Applied Economist & Policy Fellow

Dr. Success Okafor

Agriculture feeds the world. It should also build wealth, protect land, and lift every farmer who tends it.

PhD Applied Economist. Policy Economist Fellow, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute. Advancing equitable food systems through rigorous research, spatial econometrics, and federal policy advocacy.

USDA-Funded Research Agribusiness & Applied Economics Bloomberg • Wisconsin Examiner Richmond, Virginia
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Dr. Success Okafor
95
Hydroponic
operations
in dataset
About

Applied Economist. Researcher.
Advocate for equitable food systems.

Dr. Success Okafor

I am Dr. Success Okafor, a Nigerian-born applied economist whose work sits at the intersection of data science, agricultural policy, and equity. Shaped by my father's farm in Anambra State, Nigeria, I have dedicated my career to a question that is as economic as it is moral: how do we build food systems that are as prosperous for the farmer as they are productive for the nation?

My USDA-funded PhD dissertation at North Carolina A&T State University built the first-ever dataset of 95 hydroponic operations across 8 Southeastern states, deploying econometric modeling and GIS spatial analysis to identify viable market entry pathways for socially disadvantaged producers excluded from emerging farming systems.

As Policy Economist Fellow at Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, I translate rigorous economic research into federal legislative briefs, policy commentaries, and media commentary reaching Bloomberg, the Wisconsin Examiner, and Public News Service. My conviction is simple: policy without data is opinion, and data without policy is noise.

I am currently on the job market, seeking faculty positions, economics and policy leadership roles, and research appointments in agriculture and related domains where evidence meets equitable reform.

Current RolePolicy Economist Fellow, MFAI
PhDAgribusiness & Applied Economics
LocationRichmond, Virginia
InstitutionNC A&T State University (HBCU)
Contactsokafor@michaelfields.org
Job MarketOpen to Opportunities
Econometric ModelingGIS Spatial Analysis R & PythonSAS & Stata ArcGIS & QGISPolicy Analysis Machine LearningAgricultural Economics Lean Six SigmaPublic Speaking
Research & Publications

Data-driven work for
real-world impact.

2025 • Doctoral Dissertation • ProQuest

Examining the Impacts of Hydroponic Operations in the Southeastern United States: Linkages to Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Built the first-ever US dataset of 95 hydroponic operations across 8 Southeastern states. Econometric modeling and GIS spatial suitability analysis to identify viable market entry strategies for socially disadvantaged producers.

USDA-Funded • NC A&T
2025 • Refereed Conference Proceedings • AAEA & WAEA

Examining Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Impacts on Hydroponic Operations via Suitability Analyses: County Level Perspectives

Okafor, S.A.N., Liang, C.L., and Beni, L.H. Presented at the 2025 AAEA and WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.

Peer-Reviewed Proceedings
2026, March • Policy Research Report • MFAI

The Economic Case for Diversified Farming Systems: Market Failure, Ecosystem Services, and Policy Reform

Institutional research report examining market failure in U.S. agriculture, economic value of ecosystem services, and evidence-based reform for diversified farming systems.

Michael Fields Agricultural Institute
2026, February • Policy Commentary • MFAI

A First Look: What the House Republicans' Farm Bill Draft Has to Offer Regenerative Agriculture

Analysis of the 2026 House Farm Bill draft and its implications for regenerative agriculture producers, incentive structures, and conservation program equity.

Farm Bill Analysis
2026, February • Policy Commentary • MFAI

The Agricultural Crisis Letter Gets the Diagnosis Right but Misses the Cure

Critical policy commentary on the national agricultural crisis, arguing for structural reform over symptomatic relief in federal agricultural policy design.

Policy Commentary
2025, December • Co-authored Statement • MFAI

USDA Conservation Programs: January 15 Deadline and Statement on Bridge Payments

Co-authored with R. Martin. Analysis of USDA conservation program access, bridge payment implications, and structural barriers for diversified and specialty crop producers.

Conservation Policy
2022 • MS Thesis • ProQuest, Southern Illinois University

Impact of Economic Growth on Carbon Dioxide Emissions in North and South American Countries

Panel data econometric analysis of the Environmental Kuznets Curve across 20+ countries. Fixed and random effects regression testing the GDP growth and CO2 emissions relationship.

Environmental Economics
Experience

Built across institutions,
continents, and disciplines.

Policy Economist Fellow
Sept 2025 – Present
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute • East Troy, WI (Remote)
  • Conduct policy analysis on incentives and constraints affecting adoption of Diverse Perennial Circular Systems under a USDA-NIFA funded project
  • Collaborate with interdisciplinary team from University of Wisconsin-Madison and agricultural stakeholders to develop evidence-based policy recommendations
  • Author policy briefs, research reports, and commentaries targeting legislators, USDA officials, and agricultural service institutions
  • Work cited in Bloomberg, Wisconsin Examiner, and Public News Service as expert policy commentary
  • Engage underserved farming communities through stakeholder interviews and participatory research methods
Graduate Research Assistant (PhD)
Jan 2023 – Dec 2025
North Carolina A&T State University (HBCU) • USDA-Funded ($33,000/year)
  • Led USDA-funded dissertation research on hydroponic farming systems and bioeconomy development across 8 Southeastern states
  • Built first-ever US hydroponic operations dataset; applied GIS spatial modeling, econometrics, R, and Python
  • Presented at 2025 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting; 1st Place, CEA Summit East Graduate Poster Competition
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Quantitative Methods
Jan 2024 – Dec 2025
North Carolina A&T State University
  • Delivered recitation sessions for graduate-level regression analysis, probability, and applied statistical modeling
  • Designed supplementary problem sets; guided students through R and STATA applications
Graduate Research & Teaching Assistant
Aug 2021 – Dec 2022
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
  • Completed MS thesis using panel data econometrics and Environmental Kuznets Curve framework across 20+ countries
  • Supported undergraduate instruction in agricultural market structure, price analysis, and farm financial management
Teaching Assistant, Agricultural Economics
Jan 2019 – July 2021
Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic • Port Harcourt, Nigeria
  • Delivered foundational instruction in agricultural economics to undergraduate students over two academic years
Agricultural Economist & Production Supervisor
2014 – 2018
Unlimited Farms & FUTO Teaching and Research Farm • Nigeria
  • Supervised feed and poultry production; established an organic farm pilot project at FUTO's Teaching and Research Farm
Education & Certifications

Three degrees.
Two continents. One mission.

Doctor of Philosophy
Agribusiness & Applied Economics
North Carolina A&T State University (HBCU) • Greensboro, NC
December 2025
Dissertation: Examining the Impacts of Hydroponic Operations in the Southeastern US • USDA-funded ($33,000/year) • 1st Place CEA Summit East
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
Data Analytics
North Carolina A&T State University • Greensboro, NC
December 2025
Applied data science credential • R, Python, GIS, and machine learning for agricultural research applications
Master of Science
Agribusiness Economics
Southern Illinois University Carbondale • Carbondale, IL
December 2022
Thesis: Impact of Economic Growth on CO2 Emissions in North and South American Countries • Panel data econometrics • Environmental Kuznets Curve
Bachelor of Technology
Agricultural Economics
Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) • Nigeria
June 2018
Thesis: Determinant of Market Outlet Choice for Smallholder Honey Marketers in Imo State
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
Process Improvement & Quality Management
Quality America Inc. • NC A&T State University
November 2024
Certified in data-driven process improvement, quality management, and applied statistical problem-solving methodologies
R & Python Certification
Data Science & Programming
DataCamp, Inc.
November 2024
Introduction to Basic and Intermediate Concepts in R and Python • Applied to agricultural data analysis and econometric research workflows
Fellowships, Awards & Grants

Recognized across
sectors and institutions.

🌿

[Re]Generation Fellow

Quivira Coalition, American Grassfed Association & Holistic Management International (Nov 2025). Regenerative agriculture leadership and land stewardship.

🌾

FUSION Fellow

American Farm Bureau Federation / CoBank (March 2025). Bridging emerging agricultural researchers with national farm policy networks.

🎓

CISC HBCU Graduate Fellow

W.K. Kellogg Foundation (2023-2024) • $6,000. Supporting HBCU research leadership and community-centered food system impact.

🏆

1st Place, CEA Summit East

Graduate Student Poster Competition (Sept 2025). Hydroponic ecosystem research for socially disadvantaged smallholder producers.

📑

USDA Dissertation Funding

USDA Office of Chief Economist & Evans-Allen Program (2023-2025) • $33,000/year. Hydroponic entrepreneurial ecosystem research in the Southeast.

🎓

Gamma Sigma Delta

Scholarship Award, NC A&T Chapter (April 2025). Honor society recognition for academic excellence and research contribution.

✈

ERS/AAEA Travel Grant

$1,500 annually (2024-2026). Economic Research Service and AAEA support for national conference presentations.

✈

AAEA Trust Travel Grant

$1,000 (July 2024). Agricultural and Applied Economics Association support for research dissemination.

🌟

HBCU MSI UNC ASG Grant

Professional Development Grant • $500 (March 2025). HBCU and Minority Serving Institution professional development support.

Conference Presentations

Research shared
at the national stage.

2025
AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting
Denver, CO • July 2025 • Oral Presentation
2025
MANRRS 39th Annual Training Conference & Career Expo
Memphis, TN • April 2025 • Oral Presentation & 3-Minute Thesis
2024
Small Business Institute 48th Annual Conference
Orlando, FL • April 2024 • Oral Presentation
2023
11th Black Doctoral Network Conference
Atlanta, GA • October 2023 • Poster Presentation
2023
81st Professional Agricultural Workers Conference
Montgomery, AL • October 2023 • Oral Presentation
2023
Center for Farming Systems Annual Meeting
Greensboro, NC • April 2023 • Oral Presentation
Media & Press

Commentary that
shapes the conversation.

Wisconsin News Connection • Public News Service

Structural Causes of the Farm Crisis and the Case for Regenerative Agriculture

Quoted as policy economist on the structural roots of the U.S. farm crisis and regenerative agriculture as a durable, evidence-based policy alternative for long-term resilience.

February 2026
Wisconsin Examiner

Federal Agricultural Aid, Bridge Payments, and Structural Challenges Facing Wisconsin Farmers

Expert commentary on USDA bridge payments, federal aid programs, and the structural challenges faced by Wisconsin's diversified and specialty crop farmers.

December 2025
Wisconsin News Connection

Equity Concerns in Federal Relief Programs for Diversified Producers

Quoted on equity gaps in federal relief mechanisms and the barriers faced by diversified and specialty crop producers in accessing USDA support.

December 2025
Beyond Research

Faith, community,
and purpose beyond the data.

"The same conviction that drives my research drives my faith: that every person has inherent worth, and that every system, in agriculture or in community, should reflect that."

Dr. Okafor's life beyond the academy is anchored in deep Christian faith and active community leadership. He has served as a youth and young adult leader, music director, and worship minister, living and preaching the message of God's love, faith in Christ, and grace. His belief that every person carries dignity and potential is not separate from his economics; it is the foundation of it.

Whether in the policy arena, the research lab, or the church community, he carries the same commitment: to build systems that work for people, not around them.

Youth & Young Adult Leader

Active leader investing in the next generation through faith, mentorship, and community

Music Director & Worship Minister

Keyboard player and worship leader bringing the congregation together through music and ministry

Photographer

Visual storyteller capturing moments of life, nature, and human connection

Lifelong Learner

Committed to growth across economics, policy, faith, and human flourishing

Contact

Open to opportunities,
collaboration, and conversation.

Open to Opportunities

Faculty appointments, director-level roles, economics leadership, and speaking engagements.

I bring rigorous applied economics research, proven federal policy impact, and a clear commitment to equity in food and agricultural systems. Whether you represent a university, government agency, international organization, foundation, or media outlet, I welcome the conversation.

Faculty Positions Research Scientist Agricultural Director Chief Economist Policy Leadership Economics Roles in Ag Domains Speaking Engagements Media Commentary
✉
Work Emailsokafor@michaelfields.org
📞
Office (International: +1)+1 (262) 642-3303, Ext. 115
🔗
LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/success-okafor
📍
LocationRichmond, Virginia, USA
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