Clemson University Welcomes New Dean to Lead Agricultural Advancements

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Clemson University has appointed Matthew T. 'Matt' Holt as the new dean of the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences (CAFLS), effective September 1, 2024. Holt is currently the head and professor of the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at Virginia Tech. He brings extensive experience in academic and administrative roles, which will support Clemson's mission to improve education, research, and outreach in agriculture and life sciences in South Carolina.

Holt earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in agricultural economics from Purdue University, and a doctoral degree in the same field from the University of Missouri. He is recognized for his expertise in agricultural economics, focusing on econometric methods, market and price analysis, and the effects of climate anomalies on agriculture and natural resources.

Before joining Virginia Tech, Holt held academic positions at the University of Alabama, Purdue University, the University of Arizona, North Carolina State University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His varied roles across these institutions have equipped him for his responsibilities at Clemson.

At Virginia Tech, Holt helped launch an online Master of Science program in Agricultural and Applied Economics, focusing on economic analytics. He also contributed to reorienting the Kohl Centre towards agribusiness analytics and initiated the Data Science for the Public Good program, which integrates data science with public policy.