Join us in welcoming the fifth year of students to the Campus Hunger Project Cohort! Our largest Cohort yet is composed of incredible students from across the country who are dedicated to brining change to their campus over the next school year so none of their peers has to choose between food and their education. They come with many innovative ideas and passion to get things done. Welcome, Cohort 2021-22!

Campus Hunger Project Cohort Leaders 2021-22

Ellie Berkenblit, Macalester College: Ellie Berkenblit is a Sophomore at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. She is currently undeclared but is considering pursuing a major in Biology with a Biochemistry emphasis and possibly a minor in Spanish. Ellie is involved with Macalester Jewish Organization and Macalester Cooking and Eats Club (MacCAEC), and she loves being outdoors and working with people. She is an avid dancer and enjoys sculpture as well. Ellie is so excited to make a difference and be more involved with activism on her college campus!

Roshelle Czar, Sacramento State University: Roshelle Czar helps educators and policymakers create equitable experiences and outcomes for students in institutions. She is currently one of the fifteen fellows selected to participate in a basic needs research program to address this ongoing crisis, caused by additional non-tuition costs with the Southern California College Access Network.  She is also in her final year of women studies degree at Sacramento State University. She has held several leadership roles in various organizations and was named “Woman of Influence” by her campus. 

Shaniya Francis, Pace University: Shaniya Francis is a Senior at Pace University and Economics major with a minor in Political Science. Shaniya is originally from New York but currently lives in NJ. She is extremely excited to work on ending/reducing Campus Hunger or hunger in general. On Pace’s campus, Shaniya is the Student Outreach and Media Project Coordinator at the Center for Community Action and Research and she is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion facilitator. Shaniya is passionate about working on social issues and being engaged in her community. Shaniya hopes to one day own a nonprofit   organization for the homeless and create less food deserts in low income communities.

Tadiwanashe Gwatiringa, Cornell University: Tadiwa is an international student from Zimbabwe. She is an undergraduate student majoring in Human Biology, Health and Society at Cornell University. She received an associates degree in Biomedical Science from Bucks County Community College in Philadelphia. During her free time she volunteers with children and likes baking, and taking walks in the park.

Kendall Kalmans, Emory University: Kendall is a rising second-year student at Emory University from Houston, Texas. This past year throughout the pandemic, Kendall took a leave of absence from traditional classes to spend time nannying the most adorable 18-month-old and launch a small local challah bakery from her home kitchen as well as train her 5-month-old puppy! Kendall is currently serving as the Chapter President for Challah for Hunger at Emory where she is also involved in the Israel and Tzedek Committees at Emory Hillel and is a member of Sigma Delta Tau. This summer Kendall will be serving as a sleepaway camp counselor in Fryeburg, Maine before returning at last to Atlanta for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Aidan Kamowski, Pennsylvania State University: Aidan is a sophomore studying Supply Chain Management. He joined Challah for Hunger in the fall of his freshman year after hearing about it through the involvement fair. After attending a few meetings he knew this was the right place for him to get involved at Penn State and soon became a cause he is passionate about supporting. In his free time, Aidan enjoys trail running, hanging out with friends, and reading books about business or history. His favorite challah flavor is the original plain challah.

Nikki Kasotis, Temple University: Nikki Kasotis is an undergrad at Temple University studying Public Health. Having been on the SNAP program herself, she has the knowledge and expertise to assist fellow students about the program. Nikki would like to advocate for better food access for use of food stamps on campus and reduce student hunger. 

Cassie Kearney, Middlebury College: At Middlebury, Cassie is a Junior Psychology major and Global Health minor. She is a year-round athlete on the cross country and track and field teams. Cassie is also a representative in the Psychology Student Advisory Council, a peer writing tutor, and a Recruitment and Publicity Chair for the Nutrition Outreach and Mentoring club. Cassie looks forward to creating a more open dialogue and awareness on campus about food access and the importance of nourishing one’s body with the most satisfying, most culturally appropriate, and healthiest foods available. Along with other Cohort members, she aims to explore an intersectional approach to food insecurity and institute real changes in the administration with the support of other student organizations and faculty members.

Lauren Lerner, UW-Madison: Lauren Lerner is from Bethesda, MD. Lauren is a junior at the University of Wisconsin- Madison majoring Health Promotion and Health Equity, earning a certificate in Health in the Humanities. She is interested in working in the healthcare field in some capacity and is passionate about health care policy. In her free time Lauren enjoys running, skiing, and spending time with friends.

Lauren Moon, Emporia State University: Lauren Moon and is about to go into her third year at Emporia State University. Lauren is pursuing a Two Teaching Field B.S.E. in Biology and Chemistry. Lauren has been involved with the 4-H program for almost 10 years and loves everything that has to do with leadership and promoting positive change. Lauren is currently involved in student government, residential life, the honors college, Hornets against Hunger, and the Emporia at the Table (EAT) Initiative. Next year Lauren will be serving as Vice President of Emporia State’s Associated Student Government and hopes being involved in this cohort will help her to educate fellow students on food insecurity and how we can combat it on and off campus!

Mia Rothberg, Macalester College:  Mia Rothberg is a senior at Macalester College and is majoring in Environmental Studies with a minor in Statistics. She is a leader of the Macalester Jewish Organization and volunteers with local organizations through Macalester’s Civic Engagement Center. She is looking forward to working with and learning from the other members of the Campus Hunger Project Cohort to address food insecurity on campus.

Tyson Russell, University of Iowa: Tyson Russell is a freshman from the University of Iowa. Tyson is  studying finance and accounting. Tyson has 3 siblings and is from a small town in Iowa called Winthrop, Iowa. His favorite thing to do is play basketball. Tyson decided to join this organization because he is passionate about ending hunger and wants to make a plan to end it on the University of Iowa campus.

Amelia Seepersaud, Middlebury College:  Amelia Seepersaud is a rising Sophomore at Middlebury College. Amelia is from Queens, NY. Amelia has not yet declared a major though she hopes to pursue a food studies minor. Amelia enjoys reading, writing, and trying anything creative. Amelia is interested in food justice because food access is such an integral part of life, and she hopes she can make even the slightest difference starting within my own campus community.

Riya Shah, Temple University: Riya Shah is a freshman Honors Public Health student at Temple University. Riya is minoring in Statistics and Data Science and has a strong interest in plant-based nutrition, sustainability, and global healthcare. She is passionate about food studies/systems and working to overcome food insecurity wherever she can to ensure people are living nourishing, nutritious lives. Riya is excited to be onboard with the Campus Hunger Project Cohort and accomplish great things!

Lucy Steyer, Emporia State University: Lucy Steyer is entering her senior year at Emporia State University. Lucy is pursuing a degree in political science with a concentration in public administration. Lucy is involved in Emporia’s Student Government, Residential Life, Alpha Sigma Alpha, the Honors College, and the Marching Band. Lucy has met so many different students on her campus, and has enjoyed the opportunity to advocate for their needs. Lucy will be serving as the President of Emporia State’s Associated Student Government next year, and     hopes to better address the presence of food insecurity on her campus and within the community! 

Sarah Vacca, Clark University: Sarah Vacca is a Computer Science and Spanish double major at Clark University located in Worcester, MA. This is Sarah’s second year working with Challah For Hunger and her first year in the cohort. Sarah is so excited to work with the cohort to reduce food insecurity on college campuses because everybody deserves healthy and nutritious food and college students need it in order to be successful. With my time in the cohort, Sarah hopes to make the Worcester area a better place for food-insecure college students to live. 

Alyssa Watkis, Pace University: Alyssa Watkis is a junior residing at Pace University. She is an Applied Psychology and Human Relations major, and hopes to be a psychotherapist one day. Alyssa is very involved in campus, and holds positions in Nature Club, Asian Student Union, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusions.

Campus Hunger Project Cohort Mentors

Natalie David, Muhlenberg College: Natalie is a senior at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA as a biology major and Jewish Studies minor on the pre-medical track. She served as treasurer, advocacy/education director, and now president of her campus chapter. Natalie served in the Campus Hunger Project Cohort 2019-2020, working with campus administration to increase access to food resources. Now, Natalie has been working with other leaders on making racial justice a tenet of campus advocacy. Outside of Challah, Natalie loves to play the flute and birdwatch! 

Natalia Kulczycki, University of Virginia alum: Natalia grew up in Virginia and graduated in May 2021 with a double major in Russian & East European Studies and Cognitive Science from the University of Virginia. During her time at UVA, she served as the education and advocacy chair for her Challah for Hunger chapter. Natalia helped to establish the Community Food Pantry at UVA as a drives coordinator during her sophomore year, and went on to bridge the gap between student leadership and administration through her time in the Cohort. Last year, she had the opportunity to mentor three wonderful student leaders through CHP. Outside of Challah, Natalia loves to go on nature walks, paint, and explore new restaurants in the DC area.

Joelle Marx, Colgate University alum: Joelle graduated from Colgate University in 2020 with a B.A. in International Relations and minors in Economics and Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies. She is currently a financial analyst at R.W. Baird in Milwaukee, WI. Joelle was the treasurer of Colgate’s Challah for Hunger chapter for 2.5 years and participated in the Campus Hunger Project Cohort for the 2019 – 2020 academic year, working to fight food insecurity with a meal swipe donation program. In her free time, Joelle loves travelling, baking and spending time outdoors. She also serves as a Challah for Hunger chapter advisor.

Sophie Schoenbrun, Vassar College: Sophie is a senior Political Science major at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. She has been involved in her local chapter of Challah for Hunger since her freshman year and has since served as the chapter’s Secretary, Advocacy Chair, and now President. As a 2020-21 Cohort Member, she pushed for Vassar College to keep its only dining hall open year-round to serve students staying over breaks (a project that was ultimately successful!). As a Mentor this year, she cannot wait to see all of the amazing campaigns the new Cohort Members are planning, and she looks forward to another year of progress towards ending food insecurity on college campuses nationwide.

Monica Sager, Clark University alum: Monica is a grad student at Clark University working towards earning a degree in journalism in hopes of becoming an investigative journalist one day. Monica was the advocacy chair of her Challah for Hunger chapter and has written multiple opeds on the topic of food insecurity. Three years ago, she served as a Cohort leader and worked to fight food insecurity on campus with a food aid plan. In her free time, Monica loves to play the bass, read, and go on adventures.