Rick Welsh Elected to Lead Global Food Research Society

Research Excellence Drives New Role for Rick Welsh

Bonnie Johnson
July 06, 2026
Media Article

Rick Welsh, a Syracuse University sociologist, was elected president-elect of the Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society, recognizing his leadership in food systems, sustainability, and agricultural research.

Rick Welsh, a sociology professor at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School, has been elected to a three-year leadership term with the Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS). He began serving as president-elect in June 2026.

AFHVS is an international organization that brings together scholars and professionals from fields such as sociology, anthropology, philosophy, nutrition policy, and the humanities. The society promotes research on food systems, agricultural sustainability, food justice, and food sovereignty, and publishes the peer-reviewed journal Agriculture and Human Values.

Welsh is a senior research associate in Syracuse University’s Center for Policy Research. Prior to joining the Maxwell School in 2024, he served as chair of the Nutrition and Food Studies Program at Falk College from 2014 to 2021.

His academic work focuses on social change, environmental sociology, agri-food systems, and the connections between science, technology, and society. Over the years, he has held several leadership roles in agricultural and food systems research.

Welsh previously served as editor-in-chief of Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems from 2011 to 2023 and has also worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Henry A. Wallace Institute for Alternative Agriculture.

His research contributions have been widely recognized, including receiving the AFHVS Excellence in Research Award in 2016. His election to the society’s leadership highlights his extensive experience and commitment to advancing research and dialogue on food, agriculture, sustainability, and social change.

Photo by: maxwell-syr-edu