MEMBER-LED & STUDENT-DRIVEN

NAFSN is guided by a Leadership Circle of food systems professionals from throughout the North America.

The legwork of NAFSN is accomplished by a team of student staff members from Cornell Univ & interns from other universities. 

In this way, NAFSN blends experiences, expertise, and energies to forge an inclusive, multi-generational, cross-sectional network of food systems professionals.

Liam Du

Technology Engineer

Work-Study, Cornell University 

Akayla Green

Social Media Manager

Work-Study, Cornell University 

Emily Lau

Outcomes & Analysis

Work-Study, Cornell University 

Jade Lo

ACRE Promotions Manager

Work-Study, Cornell University 

Aima Raza

CARAT Promotions & Research

Work-Study, Cornell University 

Joyce Teng

COM*FED Jobs Data Analyst

Work-Study, Cornell University 

Jeffrey Xue

Webinar Producer & Host

Work-Study, Cornell University 

Oscar Zheng

IT Support & Design

Work-Study, Cornell University 

Tera Ashley

CAPACITY-BUILDING CIRCLE

Tera is a farmer with nine years of experience in regenerative, organic commercial farming in TN; a founder and board chair of Sweet Radish; and a board member of the Nashville Food Co-op working to establish a sliding-scale mobile market. In her current role as Director of Food Access at The Nashville Food Project, she directs the Community Meals Partnership Program, Distribution Program, and Produce Rx initiative. Tera serves on NAFSN's Capacity Building Circle. READ MORE.

Kathryn Barr

CARAT CIRCLE 

Kathryn (Katie) currently works for The Common Market and is a champion for Farm Stops, a new "consignment" model  that support small and mid-scale producers with direct-to-consumer sales venues. She is the author of "How to Start a Farm Stop: A Pattern Language for Local Food Systems."  Katie served a subject matter contributor to the development of CARAT and currently sits on the CARAT Circle. READ MORE.

Tierra Bartolotti

COM*FED CIRCLE

Tierra brings 10 years of experience in food systems & nonprofit work, primarily in Hawai'i and the Pacific region, and most recently with Latin American food producers & organizations. Now FL-based, she is an independent food systems & design consultant, also serving on the Advisory Board for F3 Local to strengthen the regional brand for Central Valley-grown food in CA. Tierra provides support to the COM*FED Circle. READ MORE.

Wendy Bongjoh

PRODUCTIONS CIRCLE

Wendy brings professional and volunteer experience working in food security at the international level and locally in Boston, MA. As a skilled grants manager and researcher, she has co-authored policy recommendations on the state of food security in Cameroon. Wendy's lived experience as a caregiver to others, including the elderly and those with physical disabilities and other chronic conditions, drives her passion for improving nutrition access for all. She serves on the Productions Circle.

Dr. Charise Breeden-Balaam

CARAT CIRCLE 

Charise a licensed social worker and NJ-based educational leader with 15+ years of experience in administration, business leadership, and strategy. Her community projects support vulnerable populations and her research focuses on the impact of food insecurity on community college students, specifically examining how limited access to nutritious food affects graduation rates, retention, and mental wellness. She sits on the CARAT Circle.   READ MORE.

Mandy Coriston

ACRE CIRCLE, Chair

Mandy is a NJ native writer, editor, consultant, and advocate who supports food equity and sovereignty, environmental stewardship, agricultural education, and veterans' causes. She chairs her township’s Environmental Commission and is a Rutgers Certified Master Gardener. She is also an active member and advocate for the New Jersey Food Democracy Collaborative, and a founding board member of the New Jersey Home Bakers Association.  She Chairs the ACRE Circle. READ MORE.

Natalie Cruz

CO-DIRECTOR

Natalie is an Afro-Latina culinary professional, decolonized food systems expert, and food writer. Natalie is currently writing a cookbook on the African Diaspora in Latin America and  the Food for Thought column on Substack. She is also the Community and Volunteer Program Manager at the Riverdale Neighborhood House in the Northwest Bronx, NY. Natalie serves as NAFSN's Co-Director. READ MORE.

Ali Ghiorse

PRODUCTIONS CIRCLE

As a long-time, bi-coastal advocate for more just, equitable, resilient and regional food systems, Ali is the founder of The Foodshed Network (TFN), an education platform and resource to amplify changemakers and bridge communities in Fairfield County, CT. TFN convenes two local initiatives: Greenwich Food Alliance and The Foodshed Forum. Ali serves on NAFSN's Productions Circle and TFN is a key partner for NAFSN events. READ MORE.

Dr. Gilbert Gillespie

CAPACITY-BUILDING CIRCLE,  CO-CHAIR

Gil is a sociologist retired from Cornell University, where he worked to support more civic forms of local food system social "infrastructure." In "retirement," he now lives in rural Iowa with his wife on her family's farmstead where they operate a small-scale farm producing food for local consumption. He is also an active member of the Iowa Food Systems Coalition. Gil serves as a co-chair of NAFSN's Capacity Building Circle.

Eugenia Gusev

ACRE CIRCLE

Eugenia applies expertise in policy analysis and program development to combat food insecurity with the Maryland Department of Human Services. In her previous role as the Senior Technical Advisor at the International Rescue Committee, her contributions in food security, nutrition and regenerative agriculture fortified programs across the U.S. and Europe. Eugenia is a trained ACRE Facilitator and serves on NAFSN's ACRE Circle. READ MORE

Erica Hall

CAPACITY-BUILDING CIRCLE,  CO-CHAIR

As the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Florida Food Policy Council, and a long time food equity champion and environmental activist, Erica works to address gaps and affect policy within the food system through integrity and collaboration for the benefit of Floridians and the environment. She currently serves as a co-chair of NAFSN's Capacity-Building Circle. READ MORE

Kim Hines

CO-DIRECTOR

As the former executive director of Augusta Locally Grown in GA, Kim currently provides full time support to NAFSN's programs and partnership development for CARAT, ACRE, COM*FED & PRODUCTIONS. She is in constant networking mode, always keen to connect with emerging front-line workers and next-gen leaders. She also speaks as an expert on trends in community food systems employment. Kim serves as NAFSN's Co-Director out of Washington, DC. READ MORE

Sagdrina Jalal

COM*FED CIRCLE

As principal of Sage D Consulting, Sagdrina's extensive food systems work includes serving as founding Executive Director for the Georgia Farmers Market Association,  a board member for the national Farmers Market Coalition, and an advisor for Tuskegee University’s Organic Farming Project. In 2022, she collaborated with Black growers and farmers market leaders to curate the Anti-Racist Farmers Market Toolkit. She leads NAFSN's Community Food Systems Consultants Forum from GA. READ MORE.

Vivian Le

PRODUCTIONS CIRCLE, CHAIR

Vivian is a food systems professional who thinks we can eat our way out of our problems! Vivian brings her experience in community-based food systems communications to work as chair of NAFSN's Productions Circle overseeing, among other things, our Finding Your Future in Food Systems webinars and podcasts. She produced an European season of the series in 2023. Take a listen! Vivian currently works for the Rodale Institute from CA. READ MORE.

Ariana Lipsman

PRODUCTIONS CIRCLE

Ari is a food studies scholar, food writer, and former entertainment industry professional with an interest in the relationship between food and the environment. She uses the skills she gained while working in film and while getting her master's in Food Studies at NYU to tell stories that get people to care about where their food comes from and demand a more sustainable, equitable food system.  She serves on the ACRE Circle from NY. READ MORE. 

Joël McClurg

CARAT CIRCLE

Joël McClurg serves as the Executive Director of Systems for the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger, a statewide initiative ensuring all Coloradans have equitable access to nutritious food. Committed to advancing equity, fostering partnerships, and empowering communities, Joël leads efforts to build localized, resilient food systems that address systemic barriers and reflect the unique needs of Colorado's diverse communities. Joël serves on the CARAT Circle. READ MORE.

Heidi Mouillesseaux-Kunzman 

CAPACITY-BUILDING, CO-CHAIR

Heidi is Senior Extension Associate with the Community and Regional Development Institute (CaRDI) in the Department of Development Sociology at Cornell University. Current projects include the CALS NYS Internship, an initiative to connect employers and communities with exceptional and motivated College of Agriculture and Life Sciences students. She's a Co-Chair for the NAFSN Capacity-Building Circle. READ MORE.

Vanessa Mukhebi

PRODUCTIONS CIRCLE

With a knack for creative storytelling, a tenacity for in-depth research, a flair for innovative branding, and an unwavering passion for exploring the social, economic, and cultural facets of inequality, Vanessa brings experience in sustainable development, behavioral-change communications, food security, agriculture, poverty alleviation, youth empowerment, and NGO sectors in sub-Saharan Africa and North America. Vanessa is IL-based and serves on NAFSN's Productions Circle. READ MORE. 

Daniela Ochoa Gonzalez

PRODUCTIONS CIRCLE

Daniela specializes in Spanish, English and French content and training to reach zero waste, improve food systems and expand regenerative agriculture practices, and currently works as a project manager at the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. As a MD resident and Mexico native, Dani serves on NAFSN's Productions Circle to expand networking and connectivity. READ MORE.

Jaclyn Pace 

CAPACITY-BUILDING CIRCLE

As the Director of the Utah Farmers Market Network, Jaclyn brings extensive experience in community-based food systems, working directly with farmers, local food producers, and community organizations throughout the state of UT. In all these initiatives, she works closely with underserved communities, particularly those in rural and food-insecure areas, to create more equitable access to healthy food. She serves on the Capacity-Building Circle. READ MORE.

Martha Page

CAPACITY-BUILDING CIRCLE

As principal consultant for Beartown Advisors, LLC, in Western MA, and former executive director of Hartford Food System in CT, Martha brings extensive experience in community-based nonprofit leadership and value chain development. She currently sits on the Board of Berkshire Agricultural Ventures, and serves as a member of NAFSN's Capacity-Buiding Circle. READ MORE.

Marie Prado

PRODUCTIONS CIRCLE

Marie is a product designer with a foundation in culinary arts and food systems, committed to environmental stewardship, and dedicated to empowering how people live and work equitably through accessible technology products. Based in WA, Marie reads speculative fiction, experiments in the kitchen, and runs outdoors for fun. She serves on NAFSN's Productions Circle. READ MORE. 

Sara Prout

ACRE CIRCLE

Sara is a lifetime non-profit development professional and accomplished relationship manager, finding joy in increasing efficacy and matching resources with remarkable regional programs — especially those addressing local and global environmental and political concerns related to sustainable agriculture and food systems, community food security and farmland conservation.  She serves on NAFSN's ACRE Circle. READ MORE.

Dr. Brian Raison

CAPACITY-BUILDING CIRCLE

Brian is an Ohio State University faculty member teaching on-campus and working statewide in the Extension community development program area as a leadership specialist. His current research and teaching focus is leadership development, and he recently wrote the "The Encouraging Mentor." He has also worked extensively in strategic planning, often within the local food systems arena. He assists NAFSN with Capacity Building Circle. READ MORE.

Nikki Seibert Kelley

CARAT CIRCLE, CHAIR

Nikki, of Wit Meets Grit, works as a Southeast-based consultant to increase the capacity of organizations and businesses through innovative, equitable, and inclusive economic development. One of her recent projects is Growing Local SC, which she led with support from the USDA Regional Food Systems Partnerships program. Nikki served a subject matter contributor to the development of CARAT and currently chairs the CARAT Circle. READ MORE.

Jodee Smith

CARAT CIRCLE

Jodee Smith has worked in the public sector supporting grassroots and statewide efforts to revive and strengthen innovative local and regional food systems in Indiana for more than 10 years. Working in asset based community development, Jodee leverages innovative practices, funding, and network connectivity to catalyze and support equitable, healthy, sustainable and resilient food systems throughout IN. She currently sits on the CARAT Circle. READ MORE.

Debra Tropp

CARAT CIRCLE

Debbie is a retired deputy director and agricultural marketing specialist from USDA/AMS's Local and Regional Food Research and Development division who currently works as an independent consultant, providing Federal grant support, consultation and technical assistance to communities, government agencies and NGOs. She led the three-year development, including peer-revew and publishing, of the CARAT tool with food/ag subject matter experts from throughout the US. READ MORE.

Dr. Kareem Usher

COM*FED CIRCLE, CHAIR

Kareem is an associate professor of City and Regional Planning at The Ohio State University's Knowlton School of Architecture. As a public scholar, Kareem strives to create a peaceful, joyful and loving world through community-engaged planning research - the co-production of knowledge between community members and faculty, with the site of inquiry being food systems at the neighborhood scale. He chairs NAFSN's COM*FED Circle. READ MORE.