Yari studied hotel management and tourism at the Interamerican University of Panama. She has worked with SIT since 2005. She lives in Panama City but frequently travels to indigenous territories and communities in Panama’s interior. As program assistant, she provides administrative support and coordinates all program components such as food, transport, and excursions.
she/her/hers
A California native, Dr. Dagang completed her BA in international development with an emphasis in Latin American studies at American University in Washington, DC, and her PhD in agroforestry and forest conservation at the University of Florida, Gainesville. Her research, carried out with local farmers, examined biophysical and socioeconomic aspects of wood and fruit tree repopulation of grazed pastures in central Panama. She has served as SIT Study Abroad associate academic dean for Latin America and is pleased to be back as an academic director. She previously directed SIT programs from 2002 to 2005 and 2007 to 2009. Alyson was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Panamanian province of Panama Oeste. She has worked on projects focused on gender, agroforestry, sustainable agriculture, community development, environmental education, forestry, and conservation.
Courses Taught
Graduate Courses
Agroecology and Food Systems
Undergraduate Courses
Human Ecology and Conservation in the Tropics
Environmental Research Methods and Ethics
Independent Study Project
Internship and Seminar
Select Publications
Dagang, A. (in press)Climate transformations: Evolving food security, migration, and alternative livelihood strategies in Panama. In K. Kevany & P. Prosperi (Eds.), Routledge handbook of sustainable diets. Routledge.
Select Presentations
Dagang A, Hortsmann B, and M Oestereich 2020 Ethics and analysis of a student-led payment for environmental services program in the Naso Tjer Di Territory. Association of Academic Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean, Guanajuato, Mexico, February 19-22, 2020
Dagang A 2017 Resource use transformation: Adoption of cattle ranching among two indigenous groups in northwest Panama: A preliminary study. Conference of the Latin American Studies Association, Lima, Peru, April 29-May 1, 2017
Dagang A 2014 Developing global ambassadors for patient safety. 10th Annual Forum Conference, San Diego, California, April 2-4, 2014.
Dagang A 2008 Landscape transformation through fire and cattle ranching in Central America. Georgia College and State University Invited Speaker
Research Interests
Tropical agroforestry
Resource use decision-making
Community carbon capture
Food security