Rachel Bezner Kerr, associate professor of development sociology, has been named an International Faculty Fellow for 2016–2019 by the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies.
Bezner Kerr’s research looks at the broad themes of sustainable agriculture, food security, health, nutrition, and social inequalities, with a primary focus in southern Africa. She hopes to arrive at a deeper understanding of the historical, political, economic, and social dimensions of agricultural practices and policies in southern Africa — with the goal of improving nutrition, food security, and soil management in the region.
“It is an honor to be awarded the International Faculty Fellowship,” says Bezner Kerr, “as it recognizes the long-term work that I have carried out to promote sustainable food systems in Malawi. Throughout my academic career I have pursued this international effort, sometimes without active support or recognition of the importance of such work from others, and it is wonderful to have this recognition now.”
Bezner Kerr joined the Cornell faculty in 2012. She earned a PhD in development sociology from Cornell (2006), an MS in land resource sciences from University of Guelph (1998), and a BS in cooperative international development from University of Toronto (1996).
Hirokazu Miyazaki, director of the Einaudi Center, anticipates Bezner Kerr will contribute to the center’s mission of promoting collaborative research, teaching, and outreach programs across campus.
“I believe that the center will benefit a great deal from Rachel’s deeply interdisciplinary work on food and nutrition security, and I look forward to collaborating with her in our effort to address global sustainability issues,” he says.
Thomas Pepinsky, associate professor of government in the College of Arts and Sciences, was also named an International Faculty Fellow.
See the complete article at the Global Cornell website.
Photo credit: David Burbank / Cornell Marketing Group
