Bio: Enrique A. López Monserrate earned his B.A. in Sustainable Agriculture and his A.S. in Agricultural Production from University of Puerto Rico. He later completed an M.S. in Agroforestry and Sustainable Agriculture at Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), where his thesis focused on the productive and financial analysis of livestock systems and the evaluation of technological practices promoted through PROMEGAN in the Dominican Republic. Enrique has over ten years of experience working in sustainable agriculture, agroforestry systems, and farm management, collaborating closely with farmers to integrate traditional agricultural knowledge with sustainable practices. His professional experience includes farm planning and design, erosion control, reforestation, agroforestry implementation, and conservation of native flora and fauna through his work with TaladoresPR in Puerto Rico. He is also a Certified Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)

Enrique is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Agricultural Leadership and Community Education at Virginia Tech, where he works with Dr. Lia Kelinsky-Jones, Dr. Kim Niewolny, and the Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation. His research interests focus on climate-resilient food systems, agroecology, community engagement, food sovereignty, and participatory action research. He is particularly interested in how agroecological approaches and community-based initiatives can strengthen food access, environmental stewardship, and community resilience in Puerto Rico. Enrique also has experience conducting productive and financial analyses for farms, organizing agricultural work crews and projects.

Areas of Emphasis: Climate-resilient food systems, agroecology and agroforestry, community engagement and resilience, food sovereignty, sustainable agriculture, conservation of native flora and fauna

Education:
M.S. Agroforestry and Sustainable Agriculture, Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE)
B.A. Sustainable Agriculture, University of Puerto Rico, Utuado
A.S. Agricultural Production, University of Puerto Rico, Utuado