Jeffrey Alwang honored with emeritus status
Jeffrey Alwang, professor of economics in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of professor emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
The emeritus title may be conferred on retired faculty members who are specially recommended to the board by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands in recognition of exemplary service to the university. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board receive a copy of the resolution and a certificate of appreciation.
A member of the Virginia Tech community for more than 36 years, Alwang made significant research contributions to agricultural and rural development. Alwang was the principal or co-principal investigator on grants totaling more than $18 million.
He has authored or co-authored more than 100 refereed journal articles, 13 books, 17 book chapters, and has attended over 55 invited presentations nationally and internationally.
He has received many honors and awards including the Dingying Honorary Professorship at South China Agricultural University and the Achievement Award from the National Agricultural Research Institute in Ecuador.
Alwang successfully integrated graduate and undergraduate students into his research program. He has published more than 60 refereed papers with students as well as guided more than 27 graduate students to conduct research in developing countries. Alwang created an undergraduate research internship that funded 19 students to complete research in developing countries as well.
In the classroom, Alwang taught a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in the areas of development economics, topics in development theory, research methods, and dynamic analysis. Alwang has guided countless graduate students, resulting in many being hired into tenure-track positions at major U.S. or international academic institutions. He served as the advisor or co-advisor for 19 doctoral dissertations and 39 master’s theses.
Alwang received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science and agricultural economics from Pennsylvania State University and his doctoral degree in agricultural economics from Cornell University.
Written by Emily Southern ’26
