Fitzroy (Roy) Beckford
Director of UVM Extension
Associate Dean College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Associate Extension Professor
PRONOUNS he/him
- Ph.D., Sustainability Education (Integrated Food-Energy Systems), Prescott College, Arizona
- MSc., Agriculture and Rural Development, University of the West Indies, Trinidad
- AAS., Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health, REPAHA (CARICOM), Guyana, South America
BIO
Fitzroy (Roy) B. Beckford, Ph.D., is an accomplished and widely recognized figure in the field of agriculture, sustainability, and climate change, and has made significant contributions to academia, research, and Extension. Roy began his career in veterinary and public health in Jamaica, and later moved to the British Virgin Islands, where he served in various capacities within the agricultural sector for a decade. His passion for sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation led him to broaden his educational palate, obtaining a MSc in Agriculture and Rural Development from the University of the West Indies, and a Doctorate in Sustainability Education from Prescott College in Arizona. His published doctoral thesis — Advancing an integrated food energy system (IFES) in Haiti: Applying sustainability models in ecologically degraded environments — is highly cited and has served to focus attention on ecosystems sustainability. Roy served as Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent and as County Extension Director at the University of Florida where he attained tenure and served for a total of 15 years and worked at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University from 2018-2020, serving as the State Program Leader for Agriculture and Natural Resources. Roy took a hiatus from Extension work in the USA in 2020 to serve as senior consultant on an agricultural development initiative in Qatar that was focused on meeting domestic food production goals for the 2022 Soccer World Cup finals.
Currently, Dr. Beckford holds the position of Associate Extension Professor, as well as Associate Dean and Director of Extension at the University of Vermont, where he oversees extension education and outreach programs that serve agricultural stakeholders and communities. Roy has published two major scholarly books — The Third Pillar: Unearthing the agro-economic potential of the British Virgin Islands, and his most recent work Poverty and Climate Change: Restoring a Global Biogeochemical Equilibrium. His work and research have made a significant impact in the fields of sustainable agriculture, climate change adaptation, and social equity.
Publications
Roy Beckford on Google Scholar
Area(s) of expertise
International agriculture, natural resources, extension outreach, organizational management
Bio
Fitzroy (Roy) B. Beckford, Ph.D., is an accomplished and widely recognized figure in the field of agriculture, sustainability, and climate change, and has made significant contributions to academia, research, and Extension. Roy began his career in veterinary and public health in Jamaica, and later moved to the British Virgin Islands, where he served in various capacities within the agricultural sector for a decade. His passion for sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation led him to broaden his educational palate, obtaining a MSc in Agriculture and Rural Development from the University of the West Indies, and a Doctorate in Sustainability Education from Prescott College in Arizona. His published doctoral thesis — Advancing an integrated food energy system (IFES) in Haiti: Applying sustainability models in ecologically degraded environments — is highly cited and has served to focus attention on ecosystems sustainability. Roy served as Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent and as County Extension Director at the University of Florida where he attained tenure and served for a total of 15 years and worked at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University from 2018-2020, serving as the State Program Leader for Agriculture and Natural Resources. Roy took a hiatus from Extension work in the USA in 2020 to serve as senior consultant on an agricultural development initiative in Qatar that was focused on meeting domestic food production goals for the 2022 Soccer World Cup finals.
Currently, Dr. Beckford holds the position of Associate Extension Professor, as well as Associate Dean and Director of Extension at the University of Vermont, where he oversees extension education and outreach programs that serve agricultural stakeholders and communities. Roy has published two major scholarly books — The Third Pillar: Unearthing the agro-economic potential of the British Virgin Islands, and his most recent work Poverty and Climate Change: Restoring a Global Biogeochemical Equilibrium. His work and research have made a significant impact in the fields of sustainable agriculture, climate change adaptation, and social equity.
Publications
Areas of Expertise
International agriculture, natural resources, extension outreach, organizational management
Committees and Boards
- Agriculture Innovation Board – Member
- Vermont Ag Water Quality Partnership – Member
- Vt Farm and Forest Viability, Vt Housing and Conservation Board – Exec Com.
- Vermont Council on World Affairs – Member
- Vermont Farm Show – Exec Com.
- Intervale Board of Advisors – Board Member
- Vermont Milk Commission – Member, Governor appointed
- Vermont Agriculture Disaster Task Force, Governor Appointed
- Vermont First, Advisory Board – Member
- Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships – BOA Member
- State Technical Committee, NRCS - Member
- Northeast Extension Directors association (NEED) – Chair
- Extension Committee on Organization and Policy, Climate PAT – Co-Chair
- Extension Committee on Organization and Policy – Program Committee member