Dr. Joshua Duke
Joshua Duke, currently professor of applied economics and statistics at the University of Delaware, will join the Auburn University College of Agriculture on March 1, 2019, as Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology chair and professor.
College of Agriculture Dean Paul Patterson said Duke was selected for the position following a national search.
“I am excited that Dr. Duke will be joining our faculty as chair of the agricultural economics and rural sociology department,” Patterson said. “I know he will bring new ideas and valuable leadership skills to this role. I look forward to working with him to advance this department and the College of Agriculture.”
Duke joined the Delaware university’s faculty in 1998 after completing his doctorate in agricultural and applied economics, with a minor in law, from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition to his position in Delaware’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, he holds joint appointments in the colleges of business and economics and earth, ocean and environment and a secondary appointment as professor of legal studies.
His research emphases are law and economics; land-use, natural-resource and environmental economics; and property rights.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead an excellent department at an outstanding university like Auburn,” Duke said of his upcoming move. “The job will undoubtedly have many challenges, but I am stepping into a department that has enjoyed excellent past leadership, has top-notch faculty and staff and has some of the best undergraduate and graduate programming I have seen.”
One of his priorities at Auburn will be helping students maximize their skill sets for today’s job market, he said.
The Palo Alto, California, native holds a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the University of Vermont and an M.S. in public policy analysis from the University of Rochester in New York.
Patricia Duffy, professor of agricultural economics at Auburn, has served as interim department chair since June and will continue in the role through February 2019, Patterson said.
