UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Dave Abler, professor of agricultural, environmental and regional economics and demography, has been appointed head of the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education (AESE) at Penn State, effective August 1.
Abler has served as interim head of the department since 2023.
“On behalf of the entire faculty and administration, I am pleased to congratulate Dr. Dave Abler on being named head of agricultural economics, sociology and education,” said Troy Ott, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences. “His extensive background in economic and environmental sustainability of agriculture, global food and agricultural markets, natural resource economics, and climate change adaptation and mitigation give him a broad perspective that will allow him to serve the breadth of the AESE department. Furthermore, during his time in the interim head role, Dave demonstrated thoughtful and strategic leadership of the department. We are confident that his expertise and vision will guide AESE to new heights of excellence and innovation.”
Abler said he’s looking forward to using his role to help uphold the values and mission of Penn State, which was the state’s first land-grant university.
“I am a firm believer in the importance of Penn State’s land-grant mission, which brings together teaching, research and Extension to create, disseminate and apply knowledge for the benefit of Pennsylvania, the nation and the world,” he said. “I am honored to work with and lead an outstanding team of faculty, staff and students in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education as we strive to advance the land-grant mission.”
After earning his bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics from Macalester College, Abler went on to receive his doctorate in economics from the University of Chicago. His research includes the economic and environmental sustainability of agriculture, global food and agricultural markets, natural resource economics, and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
His research has taken him to completing work in China, Costa Rica, France, India, Mexico, Nepal, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Peru, the United Kingdom and Venezuela. He is also the J. Lossing Buck Visiting Professor at Nanjing Agricultural University in China.
Abler will replace Laszlo Kulcsar, who led the department from 2017 to 2023, when he left the role to serve as interim dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences before being appointed senior associate dean.
The Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education aims to create and extend knowledge through nationally and internationally recognized research, teaching and Extension activities in three key social science disciplines: agricultural economics, rural sociology, and agricultural and extension education.