Dr. Tracy V. Dunbar began her career at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) as an undergraduate student in the Department of Agriculture. Dr. Dunbar has come full circle at her alma mater–she has served as chair of that department now for over five years.
Dr. Dunbar is responsible for academic programs, curriculum development and the supervision of faculty and staff for the Department of Agriculture. She manages the instructional budgets and collaborates with associate deans in oversight activities related to agricultural teaching, research and Extension. She also works with the associate dean for academics to coordinate student recruitment and retention efforts.
In addition to supporting faculty members seeking extramural funding for teaching and outreach projects, Dr. Dunbar serves as a liaison with high schools, community colleges and various agricultural agencies and organizations to strengthen academic programs and provides service to clientele.
Dr. Dunbar has worked for the UAPB Department of Agriculture in various capacities since 1997. Most recently, she served in the role of professor, teaching graduate courses in ecological economics and environmental policy analysis and undergraduate courses in farm management and agricultural finance, policy and marketing.
“Dr. Dunbar is a thoughtful adviser and mentor,” Dr. Obadiah Njue, interim dean/director for the School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences, said. “She has continually
exemplified professionalism through student teaching and advisement, and young faculty mentorship.”
From 2012 to 2016, Dr. Dunbar was an associate professor of agriculture. And from 2008 to 2012, she served as interim chair for the department and as a professor of agricultural economics. During this time, she conducted an academic program review for agricultural sciences at UAPB.
In her role as associate professor of agriculture (2002-2012), Dr. Dunbar was instrumental in developing the Master of Science degree program in agricultural regulations. She collected data on the program and co-authored and presented the program proposal to the Arkansas Department of Higher Education.
In 1998, when she worked as an assistant professor, Dr. Dunbar began counseling UAPB students on career choices, professional development and course selection and preparation.
Dr. Dunbar has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from UAPB, a master’s degree in agricultural economics-agricultural production and marketing from Pennsylvania State University and a doctoral degree in resource development-community economic development from Michigan State University.
Her research focus is the socioeconomic impact of some agricultural programs on small, limited-resource farmers. She has authored numerous journal articles and abstracts on a variety of agricultural topics.
In the grants she has authored and co-authored, Dr. Dunbar has helped secure almost $1.5 million for programs benefiting many producers. Other grants she has been awarded pertain to the expansion of educational opportunities for students of agriculture.
At UAPB, Dr. Dunbar was a recipient of the Twenty Years of Service Award in 2017 and the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2015.
She has served as co-advisor of the UAPB Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) Club since 1997 and as chair of the Youth Partners Advisory Board in Pine Bluff since 2013.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
