Barbara Nyarkoa Okai is a second-year student at Mississippi State University where she is studying for a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics. As a graduate student, Barbara works as a graduate research assistant on environmental and development economics-related research projects. Currently, she is working on monetizing the ecosystem services of oyster reef restoration under the different types of the benefit transfer method. She has also previously worked with an interdisciplinary team of researchers from Mississippi State University on a research project focused on the McGovern-Dole School Meals program’s effect on student and market outcomes in Africa.

Barbara graduated with first-class honors in Economics with Philosophy from the University of Ghana and was awarded a one-year teaching and research assistant position at the University of Ghana’s Department of Economics. Her research interests are in environmental economics, and international trade and development. She hopes to focus her future research on the influence of environmental factors both for measuring and enhancing economic growth in developing countries.