan’s research program goals are centered on measurable real-world needs communicated by Florida’s rural, natural resource, and agribusiness owners, managers and consumers. Specific research objectives include: understanding significant factors which influence specialty crop producers to adoption new technologies and/or pursue new marketing channels, determining the physical, behavioral and demographic characteristics of consumers motivated to seek out food and food products sold directly from the farm, and assessing the economic impacts of natural or man-made hazards on the private and public sectors of the state.

Education
- Doctor of Philosophy, Food and Resource Economics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 2007
- Master of Science, Food and Resource Economics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 1997
- Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 1993

Professional Experience
- 2020-present
  Associate Professor, Extension Economist, Food and Resource Economics Department, Southwest Florida Research and Extension Center, University of Florida, Immokalee, Florida
- 2019-2020
  Associate Professor, Extension Economist, Kohl Junior Faculty Fellow, Agricultural and Applied Economics Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, Virginia
- 2013-2019
  Assistant Professor, Extension Economist, Kohl Junior Faculty Fellow, Agricultural and Applied Economics Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, Virginia
- 2008-2013
  Assistant Professor, Agricultural Economics Department, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi
- 2002-2020
  Adjunct Economics Faculty, Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, New Hampshire
- 2000-2008
  Coordinator, Economic Analysis, Florida Agricultural Market Research Center, Food and Resource Economics Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida

Awards and Honors
- 2021 UF/IFAS Professional Enhancement Award – Extension Entrepreneurial Team Award
- 2020 Extension Award (group category, Surviving the Farm Economy Downturn publication), Southern Agricultural Economics Association
- 2019 Farm Credit National Market Maker Innovation Award (with French Price)
- 2019 Distinguished Teaching Award, Less Than Ten Years’ Experience, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association
- 2019 Outstanding Teaching of a Course Award (Applied Economic Problem-Solving), Southern Agricultural Economics Association
- 2017 Southern Risk Management and Extension Center award for Outstanding Outreach Project (with Kim Niewolny)
- 2015 Farm Credit National Market Maker Innovation Award (with Gordon Groover and Rose Jeter)
- 2014 Patrick J. Byrne Emerging Leadership Award, Food Distribution Research Society
- 2014 Virginia Tech Teacher of the Week
- Mississippi State University 2011 State Pride Award
- Mississippi State University 2010 State Pride Award

Publications
- Research Publications
- Extension Publications

Other Professional Activities
- Applied Agricultural Economics Association
- Southern Agricultural Economics Association
- Florida State Horticultural Society
- Food Distribution Research Society
- Southern Extension Economics Committee
- National Food Market Maker
- Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (C-FARE)
- S-1088 Multistate: Specialty Crops and Food Systems: Exploring Markets, Supply Chains and Policy Dimensions