Last fall we solicited proposals to develop new courses for the Food Leadership Minor. We are grateful to the affiliate faculty on the committee, including John Forrer, Gabby Headrick, Moses Kansanga, and Sameera Talegawkar who helped us review and score the proposals. We will be funding eight proposals -- four from GW Faculty and four from outside experts. The new courses which will roll out in Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 are designed to expand our offerings in a way that is responsive to the input from our Curriculum Committee about strengthening the minor.

Stay tuned for the full list of food-related courses by March 2025, in time for Fall 2025 GW course registration.Thanks to the GFI Curriculum Committee for your support with these selections. 

Welcome Charlie, GFI’s New Student Curriculum Assistant

GFI is pleased to have Charlie Basa join our team part-time to help with the development of the Food Leadership minor. Charlie is a Junior at GW from Wyckoff, NJ studying political communication, food leadership, and film studies. He is the historian of the Philippine Cultural Society and loves to cook, make videos, and play guitar in his free time. Welcome Charlie!  

As 2025 begins and we are gearing up for the spring semester, we would love to hear from you! Please fill out this survey and let us know your thoughts on what resources, communication outlets, and topics you’d like covered and other feedback you have to make the most of the GFI Affiliate Faculty network! Please take 5 minutes to complete the survey by next Tuesday, January 21.  

A Dynamic Week for GFI Affiliate Faculty Interest Groups

As part of our work with faculty, GFI has created "interest groups" that convene affiliate faculty on key food system topics of common interest. This week our faculty interest groups convene on the following topics: 

If you are not already on the calendar invites for these groups and would like to be, please email us at globalfoodinstitute@gwu.edu and we will get you added! 

Save the Date: GW Affiliate Faculty February Luncheon on Wednesday, February 26

Last fall, GFI brought together our affiliate faculty members for an evening of good food, community building, and planning for this semester.

Stay tuned for a separate invite for our spring semester GFI affiliate faculty luncheon on Wednesday, February 26. 

We look forward to reconnecting with all of you then!

Calendar of Food System Events Around the World

Oliver Camp, food systems advisor for the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), shared Food System related events across the United States, and around the world. Check out the list as you prepare your event and conference schedules for the year.

GFI's founder, José Andrés, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Saturday, January 4.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values or security of the United States, world peace or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.

Driven by Andrés’ vision of changing the world through the power of food, he and GW launched GFI in 2023 with a mission of transforming lives and the health of the planet through an interdisciplinary systems approach across three main pillars: policy, innovation and humanity.

"We're thrilled President Biden is recognizing José's leadership and humanity with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. José helped to found the Global Food Institute with the goal of educating and inspiring the next generation of food leaders. His example is powerful and shows that each of us can be a force for a better world," said GFI's Executive Director Stacy Dean. 

GW Medical Students Make Their Mark in 2024 Public Health Initiatives

GFI Affiliate Faculty member and Associate Professor at GW’s School of Nursing, Sherrie Wallington shared that two second-year medical students at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences– were among the ten students whose projects were featured by the Journal for Public Health Management and Practice on January 9, 2024.

They were recognized for their project that was part of a multidisciplinary initiative aimed at addressing food insecurity. Working under the mentorship of GFI Affiliate Faculty Sherrie Wallington and Karina Lora, along with GFI’s Assistant Professor Mya Price, Mehrshad and Bradley are spearheading the development of a student-operated, medically tailored food pantry at the new Cedar Hill Hospital Cancer Wellness Center, set to open in summer 2025. This pantry will specifically serve cancer patients in one of DC’s most historically underserved neighborhoods, addressing the intersection of food insecurity and chronic illness.

By leveraging the concept of "food as medicine," Mehrshad and Bradley's innovative approach recognizes nutrition as a crucial social determinant of health for vulnerable populations. 

We want to lift up your work and share information about events, opportunities to collaborate or whatever you think is important to share. Email us at globalfoodinstitute@gwu.edu.