Food and agricultural economist Dr. Jayson Lusk is the vice president and dean of Oklahoma State University agricultural programs. He leads the Ferguson College of Agriculture and two state agencies: OSU Extension and OSU Ag Research.

Lusk has spent his career studying what we eat and why we eat it. His research and expertise center around food policy, emerging food issues, consumer behavior, and livestock and meat technology and marketing, among other topics. He has published more than 270 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, written or co-written six books and travels across the country and internationally for speaking engagements and media appearances.

Previously Lusk was a faculty member at OSU for 13 years, departing as a Regents Professor for Purdue University in 2017. He served as head of the agricultural economics department at Purdue University for six years before returning to OSU.

He has a Ph.D. in ag economics from Kansas State and did his undergraduate work at Texas Tech in food technology.

Nominated by: Trey Malone,  Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Arkansas