Charlie French headshot

Charlie French

Program Leader | Community & Economic Development
Phone: (603) 862-0316
Office: Taylor Hall, Durham, NH 03824

Charlie French leads the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension’s Community & Economic Development department, guiding statewide programs that strengthen local economies, expand digital opportunity, and enhance the vibrancy of rural and urban communities. He oversees staff, budgets, and program evaluation while helping communities engage residents in decision-making and plan for long-term growth and development.

 

In his role as Extension Associate Professor, Charlie brings his real-world experience into the classroom. His teaching is focused on balancing land-use and economic development priorities. His research explores how rural innovation and entrepreneurship drive community resilience, offering insights into strategies that help places adapt and thrive in the face of economic and environmental change. Recently, he served on the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps Technical Advisory Committee, advising on projects addressing climate mitigation, affordable housing, and disaster response.

 

Charlie began his career as an intern in National Geographic’s Cartographic Division, honing his skills in mapping and storytelling. From 1994 to 1997, he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in rural Panama, promoting conservation and sustainable agriculture practices with farmers and youth. He later worked as an Economic Development Educator with University of Illinois Extension. Charlie holds a B.A. in Geography from Dartmouth College, an M.A. in Regional Planning/Geography from Western Illinois University, and a Ph.D. in Natural Resources Policy from UNH.

Education

  • Ph.D., Natural Resources/Conservation, University of New Hampshire
  • M.A., Geography, Western Illinois University
  • B.A., Geography, Dartmouth College

Research Interests

  • Agriculture/Food Studies--Developing Countries
  • Community Development/Revitalization
  • Economic development
  • Entrepreneurship Education
  • Innovation
  • International Affairs

Selected Publications

  • French, C. (2022). Building Rural Community Resilience Through Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Routledge.

  • Goetz, S., & Zheng, T. (2020). Problem of Low 2020 Census Participation Will Vary with Sociodemographic Factors and Distance from Metro Areas. Choices, 35(1). doi:10.22004/ag.econ.302488

  • French, C., & Romero-Perezgrrovas, R. (2020). An international agricultural development organization’s experience measuring program impacts with limited resources. In P. La Chapelle, C. Flora, & I. Gutierrez-Montes (Eds.), Building Community Capacity and Resilience in Latin America. Routledge.

  • French, C., & Romero, R. (2017). Sustainable Harvest International's work in two rural communities: Program participants' perceptions. In S. Chazdon, M. Emery, D. Hansen, L. Higgins, & R. Sero (Eds.), A Field Guide to Ripple Effects Mapping. University of Minnesotal Libraries Publishing.

  • French, C., & Morse, G. (2015). Extension stakeholder engagement: Adapting to the Twenty-first century. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 3(2).

  • French, C., Wake, C., Williams, J., Abrams, E., Townson, L., Sabin, M., . . . Tang, J. (2013). The UNH Engaged Scholars Academy: Instilling in Faculty Principles of Effective Partnership. Journal of Public Scholarship in Higher Education, 3(1), 19-42.

  • French, C., Becker, M., & Lindsay, B. (2011). Havana’s changing urban agriculture land-scape: A shift to the right. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems and Community Development, 1(2). Retrieved from https://www.google.com/

  • French, C. A., & Gagne, M. (2010). Ten years of community visioning in New Hampshire: the meaning of “success”. Community Development, 41(2), 223-239. doi:10.1080/15575330903446742

  • Giraud, K. L., French, C., & Ward, S. (2008). Building Wealth through Ownership: Resident-Owned Manufactured Housing Communities in New Hampshire. Journal of Extension.

  • Ward, S., French, C., & Cullen, K. (2006). Resident-Owned Manufactured Home Communities in New Hampshire. National Association of Housing Cooperatives.

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