Originally from Ecuador, Alexis Villacis is an applied microeconomist studying the social welfare implications of agricultural production, with a particular interest in behavioral economics, climate change, and food security.

Prior to joining the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics at The Ohio State University, Villacis worked for Arizona State University, Universidad Espiritu Santo, and the Government of Ecuador.

Villacis has extensive experience in Latin America, collaborating with international organizations including the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, and USAID on research projects in Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Ecuador, and Paraguay. Alexis’ research interests have also taken him to China and Austria, where he has been a fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and a visiting researcher at Innsbruck University, respectively.

Alexis currently serves as a senior advisor for The Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute and as an associate editor for the Agricultural and Resource Economics Review and the Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies. He is also the current chair-elect of the International Section and the former chair of the Applied Risk Analysis Section of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association. During 2022, Villacis was recognized by the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) with their inaugural "Rising Star Award". Bestowed by the IFAMA Young Board for the first time that year, this award “recognizes outstanding contributions of young professionals, under the age of 35, who are actively working to the improve the strategic focus, transparency, sustainability and responsiveness of the food and agribusiness system in order to ensure food security.”

View Villacis' most updated CV at his website.