David Just

David Just serves as the Susan Eckert Lynch Professor of Science and Business in Cornell University's Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, where he combines psychology and economics to understand human food choices and behavior. His academic journey began with degrees from Brigham Young University (BA in Economics, 1998) and the University of California, Berkeley (PhD and MS in Agricultural and Resource Economics, 2001). As co-director of the Cornell Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Programs, Just has pioneered research showing how subtle environmental changes can promote healthier food choices without limiting options or increasing costs. His innovative work has earned significant recognition, including being featured in Discover Magazine's top science stories, and his research has demonstrated how simple solutions like repositioning healthy options can significantly impact food choices in school lunch programs. Just's expertise spans behavioral economics, food policy, and agricultural economics, with his work appearing in numerous prestigious publications and earning multiple awards, including the Outstanding Journal Article from the American Journal of Agricultural Economics and the Award for Outstanding Public Service through Economics. His research continues to influence food policy and behavioral interventions in school nutrition programs across the country.