Affiliated Faculty & Scholars 

The HSI is housed in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences in the Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science Department at Utah State University. The institute is led by a group of USU faculty, including researchers, professors, and Extension educators. The interdisciplinary group of researchers are currently funded by federal, state, and private grants to conduct research on the causes, impacts, and solutions to food insecurity. Educators in Extension and higher education institutions who are involved in the HSI will utilize current research to educate students, the public, and key stakeholders on the best practices to alleviate hunger:

The HSI is committed to four main objectives:

1. Mobilize USU students, faculty and staff to fight against hunger at the university, state, and international level.
2. Aggregate and disseminate the latest knowledge, research, and best practices to those who address hunger through programs, policies, and/or education.
3. Unite efforts and create multi-sector collaborations and coalitions to address hunger in Utah, thus removing redundancies in effort.
4. Convene and educate professionals to make food security a priority in the state.

Faculty

Abiodun Atoloye, PhD  Assistant Professor, NDFS, Utah State University

Casey Coombs, MS, RD  Assistant Professor, NDFS, Utah State University

Cris Meier, PhD, MSW, MPH  Assistant Professor, Sociology, Social Work, and Anthropology, Utah State University

Heidi LeBlanc, MS  Director, USU Hunger Solutions Institute; Professor, NDFS, Utah State University

Heidi Wengreen, PhD  Professor, Department Head, NDFS, Utah State University

Jeffrey Taylor, PhD  Professional Practice Assistant Professor, Center for Anticipatory Intelligence, Utah State University

Kate Stephens  Director, Center for Community Engagement, Utah State University

Kelsey Hall, EdD  Associate Professor, Agricultural Communications ASTE, Utah State University

Mateja Savoie-Roskos, PhD, MPH, RD  Co-Director USU Hunger Solutions Institute; Assistant Professor, NDFS Utah State University

Nelda Ault-Dyslin, MA  Assistant Director for Community-Engaged Learning, Utah State University

Paula Scott, MS  Director, Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program, Utah State University

Palak Gupta, PhD, MPH  Co-Director USU Hunger Solutions Institute; Assistant Professor, NDFS, Utah State University

Rebecca Walton, PhD  Associate Dean CHaSS; Professor, English, Utah State University

Sean Damitz  Executive Director Center for Community Engagement, Utah State University

 

Scholars

Student Scholars

• Amria Farnsworth, 2020 Clark and Christine Ivory Foundation Prize for Excellence Recipient, USU Gleaning Team
• Kara Bachman, 2020 Clark and Christine Ivory Foundation Prize for Excellence Recipient, USU Gleaning Team
• Caleb Harrison, Hunger Solutions Institute Start Up; USU Campus Kitchen Start Up
• Jackie Hendrickson, MS, Hunger Solutions Institute Student Lead, USU Campus Kitchen