Food Systems Major

August 19, 2025

Washington Gleaning Network

Gleaning is the act of collecting leftover crops in the field after harvest. During harvest, some food may be left or missed because it does not meet store standards for uniformity or because harvesting a certain field was not economically profitable. The Washington Gleaning Network (WGN) works to support gleaning programs across the state, leading…

College Student Hunger and the Seattle Food Action Plan

Capstone teams partnered with the City of Seattle Human Services Department to assess its Food Action Plan, which is “Seattle’s roadmap for an equitable, sustainable, and resilient local food system.” The teams analyzed current food systems on the University of Washington Seattle campus, researched national and state policy precedents, and spoke with key stakeholders to…

Campus Benefits Navigators

The Hunger-Free and Basic Needs Campus Strategic Plan is a Washington state-mandated initiative requiring public postsecondary institutions, including community and technical colleges, to develop plans addressing student food insecurity, housing instability, and other basic needs. The plans aim to ensure students have access to necessary resources to focus on their education and reach their full…

March 25, 2025

Documenting Undergraduate Student Food Insecurity Through Photovoice at the University of Washington

In partnership with Drs. Michelle Averill, Derek Jennings, and Yona Sipos, capstone teams designed and conducted focus groups with undergraduate students at UW Seattle to explore their campus dining experiences in relation to food security. Qualitative data analysis enabled the teams to develop recommendations for stakeholders, offering valuable insights on how to improve student access…

Food Insecurity at the University of Washington and Beyond: A Photovoice Study

The capstone team collaborated with Dr. Michelle Averill (Director of the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health Program) and Dr. Derek Jennings (School of Public Health Associate Dean for Indigenous Affairs) on their ongoing photovoice project to gather qualitative data on undergraduate food insecurity relative to student food environments and impacts. The team’s hope is that…

UW Food Pantry Cost Analysis

The capstone team worked with the UW Food Pantry to assess the monetary value of items acquired by Food Pantry customers. This data was used to highlight the need for increased funding and to be used in future grant applications. Community Partner: Rachael Carter, UW Food Pantry

Quantifying Impact for UW Food Pantry Sustainability: Cost Analysis

The capstone team worked with the UW Food Pantry to help with increasing donations and funding to expand operations. Deliverables focused primarily on how much the pantry is able to provide to UW students, faculty, and staff, relative to grocery prices. Community Partner: Rachael Carter, UW Food Pantry

UW Food Pantry Food Security Outreach and Education

To highlight food insecurity in college students, the capstone team worked with the UW Food Pantry to create a supplemental pamphlet intended for future inclusion in the organization’s volunteer training materials, as well as a survey to evaluate the effectiveness of that information. Deliverables also included six Instagram posts (infographics, recipes, videos, etc.) to be…

Developing Outreach Pamphlets and Syllabus Language for the UW Food Pantry

The capstone team collaborated with the UW Food Pantry to increase community awareness of growing food insecurity amongst UW students. Project deliverables included informative pamphlets for both UW faculty and donors to improve the UW Food Pantry’s outreach and increase funding. In addition, the team developed an example of syllabus language spotlighting the UW Food…

March 12, 2025

Daniel Y Queyquep

Tell us about your background and why you chose UW? As a second-generation college student to immigrant parents, I’ve always been encouraged by them to pursue higher education. The main reason why I chose to attend UW was how rich and diverse the campus life is. Coming to the Seattle campus for the first time,…