Catherine Sands

Catherine Sands is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst's Stockbridge School of Agriculture, specializing in food policy, food justice, and community food systems. She is also the Director of Fertile Ground, a program supporting curriculum-integrated teaching gardens in schools, and a partner in Partnership in Practice providing evaluation services for food systems initiatives.

• Education: M.P.P.A. from University of Massachusetts Amherst (2008), B.A. in Art History and English from Georgetown University (1984)

Her research focuses on participatory action research, racial equity, and systems thinking in community food projects. She has designed evaluation frameworks for initiatives like the Holyoke Food and Fitness Policy Council and the Nuestra Comida Project, emphasizing stakeholder engagement and policy impact analysis.

Recent publications highlight her work in community-driven food systems, participatory assessment tools like PhotoVoice, and cross-sector partnerships. She has contributed to journals such as the Journal of Community Development and Practicing Anthropology.

• Scientific Awards: Fellow, UMass Center for Community Service Learning and Engagement (2012–2013); Outstanding Community Service and Engagement, University of MA (2008)

Catherine advises community organizations and school districts on food justice and evaluation strategies. She has served on committees like the MA Food Policy Alliance Steering Committee and the Northeast Regional Farm to School Network Evaluation Committee, while mentoring youth leaders in urban agriculture.