Expert Resource Directory

Extension. He currently works in El Dorado County, set in the foothills of the Sierras and bordering the rapidly growing Sacramento metropolitan area. Dan's focus is on agricultural literacy, helping citizens to understand and appreciate sustainable agriculture in the nation's most populous state. He has also done extensive research in the area of garden-based learning and believes gardens can be an effective strategy for introducing children and families to ecology, the food cycle, nutritious diets and healthy lifestyles. He was a member of the 2004-2006 class of Food and Society Policy Fellows.

fellowship from Ashoka – Innovators for the Public Good. As VP of Business Development of Wholesome Wave, Ross is supporting the development of healthy food hubs and enterprises throughout the country with technical assistance and access to innovative financing. He is also acting CFO of Wholesome Wave, ensuring that financial systems are in step with this fast growing organization dedicated to national healthy food systems change. He holds an MBA from MIT Sloan, and has been an MIT Sloan Fellow for Innovation and Global Leadership, MIT Legatum Fellow for Development and Entrepreneurship, founder and principal of DAISA Enterprises LLC conducting business planning and consulting. He spent 16 years as Executive Director of Nuestras Raíces, a grass-roots organization that promotes economic, human and community development in Holyoke, Massachusetts through projects relating to food, agriculture and the environment, nationally recognized for innovation. He has helped community members start over a dozen small food and agriculture businesses, launched Energía for-profit social enterprise energy-efficiency services company. Founding leader of various local and state-wide food systems and environmental policy coalitions.

books including: Heirlooms, Letters to the Valley, Four Seasons in Five Senses, Harvest Son, Epitaph for a Peach and Wisdom of the Last Farmer. A third generation farmer, Masumoto grows peaches, nectarines, grapes and raisins on an organic 80 acre farm south of Fresno, California. Masumoto is currently a columnist for and The Fresno Bee. He was also a member of the 2006-2008 class of Food and Society Policy Fellows.

Director of Meridian’s AGree: Transforming Food and Ag Policy. Ms. Atwood has more than 30 years of experience in policy and legislative matters regarding food, agriculture, the environment, research, and risk management, including extensive experience working with executives in the private sector, federal government, and nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining Meridian, Ms. Atwood was an Associate for Corporate Affairs and Public Policy at Mars, Incorporated. In this role, she worked closely with lawmakers in Congress and senior officials in the White House, and federal agencies. Previously, she was a Senior Policy Advisor with Crowell & Moring, on behalf of clients in the agricultural, food, environmental, mining, and chemical industries. She served from 2001 to 2003 as a Special Assistant to U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jim Moseley. From 1995 until 1999 she was Assistant Vice President of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs for the National Pork Producers Council, and from 1992 until 1995 served as Vice President for Legislative and Regulatory Affairs at the American Meat Institute. Atwood served from 1989 to 1992 as Deputy Associate Administrator for Congressional and Legislative Affairs at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She served as head of the Congressional Affairs Office at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration prior to taking the EPA position. Atwood also has U.S. Capitol experience: From 1981 to 1984, she was Professional Staff for the U.S. House of Representatives’ Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee and from 1984 to 1987 was Professional Staff for U.S. Senator Slade Gorton (Wash.). Ms. Atwood serves on the board of ACDI-VOCA, an agriculture development nonprofit organization with many years of experience working in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. She is a marine resource scientist by training.

Initiative. Previously, she was Ecotrust's vice president of Food & Farms. She was also a member of the 2007-2008 class of Food and Society Policy Fellows.

community as well as in the agricultural sector. She is currently a USDA Advisor serving in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Previously, she co-founded the Women Food and Agriculture Network and served as its director for more than 11 years. Her past experiences include also include running for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, organizing the Women's Task Force of the Iowa Farm Unity Coalition, directing the Rural Women's Leadership Development Project of PrairieFire Rural Action Inc. and serving as president of the National Family Farm Coalition. She was a member of the 2001-2003 class of Food and Society Policy Fellows.

which she works to provide healthy, locally grown produce to poor working families and the homeless in Central Brooklyn. Reverend Jackson has increased the availability of healthy, organic produce in Bed-Stuy by helping to create a thriving urban farm in a lot which was once used as a garbage dump. The farm grows food that is distributed for free at a local food pantry -- which Rev. Jackson also helped start -- to neighborhood residents who are at risk of hunger and to seniors. The urban farm has also become a community gathering space and a classroom to teach neighborhood youth about food growing and community service. The farm has gained the attention of food activists throughout the city and beyond, and is serving as inspiration for similar projects elsewhere. Rev. Jackson also helped establish a local farmers market where local food vendors sell fresh foods at affordable prices. The farmers market is intentionally based next to a large public housing complex. Through yet another program that Rev. Jackson co-established, clothing and household items are distributed to families in need.

assuming his current role, Wells was vice president of program services and development at Gleaners. He also has served as the executive director of Capuchin Soup Kitchen, where he was the first non-Capuchin given that responsibility. Wells earned his MBA from Wayne State University and BBA from Western Michigan University and is active in community service. Prior to joining Gleaners in November 2006,  DeWayne also served as Chief Operating Officer at Starfish Family Services. DeWayne was also employed at Mercy Health Services (now Trinity Health) in a variety of positions including six years as Vice President of Finance and Administration for Mercy’s information technology subsidiary. DeWayne is a certified public accountant, a Eureka Communities Fellow, and a lifelong Detroiter.

developed Good Natured Family Farms, which is a mission-driven organization that works in the marketplace. Good Natured Family Farms works with farmers, processors, government regulators, university personnel, and non-profit environmental organizations to create supply chains of locally-grown products that satisfy the needs of retail grocers and food service companies and consumers.