Dawn Thilmany is a Professor of Agribusiness and Extension Economist with Colorado State University, serving in that role since 1997 and became the Associate Director for CSU’s Office of Community and Economic Development in 2019. She specializes in economic development related to local, organic and other value-added food market supply chains, as well as food market analysis and consumer behavior. Her work on agricultural diversification also includes work with agritourism in Colorado and the Western US. She is a past chair of the Colorado Food Systems Advisory Council (COFSAC), supports the CSU Extension’s Food Systems and Community Development programs and has served on a number of advisory boards and project teams for the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture.