Caviglia-Harris, Jill

Jill Caviglia-Harris is Professor of Economics in the Economics & Finance and Environmental Studies Departments at Salisbury University. Dr. Caviglia-Harris received her B.S. in Mathematical Economics and B.A. in English Literature from Binghamton University (1992) and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Tennessee (1998). At Salisbury University, she teaches courses in environmental and natural resource economics and microeconomics.

Research interest

Her research is focused on understanding the underlying tradeoffs between development and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon and identifying answers to complex (and often politically energized) questions concerning the degree to which the ecological costs of deforestation are offset by local gains from economic development. A second dimension of her research includes investigating best practices for teaching and motivating students.

Mentoring

Dr. Caviglia-Harris has overseen 30+ undergraduate research projects and more than 10 PhD and Master’s thesis. 

Grants and consultancy

• Sloan Foundation, “The Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (AERE) Scholars Program,” on behalf of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economics (AERE) (2021-2022).
• Resources for the Future GABS (Grants for Assessing the Benefits of Satellites), “Estimating the Social Benefits of Satellite Imagery used to Enforce the Brazilian Forest Code and Reduce Deforestation” Project PI with Trent Biggs (San Diego State University), Katrina Mullan and Thaís Ottoni Santiago (University of Montana), Erin Sills (North Carolina State University), and Thales West (New Zealand Forest Research Institute). (2020-2021)
• National Science Foundation Grant, CNH-1825046, “The Sociohydrological System of a Tropical Forest Frontier: Land-Climate-Water Feedbacks and Farmer Adaptation”, Project Co-PI (with Katrina Mullan (PI), Andrew Bell (Co-PI) Trent Biggs (co-PI) and Fernando de Sales (Co-PI) and Erin Sills (Co-PI) (2018-2023).
• SESYNC Workshop Grant "Forests, Agriculture, and River (FAR) Systems in the Brazilian Amazon: Evaluating the Impacts of Forest Cover Change on Hydrological Services" National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (2016-2018).
• National Science Foundation Grant, SES-0752936, “Living with Deforestation: Analyzing Transformations in Welfare and Land Use on an Old Amazonian Frontier,” 2008-2011, Project PI (with Erin Sills and Dar Roberts)
• National Science Foundation Grant, SES-0452852, “The Dynamics of Household Land Use and Economic Welfare on the Amazon Frontier,” 2005-2008, Project PI (with Erin Sills)
• National Science Foundation Grant, SES-0076549, “Diffusion of Sustainable Agriculture in the Amazon: A Time Series Analysis”, 2000-2003, Project PI

Policy Engagement 

Dr. Caviglia-Harris has consulted for the World Bank and is otherwise involved in policy engage via the grants listed above.

Awards 

• 2022 AERE Distinguished Service Award
• 2022 AAEA CWAE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
• 2021 Perdue Research Award, Franklin P. Perdue School of Business, Salisbury University
• 2018 Distinguished Member Award, Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association.
• 2013-2014 Leopold Leadership Fellowship from Stanford University 
• 2012-2013 Wilson H. Elkins Professorship, University System of Maryland
• 2010 State of Maryland Board of Regent’s Award for excellence in teaching
• Salisbury University 2010 Outstanding Mentor Award
• 2010 Southern Economic Association Kenneth G. Elzinga Teaching Award
• Salisbury University’s Distinguished Faculty Award for excellence in teaching, research and service in 2004