Co-creation of Knowledge for Transformative Agroecology ft. V. Ernesto Méndez

The University Scholars Awards, presented annually, honor and recognize distinguished UVM faculty members for sustained excellence in research, creative and scholarly activities. The award is co-sponsored by the Provost and the Graduate College.

Professor V. Ernesto Méndez, Co-Director of the Institute for Agroecology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Dr. Ernesto Méndez is an internationally recognized leader in agroecology whose scholarship has had a profound global impact. He has authored seven influential books and 64 peer-reviewed publications, including work in leading journals such as Nature Food, and his research has been cited more than 8,000 times. Grounded in participatory action research and community-engaged scholarship, Dr. Méndez’s work advances food security, biodiversity, ecosystem services, and economic well-being across the United States, Latin America, and Africa. Beyond his distinguished research record, Dr. Méndez has mentored hundreds of students, provided transformative leadership at the University of Vermont through roles including founder of the Institute for Agroecology, inaugural Vice President for Research Fellow, and faculty director of Graduate Studies in Agroecology, and has helped shape major institutional initiatives. His achievements have been recognized through numerous awards, sustained external funding, and strong endorsements highlighting not only his intellectual leadership and integrity but also his deep commitment to equity, collaboration, and human-centered scholarship.