Charles Towe, Delfavero Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics, has been named interim head of the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ARE) in the University of Connecticut’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR). Towe assumes the role following the retirement of department head Kimberly Rollins.

Towe joined UConn in 2014 and currently serves as a professor in ARE, where his research focuses on environmental and resource economics, land use, and economic valuation of environmental amenities. His work addresses issues such as water quality, coastal resources, and the interaction between environmental policy and economic outcomes. In addition to his research program, Towe is a dedicated educator, teaching courses in environmental policy, applied econometrics, and computational methods.

“Dr. Towe brings deep institutional knowledge, a strong research portfolio, and a collaborative leadership style to this role. He is well positioned to guide the department during this transition and to build on their strong foundation,” says Interim Dean Kumar Venkitanarayanan.

As interim head, Towe will oversee departmental operations while continuing his research and teaching responsibilities. He will also retain his role as Delfavero Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics.

Towe earned his Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park. His academic background also includes degrees in economics from Tufts University and the University of North Carolina at Asheville.

“I’m honored to step into this role and to foster a thoughtful, inclusive approach to leadership,” Towe says. “The department has an exceptional group of faculty, staff, and students, and I look forward to supporting their work while helping ARE continue to thrive.”

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