UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Elizabeth Ransom, associate professor and interim director of the School of International Affairs (SIA) and senior research associate with the Rock Ethics Institute at Penn State, is the recipient of the 2022 W. LaMarr Kopp International Achievement Award. 

Established in 1995, the award recognizes faculty members who have contributed significantly to the advancement of the international mission of the University. It is named for the late deputy vice president for international programs. 

Since joining Penn State in 2018, nominators said, Ransom has skyrocketed to leadership positions and has been a critical voice in efforts to internationalize programs. 

In her role as interim director, Ransom is responsible for steering SIA to develop the next generation of international affairs scholars and global experts through SIA’s Master of International Affairs program. About one-third of the students currently enrolled in the program are international, representing 17 countries. Both international and domestic students in the program go on to successful, high impact careers in the international affairs arena, at employers like the World Health Organization, the US Agency for International Development, the African Development Bank, diplomatic services around the world, and nongovernmental organizations working on poverty alleviation, food security, and gender equity.  

In International Affairs she teaches global cultures and leadership, international development and the ethics of development assistance, and the ethics of agriculture and food governance.  

Ransom is a key member in the Gender Equity through Agriculture Research and Education (GEARE) program. There, Ransom investigates the intersection of gender and agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa, the U.S., and Australia. She also works with animal scientists to research microbial resistance and its impact on animal agriculture and global health.  

“Dr. Ransom is particularly skilled at interdisciplinary team work so critical to understanding complex global challenges,” a nominator said. “For example, she is part of a team led by Eberly College of Science, funded by open philanthropy, to look at food resilience in the face of natural and man-made catastrophes. In that work, Dr. Ransom brings her social science expertise to help the natural scientists understand how their work to improve food production or develop novel foods would be received in local communities.” 

Nominators said Ransom expanded Penn State’s global reputation by serving in several prestigious positions including: the selection committee for the International Dissertation Research Fellowship program with the Social Science Research Council; reviewer Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research proposals administered by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; and reviewer for the National Science Foundation’s Science, Technology, and Society proposals.  

“Dr. Ransom has taken on these new responsibilities and has continued to advocate for international research and global learning throughout the challenges of the pandemic,” a nominator said. “She has kept students motivated and engaged, pursued her own research agenda and supported others. She has been a shining light for many of us by sharing her energy and enthusiasm for work that makes a difference.”