Lucia Ona
Education
Ph.D. University of Kentucky, 2007 (Agricultural Economics)
M.S. University of Kentucky, 2003 (Economics)
M.A. University of Kentucky, 2000 (Diplomacy and International Commerce)
B.A. Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador, 1994 (Economics)
Biography
I am an agricultural economist. I joined the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources at ABAC in the Fall Semester of 2016.
At ABAC, I have taught Agribusiness Management, Introduction to Agricultural Marketing, Applied Economics, Principles of Macroeconomics, Principles of Microeconomics and a Global Experiential Learning (Study Abroad) at ABAC.
Previously, I worked as a research associate for CEDIK (the Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky) at the University of Kentucky (College of Agriculture). In this role, I performed academic research on topics related to community and economic development, particularly issues related to rural health in Kentucky and Appalachia. I wrote manuscripts for peer reviewed publications, prepared proposals for research projects and applied for grants for the university.
Before joining CEDIK I lived for more than six years in Ecuador where I worked as a professor at the only graduate university for public employees. In that position, I taught demographic analysis to students in the public administration program and worked as an academic coordinator of the program ‘Specialization in Public Administration’.
Previous to that, I worked as an adviser to the Ecuadorian Secretary of Agriculture. I was involved in different projects as a coordinator and a leader, most of them sought to help small farmers. Additionally, I represented the Secretary and worked with institutions of the government and international organizations such as the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, and the German Federal Enterprise for International Cooperation (GIZ).
I also had the opportunity to work as a professor of microeconomics at two distinguished universities in Ecuador.
I began my doctorate career as a post doctorate scholar at the University of Kentucky performing research focused on rural economic development and rural health issues.
Research Interests
Rural and international development, health economics, different population issues including aging and poverty issues, and more recently, issues on agricultural marketing.
AECO 2260: Introduction to Agricultural Marketing
AECO 4100: Agribusiness Management
AECO 2258: Applied Economics
ECON 2106: Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 2105: Principles of Macroeconomics
GLST 3700: Global Experiential Learning (Study Abroad in Argentina)
Awards and honors include:
– Fulbright Scholar: 1998-2000.
– Recipient of the Gail Dillard Faculty Engagement Award at ABAC for the proposal to do a pre-visit to Argentina before launching the study abroad program at ABAC: 2017.
– Two times nominated by my students for the W. Bruce and Rosalyn Ray Donaldson Award for Excellence in Student Engagement at ABAC: 2019 and 2020.
– Patterson School of Diplomacy Scholarship, University of Kentucky: 1999.
– Nominated for Gamma Sigma Delta Outstanding Graduate Student Award. University of Kentucky. 2005.
Publications:
Ona, L., A. Davis and A. Hudoyo. “Economic Impact of the Critical Access Program on Kentucky’s Communities”. Published in the Journal of Rural Health 27, 2011. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1748-0361.2010.00312.x
Ona, L., A. Hudoyo and D. Freshwater. “Economic Impact of Hospital Closure on Rural Communities in Three Southern States”. Published in the Jounal of Regional Science and Policy. Volume 37(2).Summer, 2007.http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/132416/2/07-2-8.pdf
1. Opened the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) at ABAC Chapter in 2020. I serve as the Chapter advisor. We promote academic and professional advancement by empowering minorities in agriculture, natural resources and academic sciences in our college by providing a nurturing place where ABAC minority students and any student interested in supporting issues of diversity and inclusion can grow professionally by providing leadership, networking, and career opportunities.
2. Designed and launched the first study abroad program of the Department of Agriculture. A total of nine students enrolled in GLST 3700 (Global Experiential Learning) during the Spring Semester 2019. The three-credit hour class was taught once a week and consisted primarily on preparing the students to their visit to Argentina during the spring break, the visit to Argentina itself and after coming back, a re-cap of their experience. It was without any doubt a great experience for the students involved.
2. The Sales Shadowing Project (SSP) and the Interview Project implemented in my Introduction to Agricultural Marketing and Agribusiness courses, respectively, have helped around 1,000 ABAC students get internships, jobs and networking opportunities in the agricultural field. The SSP Project was implemented in the Spring semester of 2017 and the Interview Project in the Spring semester of 2019.
