Environmental Leadership Program

Melissa Bailey is a PhD Candidate and Instructor in the Agriculture, Food and Environment Program at Tufts University. Her dissertation research explores the politics and implementation of USDA's Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), particularly at the intersection of livestock production systems and water quality-related conservation practices. Ms. Bailey is a "Water and Health" doctoral trainee fellow through the National Institute of Health (NIH), a recipient of the Dow Sustainability Innovation Challenge Award and a candidate to receive a certificate from an interdisciplinary program at Tufts in Water: Systems, Science and Society (WSSS). She holds a B.S. in Biology from Northeastern University and a M.S. in Public Policy from Tufts University's School of Veterinary Medicine. In addition to her work on livestock and water quality issues, Ms. Bailey has completed research that compared U.S. organic standards for farm animal welfare to those set by international bodies/private sector and assessed the degree to which existing science was available to inform standards development. Ms. Bailey's work outside of research includes the development and evaluation of a Farm-To-College program at Tufts and the establishment of a town community garden in her role as an agricultural commissioner for the Town of Holliston. She is a Senior Fellow of the Environmental Leadership Program and currently serves as Vice-President for the Southern New England Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society. Ms. Bailey's private sector experience includes her work for three years as a consultant for an agri-business and renewable energy firm. In her position, she conducted research and due diligence for private and public sector projects. This ranged from evaluating the potential for new local or organic meat businesses to developing business models and marketing strategies for start-up ethanol and biomass companies and cooperatives.