Navigating Food Justice: Addressing Student Food Insecurity Challenges and Successes

Food insecurity is a huge and often ignored wicked problem affecting college students across the United States. This capstone project explores the issue through the lens of food justice, which focuses on equitable access to nutritious food regardless of socioeconomic status or cultural background. Using the University of Montana Davidson Honors College as a case study, the project investigates student food insecurity, identifies systemic barriers, and outlines actionable strategies for addressing the issue on college campuses. At the center of this project is the creation of the UM Honors Food Pantry, developed by Jayden Beed in collaboration with the Davidson Honors College and prompted by a USDA-sponsored Food Justice course and a program-wide Hackathon. Through research, peer collaboration, and lived experience, this project was designed to provide dignified access to basic resources while also spreading awareness of the issue and sustainability. This project identifies national and local model programs, identifies key success strategies and provides a starting place for institutions seeking to combat student food insecurity.