Food Systems Major

August 21, 2025

Value-Added Production for Food Rescue, Security, Healthy Diets, and Learning

Capstone students partnered with the UW Farm and Dr. Eli Wheat to support the Farm’s work in urban agriculture and sustainability. Team 2 researched ways to implement value-added production practices into the UW Farm’s daily operations, which can increase sustainable methods of production and reduce food waste on the Farm. Team 1 developed a UW…

Nutritional Education in Support of Community-Scale Agricultural Production

Capstone students partnered with the Whidbey Island Organic Farm School (OFS) to support the organization’s mission of sustainable agriculture and public food literacy and educate consumers on the nutritional and environmental benefits of local, organic produce. The team created a suite of deliverables, including Instagram templates, website pages, a pamphlet, and a research report. An…

August 20, 2025

Exploring the Potential of On-Campus Community Fridge Implementation

In collaboration with Seattle Community Fridges (SCF) and representatives of the UW Student Technology Fee (STF) Committee, capstone students explored the feasibility of implementing community fridges on the University of Washington Seattle campus to address the growing prevalence of food insecurity among students. Quantitative data were collected via survey to preliminarily assess the prevalence of…

Documenting Undergraduate Student Food Security Through Photovoice at the University of Washington: Exhibit Education

Capstone teams collaborated with Drs. Michelle Averill, Derek Jennings, and Yona Sipos from the School of Public Health on their ongoing photovoice project studying undergraduate food insecurity at the University of Washington. With the support of graduate student Fernanda Nunes, the teams helped plan and execute a culminating photography exhibit that showcased the project’s research…

Documenting Undergraduate Student Food Security Through Photovoice at the University of Washington: Data Coding

Capstone teams collaborated with Drs. Michelle Averill, Derek Jennings, and Yona Sipos from the School of Public Health on their ongoing photovoice project studying undergraduate food insecurity at the University of Washington. With the support of graduate student Fernanda Nunes, the teams used Dedoose (software to help analyze and visualize qualitative and mixed methods data)…

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…