Sam Badilla

Sam is a freshman at the University of Southern California, majoring in Environmental Studies with a potential double major in Political Science. Growing up in Reedley, California—a small agricultural town in the heart of the Central Valley—Sam developed a deep appreciation for the food system and its challenges. His background in agriculture, combined with a passion for sustainability, drives his commitment to creating a more equitable and resilient food system. As a FIELD Fellow, Sam is eager to learn, collaborate, and contribute to meaningful change within the industry.

Anthony Buchfuhrer

Anthony is a student at the University of Chicago studying Environment, Geography, and Urbanization. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, he witnessed early on how even in the largest urban centers of the world, food insecurity is a seriously entangled problem faced by marginalized groups of people. Thus over the last five years, Anthony has taken on a vast variety of roles from research, to community outreach, to advocacy efforts that tackle these issues from different angles to find ways to bridge gaps between policy, education, and direct service. He’s always up for a good challenge and loves going out to tackle things that many would say he can't!

Mady Burke

Mady is a senior at George Washington University passionate about creating more climate-resilient and equitable food systems. During her undergraduate, she studied abroad in Singapore, Chile, and Guatemala, researching the intersections of climate change, agriculture and food security. Her work abroad in rural development, food-tech, and urban agroecology not only deepened her commitment to agricultural sustainability but also broadened her understanding of the cultural, economic, and social significance of food systems on a global scale. She views the health of the environment and the well being of its inhabitants as deeply interconnected, and she strives to shape a global food system that nourishes both people and the planet through climate-smart agriculture, community-based solutions, and collaborative innovation. In her free time, you can find her cooking experimental vegan recipes, listening to an excessive amount of podcasts, or hanging out in the sun.

Eva Vang

Eva is a senior at New York University Abu Dhabi, studying Social Research and Public Policy with minors in Environmental Science and Urbanization. Her work sits at the intersection of food security, agricultural policy, and sustainable urban development. For her senior thesis, she is exploring how government policies can drive food security in arid regions like the UAE, where water scarcity and harsh landscapes pose significant challenges to food production. Before moving halfway across the world for university, Eva grew up in Wisconsin, with farming and farming being integral to her Hmong heritage. Watching an abundance of surplus produce go to waste while living near Milwaukee’s food deserts was a stark contrast she couldn’t ignore. That realization sparked a lifelong commitment to transforming food systems. Eva’s journey has taken her from the U.S. to Abu Dhabi, China, and Germany, and while she’s not certain where she’ll land next, one thing is clear: her work will always be rooted in building a more just, resilient, and sustainable food future.

Justin Fleer

Justin is a master's student at UNC Chapel Hill studying public health nutrition. Growing up in and around restaurants, he developed a deep appreciation for the role of food in strengthening communities and discovered his passion for serving others through food. He learned the journey that each piece of food takes and the passion that goes into making something delicious. The end product rewards all the hard work that has gone into it from seed. This experience has motivated him to build solutions that strengthen and shorten the connections in the food system. While his interests go in many directions, his time being a student-athlete in college gave him the capacity to tackle all of them head on through collaborative innovation and hard work. Looking ahead, Justin plans to work in tandem with farmers, industries, and communities to accomplish these goals of a close-knit, interactive, regional food system where you personally know more about where and who produced your food.

Quinn O’Hara

Quinn is a senior at the University of Oregon, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in City Planning, Public Policy, and Nonprofit Management, with a minor in Sociology. Having grown up in Guangzhou, China, and Manila, Philippines, she has developed a deep appreciation for the ways different food systems shape communities. Her global perspective has fueled her passion for addressing inequities within these systems and exploring solutions that promote sustainability and accessibility. With a concentration of interest in Environmental Sustainability in Urban Design, Quinn focuses on creating systems that support both ecological health and social well-being. Her interest spans the entire food system - from production to consumption - recognizing food as both a fundamental human need and a dividing force. She is committed to bridging these divides by advocating for sustainable, equitable food systems that foster connection rather than disparity.

Grace Gray

Grace is infatuated with the vision of a just global food system. Growing up cooking nightly for her nine siblings, she quickly learned that food is an avenue that connects all living beings. In doing so, it becomes an effective medium to investigate intersecting socio-economic, environmental, and political disasters of our time - a medium that Grace hopes to wield to solidify affordable, healthful, dignified, and sustainable food for all. Grace attended the University of Virginia as a Jefferson & Echols Scholar studying Environmental Thought & Practice and Global Development Studies (2020-2024). In January 2026, she will transplant herself to Italy as she starts a M.A. program in Sustainable Food Studies at the American University of Rome. Now she works on an organic farm and focuses on Indigenous food sovereignty efforts in Sisseton, South Dakota and Molokai, Hawaii, along with logistical coordination for food recovery nonprofits across the US.

Saira Pannu

Saira is a sophomore at Georgetown University, majoring in Culture & Politics with a minor in Environmental Science. Growing up in New York City, she witnessed firsthand how complex policies shape our daily lives by influencing access to essential resources like food, healthcare, and education. This exposure to the tangible effects of policy sparked my passion for social justice and motivated her to pursue initiatives that drive real change. She’s currently developing my major thesis on domestic politics and the "culture lag," exploring how shifts in government allocations often precede delays in translating these changes into effective community action. Through her work she hopes to uncover innovative strategies for shaping cultural attitudes and behaviors—ultimately bridging the gap between policy decisions and their on-the-ground implementation.

Damien Garcia-Myhr

Damien is a sophomore at UNC-Chapel Hill studying Community and Global Public Health, Medical Anthropology, and Arabic. Growing up in New York, he witnessed the myriad structural focus that perpetuate food insecurity, alongside the mutual aid networks that emerged in response. His research with Syracuse University examined the effectiveness of food security initiatives in South Brooklyn, sparking his interest in the socio-political barriers that prevent individuals from seeking assistance. He is dedicated to leveraging community spaces to amplify support systems and strengthen resilience through innovative approaches to food security and access.

Grace Chou

Grace is an anthropology student at Emory University, passionate about local, sustainable agriculture in rural areas. During her time working in local, organic farms, Grace learned to apply ecologically sustainable practices to expand upon a farm’s role in community building and local economic growth. Now, her research is rooted in holistic and human-centered approaches to energy justice and agriculture, ranging from the impact of changing ‘green’ industries on small (organic) farms in central Georgia to rural farmers in northwest Ghana. Through ethnography, Grace aims to create more rounded and integrated understandings of underrepresented communities around the world.

Amanda Hutson

Amanda is a senior at the University of Vermont where she studies Public Communication, Food Systems, and Place-Based Education. Growing up outside of Chicago, she witnessed the disconnect between farmer and consumer, fueling her interest in urban agriculture and food sovereignty in urban spaces. She believes community-based food systems hold the potential for invaluable collective impact. Throughout her time at UVM, she has been involved in various organizations focused on food recovery, food access, and agroecology. Last spring, Amanda studied food systems in the “Green Heart” of Italy, where she experienced firsthand the impact of small-scale, localized, and traditional food systems. Amanda hopes to continue working toward a more sustainable, healthy, and just food system, so she’ll be returning to UVM next year to complete an M.S. in Food Systems.