CWAE Mentorship and Outreach Legacy Award Winner (2026)

Valentina Hartarska

Dr. Valentina Hartarska, Professor at Auburn University, is the recipient of the 2026 CWAE Mentorship and Outreach (Legacy) Award.

This distinguished honor recognizes her sustained and transformative contributions to mentorship, outreach, and institutional leadership within agricultural and applied economics. Over the course of her career, Dr. Hartarska has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to expanding opportunity, strengthening professional pathways, and fostering a more supportive and inclusive academic environment.

Dr. Hartarska’s impact is defined by a combination of long-term mentorship, institutional advocacy, and leadership. Her career reflects consistent efforts, as noted in her nomination, “often behind the scenes—to improve how decisions are made, who is recognized, and how students and colleagues are supported”. Across her leadership in AAEA and CWAE, and Auburn University, she has expanded opportunities for women, first-generation students, and non-traditional entrants into the profession.

A hallmark of Dr. Hartarska’s legacy is her leadership in shaping institutional structures that promote fairness and recognition. She played a central role in establishing CWAE awards that recognize contributions to inclusion and served as co-chair of the selection committee, helping refine criteria and broaden eligibility. At Auburn University, she has led efforts to address structural inequities, including conducting analyses of gender-based salary disparities and advocating for more equitable promotion practices. Dr. Hartarska is known for her intentional leadership and service in ensuring that women and minorities are treated fairly and represented in policy discussions at all level.

Dr. Hartarska has also played a key role in advancing professional development within the discipline. Through leadership in AAEA committees, she has advocated for expanded sponsorship opportunities and improved access to professional networks. At Auburn University, she has contributed to initiatives such as mentoring women faculty through tenure and promotion and supporting pathways to senior academic leadership.

Her research program further reinforces her contributions to outreach and impact. Internationally recognized in microfinance, Dr. Hartarska’s work focuses on expanding financial access for underserved populations, particularly women and low-income households. Her research examines how financial systems and policies shape access and opportunity, providing evidence that informs both academic discourse and policy design.

Equally central to her contributions is her extensive and deeply impactful mentorship. Over more than two decades, Dr. Hartarska has mentored more than 55 graduate students across disciplines. Her approach is highly individualized and student-centered, emphasizing intellectual independence, technical rigor, and professional development. Graduate students are deeply integrated into her research program, with more than half of her publications co-authored with mentees, reflecting a sustained commitment to collaborative scholarship.

The outcomes of her mentorship are both measurable and far-reaching. Her mentees have secured faculty positions globally and advanced to leadership roles in industry and policy. One former student noted that her mentorship “was instrumental in helping me develop the necessary technical skills for publishing research work and also the presentation skills for conveying the importance of that work to others”. Another mentee emphasized that her guidance instilled “methodological precision, systems thinking, and disciplined reasoning,” which continue to shape leadership in complex professional environments.

A postdoctoral mentee observed that “her mentorship… has gone well beyond what is typically expected of a supervisor,” highlighting her commitment to professional development, research leadership, and long-term career guidance . Similarly, a colleague noted that she “provid[ed] invaluable guidance and clarity… [and] truly cares about the success of her colleagues” . These reflections underscore a mentoring philosophy grounded in both rigor and sustained personal investment.

Colleagues consistently describe Dr. Hartarska as a scholar whose influence extends far beyond her own research. Importantly, her work bridges research, policy, and practice. She collaborates with institutions such as the USDA, World Bank, and development organizations to translate research into actionable insights that improve access to financial and agricultural systems. Her commitment to addressing real-world challenges is reflected in the guidance she provides to mentees, encouraging them to engage with complex societal issues and produce policy-relevant work.

In sum, Dr. Valentina Hartarska exemplifies excellence in mentorship and outreach through sustained commitment, measurable impact, and institutional leadership. Her work has expanded access, strengthened professional pathways, and created lasting change within agricultural and applied economics. Her career reflects the highest ideals of the Legacy Award, with an influence that will continue to shape the field for generations to come.