Brian Roe Receives 2025 Distinguished Scholar Award

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Brian E. Roe, the Fred N. VanBuren Professor of Farm Management and associate chair in The Ohio State UniversityCollege of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics (AEDE), has earned one of The Ohio State University's highest faculty honors: the 2025 Distinguished Scholar Award.

Senior leadership from the Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge (ERIK) surprised Roe with the award, which recognizes faculty who demonstrate exceptional scholarly activity, research impact, and creative work that brings distinction to the university.

Roe is widely regarded as a global leader in food waste research. His pioneering use of behavioral economics in agricultural, environmental, and health-related research has advanced policy and practice across multiple disciplines.

"Two things stood out in your nomination packet: the breadth of your research and your ability to translate it into real world impacts," said Loren Wold, senior associate vice president in ERIK.

Cathann A. Kress, Ohio State vice president for agricultural administration and CFAES dean, echoed those sentiments.

"I think it really says something about a scholar when you are as renowned among your peers as you are by lay people who understand and appreciate not only the work you do but then utilize these discoveries fully in the decisions they make," said Kress. "It's hard to have work that can do all of those things and I commend you for your efforts that make that possible."

Amy Ando, AEDE department chair, also shared her thoughts.

"You are still finding new ways to create discovery, to build new bridges, to show directions for paths that need to be built. The work you're doing now is going to open another whole avenue of research in what you do," Ando said. "You are an outstanding researcher, an extraordinary public servant, and everything you do lifts up the people around you."

Roe leads the Ohio State Food Waste Collaborative, a collection of researchers, practitioners and students working together to promote the reduction and redirection of food waste as an integral part of a healthy and sustainable food system.

The Distinguished Scholar Award is among the highest annual honors awarded at Ohio State. The university-level award annually honors six faculty members who demonstrate scholarly activity, conduct research or creative works that represent exceptional achievements in their fields and garner distinction for the university.

Award recipients are nominated by their departments and chosen by a committee of senior faculty, including past award recipients. Distinguished Scholars receive an honorarium and a research grant to be used over the next three years.

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