Through both her academics and activism at Sarah Lawrence, Jessica Beckett has explored the theme of food justice.

“My focus has been on environmental studies and political science specifically related to agriculture,” she says. Academically, that interest led to Jessy’s senior thesis—on the integration of local food into corporately owned food services in U.S. colleges and universities—but her involvement outside the classroom has been a huge component of her education.

“I’ve interned for HERE Local 100 (the largest food service union in New York City), worked with Empty Bellies (a campus organization that delivers excess food from local businesses to a homeless shelter in the Bronx) and worked as a research assistant to help distribute the award-winning documentary The Future of Food.”

Jessy also lived and worked on an organic mango and orange farm in Costa Rica and worked as a kitchen aid for the largest children’s shelter in Granada, Nicaragua—helping to feed 250 children per day.

On campus, she helped found Progressive Produce, whose projects have included making the College’s health-food bar as organic as possible, establishing a community garden, bringing speakers to Sarah Lawrence and integrating locally grown food into the College’s dining services.

“I plan to return to California when I graduate,” says Jessy, “and eventually start my own organization to deal with food justice issues.”