Rate My Professor Aslihan Spaulding

Dr. Aslihan D. Spaulding is a Professor of Agribusiness & Food Industry Management in the Department of Agriculture at Illinois State University, having joined the institution in 2003. Her academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Kentucky in 2002, dual M.S. degrees in Economics and Agricultural Economics from the same university in 1999, and a B.A. in Economics from Bogazici University in 1996. Spaulding has demonstrated strong leadership within the university, serving as Interim Chairperson of the Department of Agriculture in 2023, Interim Chairperson of the Department of Economics from July 2022 to June 2023, and as the department's study abroad coordinator, leading programs in France and Argentina focused on sustainable food systems and international agriculture.

Her research focuses on survey design methodology, the application of big data in agriculture, agribusiness sales management, cybersecurity practices in the agriculture industry, nutrient management by Illinois farmers, crop insurance, farmer and consumer behavior, and new product development management. Notable publications include "Millennial Employees in the U.S. Food and Agribusiness Sector: Retention Trends and Drivers of Employee Loyalty" co-authored with Iuliia Tetteh and Marina Ptukhina (International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, 2021); "Cyber Security on The Farm: An Assessment of Cyber Security Practices in the Agriculture Industry" with Andrew Geil, Glen Sagers, and James Wolf (same journal, 2018); "Determining Barriers to Use of Edible School Gardens in Illinois" with Lucy Loftus et al. (Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 2017); and "Analysis of Risk Management Tools Utilized by Farmers" with Kerry Tudor et al. (Agricultural Finance Review, 2014). Spaulding teaches courses such as Strategic Agribusiness Sales (AGR 311), Food Industry Management and Strategic Management (AGR 317), Research Methodology (AGR 497), Agriculture and the Environment (AGR 203), and Computer Applications in Agriculture (AGR 205). She has been honored with the Living Our Values Award in 2019, the Outstanding University Service Award in 2020, and selection to the LEAD21 agriculture leadership program in 2023. Additionally, she contributed to a national team receiving a $10 million USDA grant in 2021 to develop alternative systems for agriculture.