Kathleen A. Merrigan

Executive Director & Professor

2018 - Current

Advisor

2017

Advisor

2017 - 2022

Executive Director of Sustainability & Professor of Public Policy

2014 - 2018

Inaugural position established by the President and Board of Trustees to elevate sustainability efforts across education, research, operations, and public engagement. Reported directly to the Provost. Activities included teaching 'The Sustainable Plate' with Chef Jose Andres, organizing GreenGov in collaboration with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and hosting the first ever Food Tank Summit.

Consultant and Professional Speaker

2013 - 2014

Provided executive level business and policy counsel. Led leadership team of billion dollar company through intensive year-long process to improve profitability, contributing to a turnaround from one of the worst years to record profits in 2015. Other projects included: advising on new marketing campaign; critiquing non-profit's strategic plan; advising foundations on grantmaking; and mapping collegiate sustainability programs for a proposed institute. Speaking appearances reached thousands of people across a number of forums concerned with agriculture, nutrition, environment, and/or organizational management.

Deputy Secretary

2009 - 2013

• Manage 5th largest Federal department of 110,000 employees, 17 agencies, and $150 billion budget • President’s Management Council Member • Unanimously confirmed by U.S. Senate: 4/3/09 as Deputy; 9/15/10 as Commodity Credit Corporation Board Member • 2011 Presidential appointment to the National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations • Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance • 128 domestic trips to 47 states to visit field offices, give keynote speeches at conferences and colleges, conduct producer and business roundtables to solicit policy input, and engage media.

Delegation Head, Chairman, Author

1998 - 2013

• USDA lead, working to ensure strong and successful partnership with FAO. • 2011: Led American Delegation to Rome for selection of FAO Director General • 2009: Chaired FAO Conference of Member Nations (first woman chair in history) • 2008: Authored FAO action plan for research in organic food systems • 1998: Drafted first-ever organic policy adopted by the Conference of Member Nations

Director and Assistant Professor

2001 - 2009

Oversaw all aspects of M.S. and PhD programs in Agriculture, Food and Environment, designing the curriculum and teaching 3 required courses: Fundamentals of Public Policy and Agricultural Science and Policy I and II. Competed successfully for grants to support a range of sustainability research and oversaw New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, an initiative to assist immigrants gain agricultural experience and become commercial farmers.

Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service

1999 - 2001

Managed $1.2 billion agency and 10,000 employees. Agency activities included user-funded programs such as food grading; industry-initiated regulatory programs such as marketing orders; mandated programs such as national organic standards; and procurement of commodities for domestic feeding programs including National School Lunch.

Senior Analyst

1994 - 1999

Engaged in national agriculture policy development. Assisted grassroots groups, facilitated collaboration between NGOs, conducted policy research, provided congressional testimony, and disseminated information through conference presentations and publications.