Presenting the 2024 ASU graduate cohort transforming food systems

We are thrilled to introduce Arizona State University’s 2024 cohort in the Graduate Certificate in food policy and sustainability leadership and Master of Science in sustainable food systems. This marks our 6th cohort of students, and as our programs continue to grow, is our largest and most diverse group yet.

Committed to shaping food and farm policy in the public interest, this dynamic group of 57 leaders represents 27 different states, 2 countries, and a wide range of professions, including educators, artists, advocates, farmers, entrepreneurs, conservationists, and numerous other positions. This cohort showcases remarkable diversity in terms of ethnicity, nationality, and race.

These rising stars represent business, nonprofit, and academia, modeling the community necessary for food system transformation. They’re passionate about climate-smart agriculture, food waste reduction, and community gardening. They’re dedicated to school food reform, racial equity, and food sovereignty. They're eager to transform public policy to create inclusive, diverse, and resilient food systems.

They are the future of food.

Meet the leaders:

Aamna Anwer

Aamna lives in St. Louis, Missouri where she works as the sustainability coordinator in the Office of Sustainability at Washington University in St. Louis. In her role, she works with university partners on the sustainable dining and transportation programs. She also manages the office's communications. Aamna grew up in rural central Illinois and graduated with her Bachelor's degree from Northwestern University. She worked at a relief organization where she got the opportunity to travel to Pakistan after devastating floods ravaged the country. Salt from the seawater damaged agricultural land, which is when Aamna witnessed firsthand how climate and food are interconnected. Aamna received her Master's in Business Administration from Creighton University in Omaha, where she and her husband lived before moving to St. Louis and having their daughter, who is now eight years old. Aamna and her husband co-founded their mosque's Sustainability Committee, and they host several programs for their community to educate about sustainability and integrate it into mosque operations.

Chris Bailey

Chris Bailey, an Alabama native, began his career in service by joining the Army in 1998. He served as an Infantryman until 2010, concluding his military service at Ft. Lewis, Washington. Settling in Tacoma with his wife, Chris's experiences in conflict zones and resource-constrained areas sparked an interest in supporting underserved communities both locally and globally. This interest led Chris to pursue higher education. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Global Health from ASU and a Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain and Operations Management from WGU. Chris is expanding his knowledge base with an MS in Technology and Global Development and a Graduate Certificate in Food Policy and Sustainability Leadership at ASU. Drawing from his diverse background, Chris aims to contribute to global development and sustainable food systems. While remaining open to various opportunities, he is particularly interested in roles with organizations like USAID or USDA, where he can apply his skills and experiences to address global challenges.

Valerie Bednarski

Valerie is a data-driven professional who has transitioned from a background in science to a career in agricultural tech sales and marketing. With a bachelor’s degree in Marine Science from UC Berkeley, she leverages her analytical skills to excel in roles that require both technical expertise and client-focused solutions. She has a proven track record of bringing technologies to agriculture as evident by her success at her previous role selling crop water use technology to growers, academics, and engineering firms. In this role Valerie felt she made a real impact on the water use of the agriculture-powerhouse state, California. Currently, Valerie works as the Marketing Manager at the leading specialty crop farm management software company where she helps growers optimize their resources, streamline processes, and compliance reporting. Valerie is deeply passionate about sustainable water resource management, which brings her to ASU to work with Dr. Jay Famiglietti while pursuing her Master’s in Sustainable Food Systems.

Denella Belin

Denella Belin is representing the Navajo tribe and lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Denella is an Indigenous Fusion Chef and owner of Nella's Innovative Kreations, a catering business highlighting ancestral foods that represent the tribes of Arizona. Denella is changing the current food system by creating food favorites that her urban community is appreciating. Denella is an advocate for utilizing local foods and supporting local businesses.  Denella would like to invest in her education and by pursuing the Master’s in Sustainable Food Systems degree she has an opportunity to improve cultural sustainability and food security, and to promote healthy foods within her community. Denella would like to become a leader within her community and be an advocate with changing policies that can improve the Commodity Supplemental Food Program on the Navajo Nation.

Alisha Betony

Alisha Betony is a Diné Asdzáán. She is of Kin Yaa'áanii (Towering House Clan), born for Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water). Her maternal grandfather is of the Chíshí (Chiricahua Apache clan), and her paternal grandfather belongs to the Tłááschí'í (Red Bottom clan). Hailing from Tsé Łichíí Dah ‘Azką́ni, Preston Mesa, Arizona. Alisha's educational journey began at Diné College, where she earned an Associate of Science in General Sciences, followed by a Bachelor of Science in General Agriculture from New Mexico State University. As a FoodCorps alumna, she served in Las Cruces, NM, at Raices Del Saber Xinachtli School. Growing up on the Navajo Nation, agriculture has always been integral to Alisha's life, from helping her family maintain cornfields and livestock to cherishing outdoor activities like horseback riding, trail running, and hiking. Her deep connection to her homeland drives her advocacy for Indigenous peoples and sustainable agriculture. Alisha is dedicated to educating others about the significant contributions of Indigenous communities and promoting sustainable agricultural practices, particularly for future generations. This dedication has led her to her current role as a tribal extension agent at Diné College Land Grant Office.

Patrice Bettison-Clark

Patrice Bettison-Clark is a multi-disciplined, cross-trained corporate resource with more than two decades of progressively responsible executive leadership and business management experience. Currently, she serves as Vice President of Human Resources for a national nonprofit. Previously, she has developed and led various strategic initiatives while working with Native American Tribes and Fortune 100/500 corporations. Patrice holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management (with an emphasis in Marketing) and an MBA. Her skill set as a business scientist has an emphasis on business development strategy, human resources, marketing, public relations communications, and corporate philanthropy across the business industry sectors of Banking/Finance, Higher Education, Technology, Healthcare, Gaming, and Agriculture, including Cannabis. Patrice is also a registered farmer and beekeeper. Her urban farm is called Emerald Roots Farm Collective and she's a member of the AZ Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) where she is currently planning and planting four organically certified acres in Cochise County, Arizona.

Elora Bevacqua

Elora Bevacqua likes long walks, eating fresh food, and finding earthworms when gardening. She is pursuing a Master’s of Sustainability Solutions with a certificate in Food Policy and Sustainability Leadership. Elora grew up on a small farm in Pinal County, AZ, participated in 4-H, WWOOFed in the U.S. and Italy, and currently cultivates an edible landscape close to ASU. She moved to Tempe for university and completed a Bachelor of Science in Sustainability in 2023. During her undergrad, she was a student worker at the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems and recently became a full-time Research Specialist at the center. Elora is curious about many things, completing projects on everything from Indigenous foodways along the Salt River to ubiquitous satellite internet. She is excited to learn more about using food policy for food systems transformation, particularly for community well-being and environmental sustainability.

Darouny Bonal

Darouny is excited to immerse herself in the world of food systems. Her background is in data analytics, and she currently is the Head of Data at a marketing start-up. Over the years, she has become passionate about sustainable living. This ignited a desire for a career that aligns with her passions and values. She is originally from the Chicagoland area and spent the majority of her career in NYC. She has bachelor’s degrees from University of Wisconsin, Madison in Economics, and Retailing and Consumer Behavior. She has a postgrad in Data Science from the University of London - Birkbeck and is currently finishing up a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in Human Ecology, specializing in Sustainable Communities. Her research is on the impact of local policy changes on farmers and low resource communities, focusing on farmer’s markets. She will be presenting her research at the Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management conference this fall.

Joseph Brinkley

Joseph Brinkley, who holds a degree in Economics from Virginia Commonwealth University, was working for the Federal Reserve in Richmond, Virginia when he realized he would rather work the land than work in an office. He went back to school, the second time attending Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Horticulture in 2003. When the opportunity arose to travel to Napa Valley for a three-month harvest internship at Grgich Hills Estate in 2006, Joseph jumped at the chance to apply his growing knowledge of Biodynamic vegetable farming to vineyards. California came calling again in 2008, when Grgich Hills Estate lured him back to Napa Valley with a full-time position, which he held for three years. Joseph later consulted for a variety of celebrated wineries including Spottswoode Estate and Roederer Estate before working for Rios Farm Management and later joining Bonterra Organic Estates, a leading U.S. winery with 100% of its estate vineyards in Mendocino County, California, Regenerative Organic Certified at the Silver level. Joseph is a recognized speaker and panelist on topics related to soil health, regenerative organic farming and responsible business practices. He is a member of the Ceres Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy Network’s Healthy Soils Working Group, and was named a 2021 Wine Industry Leader of the Year by Wine Business Monthly. He is currently the Organic Trade Association’s Sustainability Council Chair.

Adilene Caballero

Adilene Caballero is the Director of Child Nutrition at Aubrey ISD, where she oversees the operations of the entire Nutrition Department. Her current role involves ensuring that her 4,300 students are offered healthy and well-balanced meals. Although not all children qualify for free meals in her district, she works hard to ensure that families are aware that free/reduced meals are available to those that qualify. Adilene was born and raised in Washington state. She grew up in a region known for its abundance in agriculture, The Yakima Valley. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Nutrition from Central Washington University. Longing to make a change, she decided to enroll in the Sustainable Food Systems MS program offered by ASU. Adilene hopes to gain the knowledge that will help her create or lead policy initiatives in regard to free school meals and food insecurities. Adilene believes that healthy foods should be attainable and affordable to all and that all children are deserving of free school meals. Although she resides in Texas, her roots lie deep in the Valley and she hopes to one day give back to her community. 

Gabby Capp

Gabrielle was born and raised in Lighthouse Point, Florida. She received her undergraduate degree in International Business and Trade from Florida Atlantic University.  For the past six years, she has lived on the Island of Hawaii, in Kailua-Kona. During this time, she has worked with Blue Ocean Mariculture, the only offshore finfish farm in the United States, cultivating a native amberjack called Seriola rivoliana. Her roles in sales, processing, and finance have given her a broad understanding of the aquaculture business. Gabrielle has found meaning in contributing to the diversification of Hawaii’s economy and providing a local food source.  She is looking forward to deepening her understanding of sustainable agriculture and food systems to give back to her community by contributing to a more resilient and equitable food future.

Kaylee Carlisle

Kaylee Carlisle is a food systems coordinator based in Eastern Connecticut. Her interest in an agriculture-based career began with time spent on her grandparents' farm in Maine. She attended an agricultural high school, where she studied livestock management. Kaylee later graduated from The University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Science in Applied and Resource Economics. Kaylee serves as the Farm to School Coordinator for Vernon Public Schools, where she connects cafeterias and classrooms with local produce. Additionally, she works at CLiCK, as the Operations and Food Safety Coordinator. In this role, she is expanding CLiCK’s capacity as a food hub for Connecticut farms. Kaylee’s background in agriculture and passion for sustainable practices are deeply rooted in food literacy and positive health outcomes. With an interest in social equity, she aims to enhance local procurement initiatives and promote resilient food systems that prioritize both human and planetary health.

Dazmonique Carr

Dazmonique Carr is a creator, a homesteader, a mother, an artist, and a world traveler. In her career she has made way as a food broker, land steward and land acquisition enthusiast, and advocate for self empowerment for facilitation of group economics through her work as a changemaker in the Detroit food system.  Dazmonique has been participating in track & field since she was 8 years old and her relentless work ethic afforded her a Track & Field Scholarship to Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, where she has earned a Bachelor’s Degree of Education in Kinesiology Exercise & Sports Science in 2017. In 2019, she earned a Master’s of Arts degree in Sports Administration with a concentration in Community Health. Through her master’s project she created a zero-waste mobile grocery store called Deeply Rooted Produce. The business has evolved into a model that increases access to high quality groceries in innovative ways. To date she is focused on her freedom and creating a more sustainable food system with farmers in Michigan, Louisiana, Costa Rica, and Florida with a nonprofit she founded called Deeply Rooted Gardens Inc., with the intention to provide resources and land access to marginalized farmers of color.

Lisa Castrichini

Lisa Castrichini earned her degree in Nutrition from Arizona State University. There, she learned about the veil around our food system and the social injustices that plague it. Her newfound knowledge led her to the field of community health, with an emphasis on child health and food access. Lisa is a Certified Health Education Specialist and dedicated Yoga Teacher who is passionate about mindfulness. She spent time working for Arizona’s SNAP-Ed program. Lisa also has clinical experience as a Health Coach for Bayless Integrated Healthcare. Lisa’s recent position was as the Health Manager at Southwest Human Development in their Head Start program. While at Southwest Human Development, she created an initiative to increase voter registration for low-income and minority families. She grew up near farmland and has seen it dwindle over the years. This led her to pursue a master’s degree to create food policy change. 

Sophie Churchill

Sophie Churchill is from Iowa, where she grew up on a farm and learned about the intricacies of the food systems through lived experiences.  She earned her undergraduate degrees in International Studies and Anthropology from the University of Iowa and holds a Master’s in Sociocultural Anthropology from KU Leuven in Belgium.  Sophie studied the anthropology of food, which led her to become interested in sustainable agriculture, food culture, and food policy. This led her to serve with FoodCorps as a Food & Nutrition Educator in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She now works at a nonprofit managing several grants that support local foods in Iowa, including the Iowa Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program, Local Food for Schools, and PLANTS grants. In the past, she has interned at The World Food Prize and Food Tank, and recently served as an Alumni Advocacy Lead with FoodCorps.  She is currently a Women Food and Ag Network board member and active Master Gardener. In her free time, Sophie enjoys travelling, hiking, gardening, and of course, reading about all things food-related. She is excited to be pursuing a Master’s in Sustainable Food Systems to be part of creating a more sustainable future.

Talia Clarke

Talia Clarke began her journey into food and wellness as a volunteer with the Boston Celtics “Fit to Win” Program. She helped youth in her community in Hartford, Connecticut develop healthier relationships with food and physical activity.  Talia’s passion for working with students and nutrition deepened through her experience in Hartford Public Schools as a FoodCorps service member during the COVID-19 pandemic. Amid this tragedy, Talia found joy connecting students to healthy food options through hands-on lessons, local taste tests, and school-wide gardening projects.Talia received her B.S. in Public Health from Southern Connecticut State University and recently served as UCONN Extension’s - Project Coordinator for the Connecticut Farm-to-School Collaborative. In this role, she played a part in organizing educational meetings, sharing resources, and promoting farm-to-school initiatives. Talia is excited to further her education in food policy, continuing her commitment to fostering sustainable food systems for generations to come. Outside of work, Talia is a multi-hyphenate: a hairstylist, book club coordinator, event planner, and world traveler. 

Maya Davis

Maya Davis is based in Columbus, Georgia, where she serves as a Farm to School Educator, teaching over 500 K-5 students about food education. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Health Science with a Business minor from Columbus State University and is currently pursuing a Master's in Strategic Communications Management. Maya's dedication to food systems and addressing food insecurity began during her first year at CSU, motivating her to focus on sustainability and the social determinants of health. She has experience as a student research assistant, interned at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the National Institutes of Health, and began her teaching journey through FoodCorps in 2022.
Currently, Maya continues her work with The Food Mill, an organization dedicated to eliminating barriers to food security in Columbus. Focusing on areas like North Highlands, The Food Mill creates access to healthy food and promotes a health-minded culinary culture, aiming to improve residents’ health. Maya leads food education initiatives that empower the community to embrace healthier, sustainable food practices.

Maddie Downing

Madelyn Downing is an agribusiness instructor at a small university in Ohio. She received her bachelor’s degree in agribusiness marketing and management from The University of Northwestern Ohio. She grew up as the eighth generation on a 200-acre fruit and vegetable farm in Ohio, learning the ins and outs of the operations and the struggles that produce farmers can endure in America. She is passionate about changing the current scope of American agriculture and fostering change among the next generation of leaders. Madelyn’s current role as an educator provides the opportunity to work directly with the future of the agriculture industry. She is involved as the Lima community farmer’s market manager alongside the students in her newly developed “Ag Club” at the university. The club acts as an all-inclusive opportunity for students from various backgrounds to work directly with local farmers, food producers, and business owners to provide the community with much-needed access to fresh and local food. The lifelong access to homegrown fruits and vegetables from her family’s farm drives Madelyn’s passion for educating and providing the public with these delicacies.

Maggie Epperson

Margaret (Maggie) Epperson has been an avid “foodie” and supporter of the food justice movement for as long as she can remember. In December 2021, Maggie received her bachelor’s degree in Culinary Nutrition from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. She briefly returned to her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, where she worked in a catering kitchen. She sits on the board of directors for the Food Literacy Project, a local food justice non-profit she worked at in high school. Maggie’s journey then took her to Springfield, Massachusetts, to complete a year of service with FoodCorps as a Food Educator, teaching 3rd-5th graders the importance of nutritious meals. After her year of service, Maggie returned to Louisville, Kentucky, as a Nutrition Educator for the Kentucky WIC (Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children). There, she counsels pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding mothers and families of children ages 1-5 in nutrition and provides resources to an underserved community. With this master’s program, she hopes to learn more about food policy and allocate more resources to underserved populations one day.

Bryanna Fogel

Bryanna Fogel is a Wisconsin native currently living in New Jersey. She serves as the Program Manager of Community Schoolyard Gardens in Newark for Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national nonprofit that aims to connect everyone to the outdoors. As a long-term believer in the magic that lies within public green spaces, especially parks and community gardens, Bryanna loves being able to work alongside urban growers, farmers, and herbalists who share in her mission of serving the community. She is especially passionate about supporting community-driven solutions and policies. Bryanna earned her BA in Political Science from St. Norbert College in 2021 and her MS in Social Policy from University of Pennsylvania in 2022. She is ecstatic to be back in school earning her graduate certificate in Food Policy and Sustainability Leadership from ASU.

Jeremy Gatson

Jeremy Gatson (he/him) is a Black queer male who leads with Divine love and light.  Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, and currently planted in Austin, Texas, Jeremy lives a life of uplifting beautiful beings and cultures around him.  He received a Bachelor of Arts in African & African Diaspora Studies and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing at the University of Texas at Austin. Jeremy has spent 10 years in various marketing roles within the tech industry.  In addition, he wants to pursue his life and career passion of being a sustainable food system warrior.  He believes in food sovereignty and security for all communities and wants to make a more resilient local and global food system.  He envisions a career as an overall champion of shifting the food narrative by creating an impact in academia, land stewardship, local and global policy, marketing and media, and community gathering.

Summer Grandy

Growing up on a small ranch in Idaho, Summer gained an early appreciation for food systems. This, along with a short experience living on a Costa Rican farm, inspired her to pursue a degree in Environmental Science at University of Portland, where she focused on sustainability and food justice. Since then, her career has spanned various sectors, including working on farms and ranches, farmer’s markets, food cooperatives, and the non-profit sector, each further deepening her dedication to equitable, climate-forward food systems. In her current role within the Flagstaff Family Food Center Client Advocacy Department, Summer is focused on examining the root causes of hunger across northern Arizona, integrating trauma-informed and client-centric care into food bank programs, and advocating for and with the community on anti-hunger policies. In the long term, Summer aims to combine her passions for sustainable agriculture, food justice, and policy.

Cora Greenisen

Cora Greenisen, a United States Air Force Veteran from Hartford, WI, is dedicated to serving and uplifting communities. As an Airborne Cryptologic Linguist, she specialized in Persian Farsi and Dari, skills that now fuel her passion for global connection and resilience. After earning her BS in Technology Entrepreneurship and Management from ASU in 2024, Cora founded PLANponics, an innovative aquaponics business aimed at reducing food insecurity in Arizona through advanced technology. Witnessing the significant impact of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic on the food industry deepened her commitment to researching food security. Cora currently works as an Agricultural Apprentice at Iskashitaa Refugee Network in Tucson, AZ, where she uses her linguistic and agricultural expertise to support refugee resettlement and enhance local food systems. Eager to expand her impact, Cora is pursuing an MS in Sustainable Food Systems, furthering her mission to feed the future.

Alexandra Greenwald

Alexandra Greenwald graduated from Portland State University with an MS in Environmental Studies and Geography. She then served her first year with AmeriCorps through a San Francisco, CA based nonprofit called Education Outside, which brought garden-based science education to public elementary schools. Alexandra was placed in a beautiful garden at an elementary school in Redwood City, CA. She found her year of teaching to be exceptionally rewarding because of the curiosity she witnessed from her students. She found that cooking with her students in the garden was the best parts of the year. Recently, Alexandra has been working with a local farmer’s market nonprofit organization that runs various farmer’s markets throughout the Bay Area. Her main role is working with the Mobile Farmer’s Market program that delivers and sells produce out of a food truck. The mission of the program is to deliver farm-fresh produce to those who would otherwise not be able to make it to the farmer’s market. Through all these experiences, Alexandra has found a passion for food accessibility and food sustainability and feels proud to be a part of our food system.

Nina Gruber

Nina is from Phoenix, AZ, where her love for the desert, the land, and the people living from it started early. She earned her Interdisciplinary Bachelor's from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University, combining courses focused on food studies, environmental studies, and ethics to design her own major that she called “The Social and Environmental Power of Food.” Further work in conservation, land, and water policy has informed her journey toward a deeper understanding of the food system as a whole. Most recently serving as the Administrative Manager for the Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy, where she assists in building capacity for communities around the Colorado River Basin, Nina is transitioning to new work with Local First Arizona, where she will help to manage their Economic Resource Center. When she's not working, she is teaching yoga classes, baking, hiking on the many amazing trails in Phoenix, reading with her cats, and watercolor painting.

Sara Hallam

Sara Hallam is a passionate advocate for sustainable food systems and increasing the access of healthy, local food to all. Sara currently works as a Program Coordinator for the Issue Advocacy team at Vital Voices Global Partnership. Her role is critical in supporting work across key issue areas on projects including corporate advisory services related to gender equity, gender-based violence, and climate change. Prior to joining Vital Voices, Sara graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.A. in Environmental Policy and Planning and a research focus in Food Access and Wellness. She works to support programs and initiatives that advance SDGs in order to alleviate environmental injustices and food insecurity from vulnerable groups such as women and children. Sara also proudly served with FoodCorps in Belfast, ME, establishing and managing a food and nutrition access program for local youth, community organizing for social and environmental justice issues, and building beautiful school gardens with over 200 students.

Breanna Hannula

Born in Southeastern Wisconsin, Breanna grew up surrounded by agriculture. She participated in 4-H and FFA, raising lambs and chickens for the county fair. Breanna attended University of Wisconsin - River Falls and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Science. A detour from agriculture led Breanna to Steamboat Springs, where she lived on an Americorps trail crew building trails throughout Colorado’s wilderness. Continuing on her path of environmental conservation, Breanna took a seasonal job in Traverse City, Michigan with a non-profit land trust. Determined to stay in Northern Michigan, she pivoted back into agriculture by accepting a role with the local conservation district. In this role, Breanna continues to provide free on-farm education and technical assistance to fresh produce growers on the topic of farm food safety. Breanna works alongside state and federal officials who write and interpret legislation intended to protect farmers and consumers from the risks of foodborne illness.

Kellie Henwood

Kellie Henwood (she/her) is a Sustainable Agriculture and Local Food Systems Extension Educator and Specialist passionately ready to advance her degree in Food Systems. Since 2013, Kellie has managed the Washington State University Extension’s Regional Small Farms Program, serving three counties that provide education, research, and support resources to farmers and community members. Working with local farmers, researchers, and community organizations is at the core of her work, with a focus on equitable land access, culturally relevant educational learning opportunities in agriculture, supporting farm viability and business planning, and new/beginning farming program development. She serves as a member of the WSU Food Systems Team and has been a Cultivating Success program lead since 2020. She has an undergraduate degree in Sustainable Agriculture from Evergreen State College in Washington State. Before becoming an Extension Educator for WSU, Kellie had many years of on-farm experience on diversified organic farms and in the commercial fishing industry. She has served on the board of directors of Jefferson Land Trust and Tilth Alliance, two organizations serving farmers and protecting farmland.

Nyree Hodges

Nyree, a native of Hartford and New Britain, CT, grew up in multicultural settings, which formed the foundation of her professional and life journeys. Spending much of her childhood outdoors and attending an environmental science magnet middle school inspired her to pursue outdoor education, and the natural sciences. She earned a B.S. in Health Science from the University of Bridgeport and began her grassroots work with the Healthy CT Alliance, addressing environmental racism. Nyree has since completed a social justice fellowship with YP4 focusing on Civil Rights Activism; worked as an Environmental Educator with the Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut and the Schoolyards Program Coordinator at Common Ground High School Urban Farm and EE Center; and served as a FoodCorps Service Member at Green Village Initiative. She relocated to Seattle, WA to pursue a doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine, and plans to integrate her background in Food Sovereignty with her Sustainable Food Systems degree to enhance health and food access in communities, focusing on creating healthy living spaces as an ND.

Lisa Holm

Lisa Holm is the Climate and Local Foods Program Coordinator for the Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) and has been in this role for over a year and a half. Prior to that, she was a government relations intern for MFU. The Farmers Union is a member-based nonprofit that works to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life of family farmers, ranchers and rural communities. In her current role with MFU, Lisa enjoys connecting producers with opportunities to make their voices heard on new climate policies, programs and investments. She also serves as a member resource for creating events centered on climate and working lands and local foods. Lisa is drawn to the collaborative nature of this work. Lisa is originally from the Twin Cities and graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities with a B.S. degree in food systems and sustainable agriculture with a minor in global studies. Her emphasis was in sustainable development and environmental policy. 

Jessica Jubara

Jessica Jubara is the Senior Climate Manager at General Mills, leading the company's strategy and development of the corporate climate roadmap to achieve their greenhouse gas reduction goals. In her role, she oversees the measurement of General Mills' corporate climate footprint, external coalition engagement, supplier climate program, and climate reporting and disclosures. Jessica recently published the company's first Climate Transition Action Plan, providing a comprehensive overview of the decarbonization programs that form General Mills’ climate strategy across dairy, tropical commodities, row crops, transportation, packaging, and manufacturing. Jessica brings a systems-wide perspective and collaborative approach to addressing the complex challenges of sustainability and climate change in her work. Prior to her current role, she held positions in sales and trade strategy at General Mills, working with major retailers such as Kroger, Albertsons-Safeway and Target. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from The Ohio State University, where she was a Fisher Pace Setter award winner and member of the Fisher Honors Cohort program.

Ellen Kamps

Ellen co-owned and operated an award winning, certified organic vegetable farm and market in northern Illinois for five seasons. She co-founded the first Illinois chapter of the National Young Farmers Coalition, and advocated for local food programming in the 2018 Farm Bill. After joining the Illinois Agriculture Leadership Program, Ellen studied agriculture systems in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Kenya, Israel, and Palestine. In 2023, she graduated from University of California, Berkeley with a master’s in agriculture policy and food systems. She now serves as a sustainable agriculture consultant working in the Midwest and Pacific Coast. 

Iris Kelly

Organic gardening supporter. Sustainability advocate. Community Events Coordinator. Iris Kelly completed her BS at ASU in Sustainability in 2017. During the final semester of that program, she moved back home, interned at, and was then hired by the Community Environmental Council in Santa Barbara. She had 5 great years working there as executive assistant, development assistant, and eventually events coordinator. Iris worked to put on the country’s longest running Earth Day Festival with over 30,000 attendees annually. In 2023, she moved with my pup Atka and partner Pike to Port Angeles, WA. They had a great year and a half in the Pacific Northwest and ultimately determined we were too far from their family and moved back home to Goleta, CA. There was a year of working at Island Seed & Feed - the pet, garden, and farm supply store that my family bought when she was young and with which she grew up. Iris now serves as Community Events Coordinator for the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County. This position gives her an opportunity to serve her community by providing nutritious food for all to access.

Julian Kroboth

Julian graduated from the University of Oregon, majoring in Political Science and Sociology. He took a class as an undergrad called Salmon and Society that piqued his interest in the relationship between food and people, and the impact those relationships have on how communities are created. He currently works at FreshFarm, a nonprofit in Washington, D.C. whose mission is to help build a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient food system in the Mid-Atlantic region. As the Procurement Manager of FreshFarm’s Pop-Up Food Hub, he works with a network of farms within 200 miles of D.C. to source and distribute produce to community organizations and food-insecure residents. His motivating interest is to help small farms leverage their geographic proximity to customer markets to remain competitive in an increasingly corporate-dominated food industry. He believes in small farms both as a means of food production and as an avenue for continued land conservation on an individual level.

Joey Lu

Joey currently works as a Food Access Coordinator with the Neighborhood Farmers Markets Alliance (NFM) in Seattle, Washington. She works with governmental agencies, community partners, and farmers to coordinate the administration of food assistance programs, market gleaning operations, and the Growing For Good Farm-to-Food Bank program. Her work connects communities to fresh, nutrient-dense, locally grown food. Prior to her work with NFM, she served as a FoodCorps AmeriCorps School Nutrition Service Member with the Oakland Unified School District in her hometown of Oakland, California. In this role, she helped with the implementation of produce bars in cafeterias across the district, improving access to fruit and vegetable offerings for students. Joey graduated magna cum laude and with College Honors from UCLA in 2022. She received both a B.A. in International Development Studies and Sociology, as well as a B.A. in Public Affairs with a minor in Environmental Systems and Society. 

Tara McDaniel

Tara McDaniel was a nontraditional student at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville, earning her Bachelor of Arts as a first-generation college graduate. She served two years with FoodCorps at Cedarville Elementary School. When schools closed down in the Spring of 2020, McDaniel shifted her service to food insecurity and making the school garden available to the families of students. McDaniel was on the launch teams for Fort Smith’s first LGBTQIA+ groups for youth. She joined Arkansas Climate League’s People Power Project, assisting with the proposal writing and later the implementation of the Community Energy Innovation Prize awarded. McDaniel joined a cohort of FoodCorps Alumni Advocacy Leads traveling to Washington D.C. in May of 2024 to advocate for Universal School Meals and Garden Education in all Arkansas schools.  She is a member of several local committees, a board member for River Valley PRIDE, and a member of Citizens Climate Lobby.

Laura McGeary

Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts from Wellesley College, where she studied Neuroscience with a minor in Health & Society. During college, she was introduced to sustainability as a coordinator working to divert textiles and home goods away from landfills and back to students and community-based organizations. Upon graduation, Laura became an analyst in the private sector, offering customer experience, strategic services, and market research consulting. Laura is now pursuing a Master’s of Sustainability Solutions degree along with the Food Policy and Sustainability Leadership Graduate Certificate. After graduating, Laura is interested in food systems work that brings together public, non-profit, and corporate leaders. As a participant in the Summer 2024 Japan-U.S. Global Leadership Program, Laura worked in a cross-cultural team to devise a strategy for community-driven approaches to AI-enhanced local rice cultivation in Hiroshima, Japan. As a graduate student, Laura has developed a passion for mentorship and is currently serving as program manager of the Global Futures Impact Scholars for undergraduate students

Aliza McHugh

Aliza McHugh is the Northwest Program Coordinator at Healthy Food in Healthcare/Health Care without Harm, where she leads a newly forming statewide farm-to-institution collaborative in Oregon focused on scaling solutions to inequities in the F2I space. She holds a BA/BS in Geography and Environmental studies from UC Berkeley, where she conducted her honors thesis research on incarcerated peoples’ relationship to growing food and agriculture in the California prison system. She was also involved in several food justice, nutrition, and natural resource management groups and projects throughout her time at university. She has completed two AmeriCorps service terms, respectively in youth development (San Francisco) and sustainable tourism/community development (Columbia River Gorge). Since then, she has also worked for a small cider brand, an irrigation modernization organization, and is currently a community grant writer for a local organization, Comunidades, and is a strategic advisor at Re:Wild Your Campus. A Los Angeles native, she now resides in Hood River, Oregon, and very much enjoys rural living.

Lani Miller

Whether in a private practice, community clinic, or hospital wing, Lani - a graduate of Loma Linda University - has dedicated her career as a Registered Dietitian to ensuring individuals have access to the information and resources needed for a long healthy life. This passion has led her from specializing in individual wellness to the broader “upstream” work of public health, and now the study of food systems and sustainability. Lani is fascinated by the intersection of human and planetary health. She firmly believes that food and food systems have the potential to unify people across cultures, regions, and political divides. Lani is honored to serve on the board of Communities in Schools of Whatcom-Skagit, WA, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth on their path to graduation and lifelong achievement. This organization addresses the root causes of health disparities to build a brighter, more equitable future for all. When not experimenting in her kitchen or rewilding her yard, Lani is probably wandering in the forests of the Pacific Northwest in search of blackberries.

Sat Miller

Sat Miller is a passionate Data Scientist specializing in Precision Agriculture and Food Insecurity. She has dedicated her career to harnessing the power of data to drive innovation in food systems. With a background in leading analytics and machine learning programs at Adobe, Autodesk, and Cisco, Sat now teaches Data Storytelling at Stanford University and supports ag-tech startups. Her passion for food systems led her to help almond growers slash water usage in California, and to analyze food security trends in India and Japan. She received her Bachelor's in Law with a minor in Computer Science, as well as a Master's in International Relations, from the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan. While studying on the island, she worked in sugarcane and pineapple fields and found her calling in advocating for farmers. In her free time, Sat volunteers at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, sorting donations, delivering meals, and sharing smiles.

Lenora Moore

Lenora Moore is a Grant Compliance Officer with the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF), a private charitable trust dedicated to increasing access to capital for Native American farmers and ranchers through grantmaking. During her time at NAAF, Lenora has witnessed the diversity of food systems across the country, particularly those within tribal communities. Lenora is a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. Having grown up on a farm within the Lumbee tribal community of Wakulla, North Carolina, Lenora has been surrounded by agriculture her entire life and is passionate about increasing tribal food sovereignty. Lenora earned her B.A. in English from North Carolina State University. In her free time she enjoys spending time with friends and family, cooking, reading, and traveling.

Elena Mosher

Elena Mosher is a farmer and educator who is passionate about food justice, equitable land access, and regenerative agriculture. She grew up in a farming community in Northern Michigan and began working in organic agriculture in her early teens. Her love of food and farming stuck with her through college at the University of Michigan, where her interdisciplinary studies coalesced around environmental justice and food access. After graduating with a BA in Social Theory and Practice, Elena served as a FoodCorps Service Member in Detroit, teaching food and gardening lessons to K-5th graders and advocating for farm to school policies. She later served as the Farm to School Coordinator in her hometown of Traverse City, where she supported school gardens, provided farm to school programming, and built capacity for more locally grown fruits and vegetables to be served in school cafeterias. Elena has recently moved back to Detroit, where she tends a small urban farm and works for Michigan State University Extension’s Detroit Partnership for Food, Learning, and Innovation.

Amanda Ohnmacht

Amanda received her BFA in Ceramics with a minor in Applied Biological Sciences from Arizona State University in 2018. While taking classes, she discovered a passion for horticulture and sustainable food systems, which led her to pursue a Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture through Mesa Community College. While at MCC, she worked as an agricultural student worker tending to the farm grounds and greenhouse. Her enthusiasm for composting and waste reduction tied into her next venture as a worm breeder, compost crafter, and vermicasting production assistant at the Arizona Worm Farm, a 10-acre urban farm focused on diverting food waste from landfills. She currently works as a Program Coordinator for the University of Arizona Maricopa County Cooperative Extension Urban Ag Production, Small-Scale Beginner Farmer Program. Amanda is passionate about cultivating closed-loop food systems that focus on soil and ecosystem regeneration. She resonates with the philosophy of farming as a lifestyle and hopes to one day have her own farm based on agroecological principles. For now, she tends to a small backyard garden and enjoys watching her modest flock of 5 chickens frolic about the yard.  

Chris Onuoha is an educator, engineer, and earthworker dedicated to fostering food sovereignty and building sustainable food systems in Georgia and beyond. They were raised, and now live and work in Clayton County, GA, serving as Assistant Director of Food Access and Community Organizing. In this role, they oversee food access and education initiatives at their organization, including farm-to-school programming, mobile markets, and community-based advocacy. Before this position, they served as a FoodCorps Food Education service member for the 2023-2024 school year, where they taught over 250 pre-K-5 students in Atlanta Public Schools. Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from UM-Dearborn. They also hold certifications in sustainable urban agriculture and compost operations. In their free time, Chris tends to plants, raises livestock, and keeps bees at their family homestead. They also enjoy reading books and hiking with their dog.

Dr. Patterson is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN. In addition to her clinical service in the pediatric intensive care unit, she has conducted translational research evaluating host-microbiome interactions during critical illness. She is working to ameliorate food insecurity through hospital screening initiatives and to advocate for healthy school meals through the Tennessee Justice Center. She shares her passion for food as preventative medicine through medical education with trainees as well as patients and families, with hopes to foster a healthier future for our communities and future generations. She is a member of Food Tank’s academic working group and is passionate about multidisciplinary collaboration between policy makers, entrepreneurs, chefs, farmers, researchers, educators, physicians, and eaters (which is all of us) to create a sustainable and more nutritious food system.

Colette Pressell graduated in 2023 with her Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and a Minor in Philosophy from Arizona State University. She graduated summa cum laude and received the Dean’s Medal as the top graduating student in her degree program. Her academic journey was enriched by study abroad experiences in Costa Rica and Sicily, where she was deeply inspired by the sustainable agricultural practices she encountered. Colette is also a Starbucks manager and has honed her leadership and management skills by overseeing a high-volume Starbucks location. She also served as her district's Community Champion Lead, spearheading various initiatives to foster community engagement and environmental stewardship. One notable accomplishment was organizing a successful beach cleanup in partnership with the Alliance for the Great Lakes, mobilizing volunteers and raising awareness about plastic pollution and coastal conservation. Colette is particularly drawn to sustainable coffee farming and is actively seeking opportunities to contribute to initiatives that support ethical and environmentally responsible coffee production. In her spare time, Colette enjoys exploring new cultures through travel, reading, and volunteering with animals. She is also a devoted pet parent, sharing her life with a dog, three cats, two rabbits, and four birds.

Joseph is a dedicated advocate for sustainable food systems and environmental restoration. He holds an Associate's degree in Hawaiian Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Sustainable Community Food Systems from the University of Hawaii. Joseph has recently begun his studies in Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University, further deepening his expertise in the field. He interned with Hawaii Food Plus, where he focused on food systems advocacy, and served as a lead advocate during the last legislative session. Bringing a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between food, culture, and ecology, Joseph applies his knowledge to real-world challenges. A veteran with a strong commitment to service, Joseph is actively involved in the “Ola I Ka ‘Āina” project, an innovative initiative that integrates STEM education with indigenous knowledge to restore ecosystems in the ahupua’a (land division) of Waiawa, Hawaiʻi. By blending modern science with cultural wisdom, Joseph is helping to create a future where people and the planet thrive together.

Kaela Reisch is an Urban Gardens Program Assistant at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she mentors Latinx undergraduates in their delivery of hands-on science experiments to local children in home gardens through the Seed Spoon Science Program. In addition, she manages an on-campus garden which serves as a community space for students to connect, share responsibilities for the success of the garden, and to commune over freshly harvested produce. Prior to that, Kaela served as a School Nutrition FoodCorps Service Member in Upland, CA, where she engaged in sustainable cafeteria measures, community outreach programming, and cooking and gardening education for K-8th grade students. Her service inspired her to continue working with students to educate them on sustainable food practices and to share in the joy of freshly-grown produce. Kaela graduated from The University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor’s in Neuroscience & Behavior and a Minor in Sustainability. Through this next phase of her career and education journey, Kaela hopes to learn more about how local food systems can flourish while being economically and geographically accessible to all. She hopes to explore this through the lens of community organizational efforts and policy reform.

Isabella Sanders is an assistant professor in the Systems Engineering Department at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Her current research focuses on creating supply chain innovations through mathematical models that assess risk along the entire food supply chain, whether it is the farm itself, the truck that transports your produce, or the machinery that processes it. This involves designing routing networks that minimize carbon emissions, building methodologies that aid in supplier selection, and creating models that adjust networks in times of crisis to reduce food insecurity. She has won multiple awards for her work, including the Food Distribution Society’s Outstanding Graduate Research Award and the Georgia Tech Engineering Young Alumni Award. Isabella earned an S.B. in Mathematics from MIT. She received a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering, an MBA, an M.S. in Operations Research, and an M.S. in Geographic Information Sciences & Technology, all from Georgia Tech.

Jennifer Smith has a strong passion for nutrition education. She strives for a world where children are educated on their food systems, food safety, and basic scratch cooking skills. Growing up with a parent who went to culinary school, she learned early on the do’s and don’ts of the kitchen and dreams that everyone should have that education. Jennifer began her food and nutrition journey at Keene State College, where she earned her Bachelor’s in Health Science with a concentration in Nutrition and a minor in Addictions. She later served with FoodCorps in Lowell, MA as a school nutrition service member through the district of Lowell Public Schools. She participated in the USDA funded Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program serving 85 different fresh fruits and vegetables to an elementary school. Currently, she works for Aramark as a Food Service Manager with Lowell Public Schools. She manages roughly 200 food service staff with her Aramark team, as well as the current FoodCorps service members in her district. In her role, she assists in overseeing 28 schools, with 14,500 students in the district. Jennifer would love to change the way Americans see school food in a positive light.

Lynn Summers is a farmer, entrepreneur, and master food preserver who shares her knowledge of food growing and preserving with the community through education. She believes in the integrated approach to the food web, which uses the whole product to reduce as much waste as possible. Before she started Summer’s Prep, she retired from Kaiser Hospital, where she worked for 30 years as an emergency room tech (EMS) and safety officer. There she was FEMA trained and honed her skills on federal, state, and local regulation on emergency processes and how to prepare for disasters. Lynn has turned her EMS skills and her passion and certification as a San Bernardino County Master Food Preserver and Master Gardener into a fully integrated business that brings together farming, preserving, and survival skills. She is a county fair blue ribbon winner for her jams and jellies and teaches regular classes in gardening and preserving at a local community garden. She is a member of the East Rialto Kiwanis, a participant in the Caravanserai Project’s SEED Lab for social entrepreneurs, and a graduate from entrepreneurship at California State University, San Bernardino.

Callum Verstrate (they/he) is the School Nutrition FoodCorps Member at Growing Gardens in Portland, OR. Cal is supporting initiatives to increase culturally affirming school meals across two school districts and is leading a tasting table program for elementary school students to try new foods without fear or judgment.  As part of their previous FoodCorps year in partnership with Portland Public Schools, they collaboratively introduced 14 high school student-created menu items to the PPS menu rotation, and analyzed five months of kitchen food waste data at over 80 school sites to uncover food waste trends. Cal grew up in the Portland area, and fondly remembers going to the local farmer’s market with his family and spending warm summer afternoons outdoors. Having a connection with nature and their local food system led Cal to pursue an undergraduate degree in environmental science, with a focus on social ecology and food systems. He is a passionate advocate for food systems education and food access.

Travis Wells is a Strategic Sourcing Manager for Daymon, a subsidiary of Advantage Solutions. He regularly networks with food manufacturers at industry trade shows and provides new business leads for companies all over North America in the meat, seafood, deli, bakery, and produce departments of the retail grocery industry. Travis grew up on a traditional corn and soybean farm outside a small town in Iowa and raised cattle to help pay for school. His family still grows corn and soybeans and sells Pioneer seed to local farmers to plant every spring. Travis was the President of the Iowa State University Business Council while earning his bachelor's degree with a double major in Marketing and Management. He worked for Labatt Food Service in Texas for nine years, in several roles including purchasing, sales, and sales support. He helped grow Labatt's new online platform designed to help independent restaurants buy better to compete with large chains. In 2019, he began his journey on the retail side of the business with Daymon as a Business Manager responsible for $90M+ of business with a large grocery retailer in Texas, for which he was named a 2021 Rising Star in Private Label by Store Brands. He moved to Phoenix in 2021 and joined the North American Sourcing team in a remote role, where he enjoys connecting with companies to find new business opportunities. 

Wen studied political science at Arizona State University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 2021 and a master’s degree in 2022. Her research interests are in rural economic development and climate migration. As a political science student, Wen’s academic pursuits were interdisciplinary, having studied abroad in India and attended an international workshop in England on post-conflict recovery and reconciliation. For her master’s thesis, Wen used data from the Living Standards Measurement Study - Integrated Surveys on Agriculture to explore how farmers in Malawi use labor diversification strategies to cope with ex-post income shocks caused by climate change. After living in Mongolia through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, the decision to pursue a sustainable food systems degree became clear.

Lourdes was born in Lima, Peru, where she lived until she was 13. She then moved to Chile, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness Engineering from the University of Santiago of Chile. Her interest in sustainability was sparked by a field trip to an agroecology farm during her undergraduate studies. After completing her degree, she returned to her home country and worked with the Municipality of Lima as a coordinator for the urban agriculture program in one of the world’s largest desert cities. Currently residing in Umatilla, Oregon, Lourdes began her career in the United States with AmeriCorps FoodCorps, working as a food and garden educator in a small rural city. After completing her 2-year service with FoodCorps, she now serves as the Child Nutrition Coordinator for the Umatilla School District. Lourdes is dedicated to continuous improvement and is a strong advocate for the Universal School Meals Program Act, striving to ensure that all children have access to the nutrition they need, regardless of their income.

Ella Zalewsky is a recent graduate from The University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, specializing in Food and Society. Born and raised in Southern Rhode Island, Ella gained experience working with a local CBD farm as a field intern and later market employee, the City of Providence’s Healthy Communities Office as a Farm to School intern, and the Rhode Island Food Policy Council as a Produce Prescription (PRx) intern. During her senior year, Ella was the student advisory board member for RI’s Food Systems Planning for 2030 Statewide Strategy, and was the undergraduate TA for Dr. Baur’s Food Justice course. Along with this, she has 10+ years of food service experience supporting her passion for the creation of sustainable and equitable food systems. Ella has extreme interest in the various interconnected components within sustainable food networks. She hopes to collaborate with communities, educators, and organizations to increase access to real food while supporting local economies. In all her work, Ella desires to address the social determinants of health and environmental injustices to aid the formation of upstream programs benefiting minority communities.

Gustavo Zaragoza has had close to a decade of experience in the food and healthcare industries. He started from a humble beginning as a “food runner” during his undergraduate studies and eventually graduated from ASU with an undergraduate degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. Once he started his career, Gustavo was part of an internship at the Paradise Valley School District helping manage elementary school kitchens, feeding children, and implementing federal standards for school lunch programs. He also had a stint at the Arizona Department of Education, starting as an auditor for the Child and Adult Care Program and eventually becoming the supervisor for the daycare homes section of that program. After that, Gustavo spent close to five years working for NSF International, where he became one of the head auditors and area trainers for the Southwest area for the private health inspections that are partially based on the federal food code and retail company standards. Gustavo is currently a staff member at ASU working for Learning Enterprise. He's pursing this degree in Sustainable Food Systems to be a gateway to help with the water crises in Arizona and help decrease overall food waste across the state and country.