Rick Welsh, professor of sociology, has been elected to a three-year term of leadership in the Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), beginning as president-elect in June 2026.

The AFHVS is a prominent international professional organization that brings together scholars and practitioners for cross-disciplinary study of food, agriculture and health. Drawing members from philosophy, sociology, anthropology, nutrition policy and the humanities, it promotes research and dialogue on topics including food systems, agricultural sustainability, food justice and food sovereignty. It also publishes Agriculture and Human Values, a peer-reviewed journal that serves as the organization’s official scholarly publication.

Welsh is a senior research associate in the Center for Policy Research. Before he joined Maxwell in 2024, he served as the chair of the Nutrition and Food Studies Program at Falk College from 2014-21. His research and teaching focus on social change and development, with particular emphasis on agri-food systems, science and technology studies, and environmental sociology.

He previously served as editor-in-chief of Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems from 2011-23 and has held positions with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Henry A. Wallace Institute for Alternative Agriculture. In 2016, AFHVS recognized him with its Excellence in Research Award.