Kate Darby is an Associate Professor at Western Washington University focusing on social and environmental justice, food sovereignty, and climate change pedagogy. She developed the course ENVS 115: Hope and Agency for a Climate-Altered World to foster proactive climate engagement. Research: Examines environmental injustice production, sensory claims in decision-making, and food sovereignty. Recent work addresses university food systems and low-income household gardening. Education: PhD in Anthropology (Arizona State University), MS in Environmental Studies (University of Oregon), BS in Chemical Engineering (Penn State).
Catarina Kiefe, Ph.D., M.D., is a Professor and holds the Melvin S. and Sandra L. Cutler Chair in Biomedical Research at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, leading the Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences (PQHS). She previously served as the inaugural Chair of PQHS from 2009 to 2019 and currently serves as Chief Scientific Officer of PQHS and the Cutler Chair. Her research integrates mathematical rigor with clinical medicine, focusing on improving healthcare outcomes through epidemiological and health services research. Education: She earned a BS in Science from the University of Porto (Portugal), a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and an M.D. from the University of California, San Francisco. She completed her internal medicine residency at the University of Minnesota Hospitals and Clinics. Research Interests: Dr. Kiefe's work spans cardiovascular health, social determinants of health, geriatric conditions, and the application of data-driven approaches to healthcare improvement. She explores how factors like socioeconomic status, neighborhood environments, and psychological stress influence health outcomes, particularly in underserved populations. Her projects often combine quantitative methods with clinical insights to address disparities and improve patient care. Publications: Her 300+ peer-reviewed articles reflect her focus on cardiovascular epidemiology, health disparities, and healthcare quality. Recent work includes studies on atrial fibrillation survival prediction, social determinants of cardiovascular health, and the impact of historical redlining on obesity. Awards: Dr. Kiefe is Co-Editor-in-Chief of Medical Care , a premier journal in health services research. She has led numerous NIH-funded grants and mentors early-career researchers through training programs like the NHLBI T32 grant. Leadership: She promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and cohesion among teams, emphasizing translational research. Her roles include leadership in the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and affiliations with multiple programs in bioinformatics and clinical investigation.
Cecilia Rocha is a Professor and Director of the School of Nutrition at Toronto Metropolitan University, with a PhD. She is also an associate researcher and former director of the Centre for Studies in Food Security. Her work focuses on food security policy analysis, market failures, and sustainable rural development, particularly in Brazil and among immigrant populations in Toronto. Research Interests include: Assessment of food security initiatives' social efficiency Role of markets in addressing food insecurity Food sovereignty in indigenous settlements Key Contributions: Authored pivotal studies on Belo Horizonte's food security policies and led the Building Capacity in Food Security in Brazil project (2004-2010). Presented at high-level UN meetings, including the 2009 Madrid Food Security Conference and Rome's World Food Summit. Recent Work: Advised on Toronto's Food Strategy (2009-2010) and served on the Council of Canadian Academies' panel on Northern Canada's food security (2012).
Cara L. Cuite is an Associate Professor and Undergraduate Program Director in the Department of Human Ecology at Rutgers University, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. She holds roles as Associate Extension Specialist and leads research on food security, risk communication, and basic needs insecurities among students. Her work includes collaborations with community partners across New Jersey and international risk communication training. Education: Ph.D. in Psychology from Rutgers University (200X); B.S. in Psychology and Modern Languages from Union College (200X). Research focuses on food security policy, disaster preparedness, and behavioral interventions to reduce household environmental impacts. She leads the Food Security Community Learning Table for the Rutgers Equity Alliance and serves on advisory boards for the NJ Food Democracy Collaborative and Meals on Wheels in Greater New Brunswick. Key grants: National Science Foundation, USDA, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Recent work includes developing educator toolkits, assessing campus pantry barriers, and evaluating community seafood programs. She has published extensively on food insecurity, climate adaptation, and interdisciplinary health education. Grants and collaborations highlight her role in advancing evidence-based interventions. Her team's reports on Rutgers student food insecurity (2020 and 2023) are foundational to institutional policy changes.
Professor Wendy Wills is the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) at the University of Hertfordshire, leading strategic research initiatives and overseeing business and innovation. She previously directed the Centre for Research in Public Health and Community Care (CRIPACC) and was Associate Dean (Research) in the School of Health and Social Work. Her academic role is complemented by her leadership of the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) East of England, focusing on prevention and early detection in health and social care. Wendy holds a PhD in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (2003). Her research expertise spans food practices, public health nutrition, obesity, and social inequalities, with a focus on socio-economic determinants of health across the life-course. Her work contributed to a World-Leading impact case study for the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). Key projects include investigations into food insecurity among older populations, school food environments, and pandemic impacts on food practices. She has secured grants from NIHR, ESRC, and the Food Standards Agency, including directing the NIHR Public Health Intervention Response Studies Team (PHIRST). Wendy emphasizes public engagement, co-producing research with charities, NHS stakeholders, and local authorities to improve health outcomes. Her innovative initiatives include the Food in Later Life board game (developed with Focus Games) to train caregivers and a film launched during Malnutrition Awareness Week. She actively communicates findings via Twitter (@Wendy_J_Wills) and LinkedIn.
Benjamin Scharadin is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Colby College's Department of Economics. His research focuses on household food purchasing behaviors, food security, public policy impacts on dietary outcomes, and the application of USDA data to assess food environments. He teaches courses in microeconomics, research methods, and poverty studies. Dr. Scharadin's work bridges applied econometrics with policy analysis, emphasizing how geographic, temporal, and socioeconomic factors influence household food choices. His research uses innovative methodologies to analyze USDA surveys and evaluate policy interventions aimed at improving diet quality and reducing food insecurity. His recent articles explore topics such as food retail environment metrics, extreme weather impacts on food access, and pandemic-driven shifts in time use and dietary waste. The analysis consistently highlights the interplay between household decision-making and systemic policy structures. No scientific awards have been listed for Dr. Scharadin. His teaching responsibilities include multiple sections of Principles of Microeconomics and Research Methods in Economics, reflecting his commitment to both undergraduate instruction and empirical research training.
Leonard Nevarez is a Professor of Sociology at Vassar College and former Director of the Urban Studies Program. He holds a BA from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and both an MA and PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). His research focuses on urban sociology, including how markets and cultural dynamics reshape places, labor, and organizations. Specific interests include food systems, musical urbanism, and social theory. He is currently co-editing the Oxford Handbook of Urban Sociology . His work combines interdisciplinary approaches, analyzing topics such as gentrification, food insecurity, and the socio-cultural dimensions of urban spaces. Notable collaborations include studies on the Hudson Valley's 'Brooklynization' and food access disparities in Poughkeepsie. Nevarez has been featured in media outlets like Mansion Global and Chronogram , discussing urbanization trends and community food initiatives. His courses include Introductory Sociology and The New Economy , reflecting his commitment to education and critical analysis. While no scientific awards are explicitly listed, his publications and editorships highlight significant contributions to urban studies. His research and advising have addressed urban policy, community power structures, and the interplay between capital and urban development. He is affiliated with Vassar's Environmental Studies and Science, Technology, and Society (STS) Program, further emphasizing his interdisciplinary reach.
Professor Rebecca O'Connell is a leading academic in the field of food studies, focusing on the social, cultural, and economic determinants of family diets, particularly among marginalized groups. She holds a professorship at the University of Hertfordshire's School of Health and Social Work, within the Centre for Research in Public Health and Community Care. Additionally, she is a Visiting Professor at UCL Institute of Education's Thomas Coram Research Unit. Her research explores food inequalities, policy impacts on children and families, and mixed-methods approaches. Key projects include studies on food provision in special schools (Adapt-Ed project), cross-European analyses of food poverty (Families and Food in Hard Times), and policy advocacy through her role as Chair of School Food Matters. Funders include the ESRC, ERC, and Public Health England. Education includes a PhD in Social Anthropology from UCL (2008), an MA in TV Documentary (Goldsmiths, 2001), and earlier degrees in Social Anthropology. Her work bridges academic research with policy engagement, emphasizing practical solutions to food insecurity. Recent grants include NIHR funding for special school food interventions. Collaborations span Norway, Portugal, and Denmark, with a focus on comparative approaches to food policy and family practices.
Kishi Animashaun Ducre is an Associate Professor in the Department of African American Studies at Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences since 2005. Her scholarship merges frontline environmental justice advocacy with academic rigor, focusing on gendered dimensions of economic and environmental inequality. She also served as Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion (2018-2023). Ph.D. in Environmental Justice (University of Michigan, 2005) M.A. in Sociology (University of Maryland, 2002) M.P.A. in Public Administration (Baruch College, 1999) B.A. in Sociology (Tulane University, 1993) Dr. Ducre’s research bridges Black feminist geographies and environmental sociology , emphasizing community-driven frameworks like Photovoice to analyze systemic issues such as racial residential segregation and the school-to-prison pipeline . Her work interrogates urban development policies and their disproportionate impacts on marginalized communities. Her publications include case studies (e.g., A Place We Call Home ) and edited volumes addressing environmental/food justice intersections. Notably, she co-edited Addressing Environmental and Food Justice (2016), which links ecological harms to youth criminalization. Scientific Awards 400 Years of African American History Commission (2022) Dr. Ducre’s teaching spans courses like Environmental Justice and Black Feminist Geographies , informed by Paulo Freire’s liberatory pedagogy. She has reviewed for journals like Environmental Justice and served on boards such as the Fair Housing Council of Central New York (2010-present).
Dr. Madeline Balaam is a researcher at Newcastle University, focusing on the intersection of technology with healthcare, humanitarian crises, and education. Her work emphasizes participatory design, ethical technology integration, and equitable access to resources for marginalized communities such as refugees and people with disabilities. She collaborates extensively with interdisciplinary teams on projects like digital tools for food security, health advocacy, and inclusive education. Research interests include humanitarian technologies, healthcare design, and leveraging technology for social impact. Notable projects address Syrian refugees' needs in Lebanon and Lebanon, dementia care through VR, and abortion rights advocacy via digital storytelling. Her work often bridges theoretical frameworks with practical implementation in real-world contexts. Publications highlight themes of dignity in tech design, participatory methods in crisis settings, and innovative educational approaches. Collaborations span global health, HCI, and sociology, reflecting a commitment to interdisciplinary solutions for societal challenges.
Britta Grell is an academic specializing in social policy, inequality, and comparative social systems. She held positions including Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science, Freie Universität Berlin (2000–2006), and Senior Research Fellow at the John-F.-Kennedy-Institute of North American Studies. Her work focuses on US social policies, workfare systems, nonprofit organizations, and urban social movements. She has contributed to projects like the Life Course Risks Project analyzing economic consequences of key life events in Germany and the US. Education: 1985–1992: Study of Political Science, Journalism, and North American Studies at Freie Universität Berlin Research Interests: Grell's research examines social welfare systems, municipal social policy, and institutional changes in social policies since the 1980s. She analyzes poverty risks, unemployment compensation, and the evolving role of nonprofits in employment programs. Her work often compares policies between Germany and the US, with a focus on urban contexts and transnational migrant activism. Major Projects: Co-led the Life Course Risks Project (WZB), investigating economic consequences of life events. Collaborated on studies of workfare programs and nonprofit organizations' roles in labor market policies. Labs/Teams: Associated with the WZB (Social Science Research Center Berlin) and previously affiliated with the John-F.-Kennedy-Institute for North American Studies.
Karlos Pérez de Armiño is a Professor of International Relations at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and a principal investigator at the Hegoa Institute, part of the Basque Research System. He holds a PhD in Political Science from UPV/EHU and degrees from the University of Deusto. His work focuses on human security, food security, conflict analysis, and peacebuilding, with fieldwork in Mozambique, Angola, Palestine, and Colombia. Education: PhD in Political Science, UPV/EHU Diploma in International Humanitarian Action, University of Deusto Bachelor's in Geography and History Affiliations: Hegoa Institute Research Group on Human Security European Union Peace Process Advisory (Colombia) His research explores the intersection of conflict and food insecurity, humanitarian action, and post-conflict reconstruction. Key projects include analyzing armed conflicts' impact on food systems and promoting territorial peace in Colombia. Recent activities include organizing events on hunger as a weapon of war (Gaza/Colombia) and peace studies in Ukraine. He has advised doctoral students on topics like peacebuilding, disarmament, and nonviolent resistance in multiculturally diverse regions.
Kristen Lowitt is an Assistant Professor in the School of Environmental Studies at Queen's University, Canada. She holds cross-appointments at the Beaty Water Research Centre and the Faculty of Arts and Science. Her research focuses on sustainable food systems, Indigenous food sovereignty, and community-driven environmental governance. Education: Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies (2013), Memorial University M.E.S. in Environmental Studies (2008), Dalhousie University B.E.S. in Environmental Studies (2006), York University Research Interests: Dr. Lowitt's work emphasizes participatory research with communities to address food security, environmental justice, and Indigenous governance. Key themes include small-scale fisheries, Indigenous food sovereignty, and civil society participation in policy-making. She critiques Western resource management frameworks and advocates for integrating Indigenous ecological knowledge. Research Trends in Publications: Her recent articles analyze pandemic impacts on food systems, transboundary environmental justice in fisheries governance, and the role of basic income in food sustainability. She frequently collaborates with Indigenous communities and emphasizes policy reforms for equity and resilience. Affiliations & Grants: Member of the Canadian Environmental Law Association's Healthy Great Lakes Advisory Committee (2020–present). Her work is supported through community partnerships and participatory grants (details not specified). Labs & Teams: Leads the Community Food Systems Lab , which focuses on action-oriented research to advance equitable food systems through knowledge mobilization and policy engagement.
Ben Geiger is a Professor of Social Science and Health specializing in Global Health & Social Medicine. He holds roles as Co-Investigator in the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health-Transition Funding and Primary Investigator for the WelfareExper project on social protection systems. His research focuses on social security systems, labor market dynamics, mental health impacts of welfare policies, and disability inclusion strategies. Key areas include analyzing pandemic-era social security discourses, evaluating UK welfare programs' effects on food insecurity, and exploring how workplace conditions respond to disability-related care shocks. Research Contributions: Over 46 publications including studies on benefit conditionality perceptions, tax credit impacts, and flexible work policies for disability inclusion. Recent work emphasizes mixed-method approaches combining qualitative interviews and quantitative analyses. Funding & Leadership: Leads a £1.8M EPSRC project (2023-2028) and collaborates on ESRC-funded mental health initiatives. His projects address systemic challenges in social protection frameworks and workplace adaptations for vulnerable populations. Key Themes: Policy design equity, crisis response mechanisms, and intersectional analysis of work-life balance in health contexts.
Dr. Ani Kardashian is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. She specializes in transplant hepatology, focusing on fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver transplantation. Her research emphasizes social determinants of chronic liver diseases, viral hepatitis, and HIV-related liver pathology. Dr. Kardashian holds board certifications in internal medicine, gastroenterology, and transplant hepatology, and is affiliated with multiple professional organizations including the American College of Gastroenterology. Education: MD from University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Internal Medicine residency at UCSF Gastroenterology fellowship at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Transplant Hepatology fellowship at UCSF Research interests span social factors influencing liver disease progression, disparities in liver disease outcomes, and the intersection of HIV and hepatic disorders. Her work has led to over 50 peer-reviewed publications, with recent focus on food insecurity, microbial translocation in HIV-positive patients, and pharmacoequity strategies. Notable awards include the KL2 Mentored Career Development Program (2022-2025) and multiple Young Investigator awards recognizing her contributions to liver research. Awards: KL2 Career Development Grant (2022-2025) International Liver Congress Young Investigator Bursary (2021) Clinical Fellow of the Year (UCSF, 2020) American Society of Transplantation Outstanding Abstract Award (2020) Her advocacy includes addressing workplace policies for hepatology professionals and improving reproductive care for liver disease patients. Current initiatives emphasize translating social determinants research into clinical practice to reduce health disparities.
