Current Research & Opportunities

Graduate Assistantship

Graduate students enrolled in degree programs for the M.S. thesis option, and for the Ph.D. are eligible for support by a graduate teaching assistantship (GTA) or graduate research assistantship (GRA). Assistantships may be offered to any of these graduate students, except those entering on provisional status. A graduate student who does not initially receive an assistantship may qualify for assistantship support as early as the second semester of his/her program depending upon performance in the classroom.

Assistantship assignments may be for the academic year (9 months) or calendar year (12 months). Some students are supported for shorter periods on an hourly-wage basis, and all students enrolled in the graduate degree programs are eligible for hourly-wage employment.

Current Research Projects

Solar Facilities Effect on Agricultural Land in Virginia

Utility-scale solar farms are rapidly expanding across the United States, especially in rural Virginia. This research aims to measure the impact of hosting a utility-scale solar farm on agricultural land prices within that county of Virginia, as well as estimate regional spillover effects by quantifying how proximity to adjacent treated counties influences agricultural land values. This research was conducted by Isaac Hull in collaboration with Michael Cary.

Current Students

Connor Mitchell

Junior, Undergraduate
Hometown: Grottoes, Virginia
Major: Environmental Resource Management
Minors: Forestry and GIS

After taking Professor Friedel’s Environmental Law course (AAEC 3314), Connor Mitchell became interested in the opportunity to join LUVA. The fellowship stood out to him as a unique way to combine his interests in land use policy, writing, and GIS while gaining experience in research. Mitchell was excited by the chance to learn from professionals in the field and contribute to meaningful work related to land use.

Growing up in a rural area, Mitchell learned from a young age how important agriculture is and how policy decisions can affect farmers and rural communities. His interest in land use has also been shaped by coursework focused on forestry practices and land designation. As a LUVA Fellow, Mitchell is eager to learn more about use-value taxation and the policies that influence land use decisions. He is also looking forward to attending conferences, growing professionally, and assisting with land use research and publications. Mitchell is excited to be part of a program that supports research with a direct impact on agriculture and local communities.

Kaylee Parker

Junior, Undergraduate
Hometown: Loudoun County, Virginia
Majors: Political Science and Smart and Sustainable Cities
Minor: Philosophy

Coming from a family of farmers with an active cattle farm in Culpeper, Virginia, Kaylee Parker developed an appreciation for the importance of agriculture and land stewardship from a young age. When the opportunity to join LUVA arose, she was excited by the chance to learn more about the connection between land use policy and sustainable development. Parker has always been interested in how communities can grow while still preserving farmland, open space, and the natural resources that make those communities thrive.

As a LUVA Fellow, Parker is excited to meet policymakers and build relationships with others who share her interest in sustainable land use and development. She hopes to gain a better understanding of the policies that shape land use decisions and how those decisions affect both local communities and the agricultural industry. After college, Parker plans to attend law school and pursue a career as a land use attorney with a focus on sustainability. She is excited to be part of a program aimed at protecting working farms and promoting responsible growth for future generations.

Cary Chen

Graduate Student
Hometown: Bay Area, California
M.S. in Agricultural and Applied Economics

Chen is a graduate student who is earning her Master of Science in Agricultural and Applied Economics. Wanting to further her education with what she learned with her undergraduate degree in Economics, Chen decided to come to Virginia Tech and focus on the agricultural side of economics and finances.

With the analytical skills she learned as an undergrad, Chen is interested in using what she has learned to serve the Land-Use Value Assessment’s (LUVA) purpose and mission. She looks forward to expanding her knowledge of land-use policies and how those can alter land values, and the implications this has for landowners. She is excited to produce helpful data visualizations to make presentations and publications more digestible and demonstrative to readers.