The Global Food Institute at George Washington University hosted a Food Policy Pathways: Careers in Food & Agriculture Policy event for about 50 students and alumni on April 7. 

The event featured guest speakers including Carbonell Family Executive Director of the Global Food Institute Stacy Dean, Executive Director of Food Policy Pathways Rachel Atcheson, Business Development Manager for the Government of the District of Columbia Tariq Sheriff, Legislative Assistant for Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) Caitlin Balagula and others. As interest in food policy expands amid climate change and food security concerns, speakers emphasized the need for more young professionals to enter the field and shape policy at the local and national levels. 

“We’re all here tonight because of our shared interest in the food system, and food policy, and building a powerful pipeline of talent into that career space,” Dean said while introducing the programming.

Dean also added she previously worked in President Joe Biden’s administration leading the federal nutrition program. She then passed on the speaking portion of the event to Atcheson, who Dean said is the one building a network of mentors and young professionals to develop the next generation of policy leaders. 

Atcheson previously worked in the Office of the Mayor of New York City for former Mayor Eric Adams. One of her roles was deputy director of the mayor’s office of food policy, where she led the implementation of city-wide food policy initiatives. Since January 2025, she has served as executive director of Food Policy Pathways, connecting students and professionals to careers in food policy.

She said the majority of the night was going to focus on food policy careers within government, whether it be in national or local governments. She said food policy is not always determined by people who have the words ‘food policy’ in their title.

“There are people in this room who are going to change the food system,” Atcheson said. “And you could be one of those individuals.” 

She also mentioned government staffer Jerome Sonosky, who she said workers like him do not necessarily get the limelight but rather are in committee and hearings rooms making sure policy progresses where it needs to go. 

“Think through whether or not you could be that Jerome,” Atcheson said. 

After Atcheson’s words, Sheriff, who is also a graduate of George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health with a Master of Public Health, introduced himself and his career. 

Sheriff previously worked at DC Central Kitchen, as a business development account manager, creating nutrition educational programs, and the associate director of operations, working to implement federal nutrition programs. He then moved to the Government of the District of Columbia as a policy advisor, advising the food policy director, and now as the business development manager, improving food access and equity in underserved areas of the city. 

Sheriff said the pathway he took in his career was finding a way to continually increase his impact. He also said students should learn about public health because the topic involves learning about the national and international food space.

“So let’s try to think about the impact that Rachel mentioned here, that pathway forward,” Sheriff said. 

Finally, Balagula spoke about her career and gave advice to the students. Before working for Senator Schiff, she worked various jobs in the United States Department of Agriculture and at the House of Representatives in various roles for the Committee on Agriculture. 

She related her own experience to the students, telling a story about growing up lactose intolerant and drinking non-dairy milk at lunch while attending New York City public schools. She said that up until recently, federal law required students to have a note from a doctor proving that they had a disability and could not drink dairy milk. She also discussed her work on legislation, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025, which passed a law banning this requirement. 

“I just tell that story because I want to show what the power of people is,” Balagula said.