Food Fellowship

The Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health Food Fellowship, spearheaded by the Dean’s Office in 2019, is committed to advancing all aspects of healthy living including a focus on food systems and food justice. 

Each summer, fellows engage in their required Applied Practice Experience (APEx) with a variety of local, regional, and national organizations in the food-related field. With a focus on scholarship and practice, this engagement supports Fellows and academic community in developing public health skills and competencies and building relationships with key partners and future employers.

The Office of Field Practice (OFP) in partnership with faculty experts supporting the Food Certificate Program cultivate appropriate sites/project supervisors, coordinates project development, project posting and student recruitment. The goal is to increase student interest and catalyze careers that support healthy neighborhoods by improving daily access to healthy foods and fostering sustainable science-based policies and practices in this field.

APEx Overview

• This summer APEx requires students to engage with sites for a minimum of 8 weeks during which they produce deliverables for their sites and learn about their daily work.
• OFP supports Fellows in completing project work and quality deliverables in a short timeframe.
• OFP supports sites and liaises with students, faculty, and staff to avail school resources and problem solve situations.
• After APEx completion, OFP compiles Fellows’ experiences through reports, e-portfolios, and presentations.
• Debriefing sessions and evaluations allow for ongoing Fellowship improvement based on student and APEx supervisor input.
• Selected fellows receive funding for their summer experience and attend seminars and related events.

Skills Gained

• Writing scientific articles, grant proposals and policy briefs
• Developing educational material and infographics
• Conducting community needs assessment
• Communications strategy e.g. podcasting, social media planning
• Program planning and evaluation
• Research, data analysis and impact analysis

Seminar Topics

• What is good food?
• Dealing with vicarious trauma Professionalism
• Cultural humility Cultural responsiveness Community Kitchen Grassroots Grocery