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Jessica L. Darby Ph.D.
Thompson Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management Supply Chain ManagementEducation
- PhD, Supply Chain Management, University of Arkansas
- MBA, Supply Chain Management & Finance, University of Arkansas
- BSBA, Business Economics, University of Arkansas
Professional Activities
Jessica L. Darby is the Thompson Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management within Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business.
Her research explores how institutions, such as government, regulatory agencies, and financial markets, influence supply chain operations and decision-making. Darby's industry background as a commodity analyst sparked her interest in this space, and her research examines important contexts ranging from agriculture to retail and manufacturing to healthcare. Her research has been published in leading supply chain management journals, including Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, Production and Operations Management, Journal of Operations Management, Journal of Business Logistics, and Journal of Supply Chain Management. Her research has also been featured in the Wall Street Journal and attracted the attention of high-ranking officials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
In 2026, Darby was awarded the Jim W. Thompson Associate Professorship, which recognizes her continued contributions to research excellence and advancing the stature and reputation of the Department of Supply Chain Management and Harbert College of Business.
In 2024, Auburn University awarded Darby the Emerging Faculty Creative Research and Scholarship Award, which recognizes early-career faculty members who have demonstrated excellence in research, scholarly work, and creative contributions. Darby has also been awarded the Harbert College of Business Rising Faculty Scholar Research Award and the Department of Supply Chain Management’s Outstanding Research Award.
Darby serves as a Guest Editor, Senior Editor, Associate Editor, and member of editorial review boards at leading supply chain management journals. She has been recognized as an Outstanding Associate Editor and Best Reviewer.
Darby brings her experience and research into the classroom, where she teaches students how to analyze the impacts of current events on global supply chain operations and recommend supply chain strategies to manage change in an increasingly uncertain environment. Her mission is to prepare students to thrive in the real world, where they will be expected to evaluate information quickly and juggle many moving parts to develop solutions.
