Class of 2026: Sarah Juster eager to translate academic findings into policy

Sarah Juster's research has been focused on the Ivempi Refugee Camp in Uganda and pursuing solutions to the wicked problems faced by those in refugee settings. Photos courtesy of Sarah Juster.

Name: Sarah Juster

College: CNRE

Department: Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

Degree: Ph.D.

Hometown: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Plans after graduation: Research Fellowship with the National Forestry Resources Research Institute (NaFORRI) in Mukono, Uganda

Favorite Hokie memory: Watching the winter sunrise from McComas Gym

Research interests: Agroforestry, humanitarian environmental challenges, participatory mapping, social-ecological systems, East Africa

Extracurricular Activities and Hobbies: Growing trees and crops on my farm near Lake Victoria, co-founding Virginia Tech's Swahili Language Club, running and hiking in Virginia and Uganda

What inspired you to choose your major, and how has it shaped your journey so far? I learned about agroforestry after finishing my master's in social work, and realized it was a practice that could bridge my interests in forestry and farming while addressing critical socioeconomic challenges among smallholders in rural east Africa. It provided a solution-oriented lens for examining forest resource challenges and feasible responses in Ugandan refugee settlements.

SarahJusterMainImageTwo — By building relationships and with those living in the Ivempi Refugee Camp in Uganda, Juster has gained an understanding of their needs and resources and has been testing ways to create better agricultural opportunities, including food security through more consistent yield. Photos courtesy of Sarah Juster.

Are there any professors or mentors who made a significant impact on your path? My advisor Dr. John Munsell provided incredible mentorship and support for this project, and my committee members Dr. Kim Niewolny, Dr. Junghwan Kim, and Dr. Brett Shadle each offered invaluable guidance from their respective disciplines.

What are you most excited about as you step into this new chapter? I am excited to translate academic findings from my dissertation into policy and programming recommendations through upcoming collaboration with NaFORRI, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and other stakeholders in Uganda and East Africa.

Anything else you would like to share? I am very grateful to the Global Change Center for providing a warm and supportive interdisciplinary community over the past four years, and the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation for this incredible doctoral opportunity.