Leah Palm-Forster stands with a research vehicle stocked with the packets of corn seed used in their economic experiments on how seed fraud impacts Kenyan farmers.
Palm-Forster joined UD in 2015 and was quick to lead research and offer aid to junior researchers. She transitioned to associate director in 2018, supporting affiliated researchers while helping the lab and its infrastructure operate efficiently.
“I like the idea of creating opportunities for people that want to be engaged and then doing our best to lift everyone’s research up through the resources that we’re lucky to be able to have and maintain,” Palm-Forster explained.
The center goes beyond the research of the director and associate director and is composed of researchers that rely on the CEAE for the support, space, technology and training it provides.
“As director, I am now moving into this role where I’m thinking about long-term strategic planning of how we can take on initiatives to increase our capacity to support research,” Palm-Forster specified. “Kent was mentoring me, in a sense, to take on this role, so I am really excited that this is now happening.”