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 Director of the 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.

Dr. Kimberly Morgan earned a BS in 1993 in Animal Science, a M.S. in Food & Resource Economics in 1997, and a Ph.D. in Food & Resource Economics in 2007, all from the University of Florida. She worked with the University of Florida's Agricultural Market Research Center as an Economic Analyst from 2000-08. From July 2008-2013, Dr. Morgan was an Extension Agricultural Economist in the Agricultural Economics Department at Mississippi State University. In 2013, she joined the Agricultural and Applied Economics Department at Virginia Tech as an Assistant Professor and Extension Agricultural Economist. She was appointed to the endowed Kohl Centre Junior Faculty Fellow position from 2013-2020 by the Virginia Board of Visitors. She earned tenure and held the title of Associate Professor from June 2019 until her departure from Virginia Tech to begin her duties “back home” in Immokalee, Florida, with the University of Florida’s SW Florida Research and Extension Center.

• 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
  • 1999-2000
    Biological Scientist, Large Animal Clinical Science Department, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
  • 1998-1999
    USDA National Needs Fellow, Agricultural Economics Department, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
  • 1996-1997
    Teaching and Research Assistant, Food and Resource Economics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
  • 1993-1995
    Veterinary Technician, Aalatash Animal Hospital East/West, Gainesville, Florida
  • 1990-1991
    Veterinary Technician, Town & Country Animal Hospital, Gainesville, Florida
  • 1988-1994
    Owner/Operator of The Complete Horse, on-site horse and rider instruction, Gainesville, Florida
• Awards and Honors
  • 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
  • American Agricultural Economics Association
  • Southern Agricultural Economics Association
  • National Agri-Marketing Association
  • Food Distribution Research Society
  • Virginia Association of Agriculture and Extension Agents
  • Virginia Cooperative Council
  • Colonial Farm Credit Agricultural Education Foundation
  • Mississippi Food Policy Council
  • American Society of Horticultural Science
  • Mississippi Agricultural Economics Association
  • Gaining Ground Sustainability Institute
  • Mississippi Fruit and Vegetable Grower Association