January 11 – College of Agriculture and Human Sciences Interim Executive Associate Director of Research and Interim Farm Director Alfred L. Parks, Ph.D., has been named a 2021 Fellow by the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association — the organization’s most prestigious honor.

AAEA Fellows are selected for their continuous contribution to the advancement of agricultural or applied economics.

“I am honored to be named a 2021 Fellow by the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association,” Parks said. “My career reflects the things I am most passionate about, and to be recognized for my professional efforts is truly rewarding. I thank my colleagues and the AAEA for this honor.”

Parks was nominated for the honor by CAHS Dean Gerard D’Souza and colleagues from Purdue University, the University of Tennessee, and Mississippi State University.

“We are delighted the AAEA Selection Committee selected Dr. Parks as a 2021 Fellow,” D’Souza said. “Dr. Parks’ career demonstrates a deep commitment to agriculture and economics that has inspired countless students and colleagues. He is indeed a worthy recipient of this honor.”

Parks began his career as an assistant professor at Southern University and A&M College. He later joined the faculty at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) and has held various faculty and administrative positions.

Over his career, he taught seven different undergraduate courses and three different graduate courses averaging 4.5 out of 5.0 on his student evaluations. He is also an established mentor to CAHS students.

“Dr. Parks’ mentorship inside and outside of the classroom helped me discover and cultivate a passion for agricultural and food system research,” Bobby J. Smith II, Ph.D., said. Smith, an assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is Parks’ former student and mentee.

“As a professor, Dr. Parks created an intellectually transparent classroom that yielded productive and applied discussions surrounding some of the most pressing societal problems impacting the production, consumption, and distribution of food,” he said.

In addition to his teaching efforts, Parks has been awarded over $5.5 million in funded grants to support teaching, research, and extension-related activities, chaired over 70 masters’ theses, and mentored many undergraduate students in research.

Parks has received numerous awards and honors, including the 2019 AAEA/Committee on the Opportunities and Status of Blacks in Agricultural Economics/Committee on Women in Agricultural Economics Legacy Award. Most recently, in 2020, he received the Experiment Station Section Excellence in Leadership Award from the Association of Research Directors.

For more information on this article contact:

Dr. Alfred L. ParksAlfred Parks, Ph.D.
Interim Executive Associate Director of Research and
Interim Farm Director
alparks@pvamu.edu
(936) 261-2629