I completed my undergraduate studies in economics at Creighton University and then worked in the non-profit sector on projects related to community food security and food waste reduction for four years before returning to school. I did my graduate work in the Agriculture, Food, and Environment program at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. I use my interdisciplinary training and a variety of research methods to study challenges facing the food system and I’m particularly interested in the role that regional food systems could play in food system resilience and sustainability.

As part of the National Food Access and COVID research Team (NFACT), my current work focuses on understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted food security and food access in Vermont and other parts of the country. Our team has conducted several surveys to gather information on changes in food purchasing behavior, food security status, use of food assistance programs, and more since the pandemic began. The results of our work help inform local organizations and state government as they develop policies and programs to address the challenges that Vermonters have faced throughout the pandemic.3. Your career goals.

In my career, I want to continue conducting interdisciplinary research focused on meeting the food and nutrition needs of the growing population while improving sustainability and resiliency to disruptions in the food system, such as climate change, natural resource scarcity, extreme weather events, and pandemics. I hope to use my expertise in multiple disciplines and research methods to integrate knowledge and data from different fields in order to study food systems in a holistic and comprehensive manner.

Advisor: Meredith Niles