Alyson Dagang, PhD

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