Chavonda Jacobs-Young

Chavonda Jacobs-Young is the under secretary for research, education, and economics and chief scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture​. She works to advance research, innovation and data across climate-smart agriculture, nutrition security, equity and strengthening food supply chains. As chief scientist, Jacobs-Young advises the U.S. agriculture secretary as well as senior officials and chairs the department’s science council. Prior to this, she was administrator of USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. Previously, Jacobs-Young was director of the USDA Office of the Chief Scientist and a senior policy analyst for agriculture in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. She is a fellow of both the American Association for the Advancement of Science and National Academy of Public Administration.