Food for thought: Introducing college Food Ambassadors
If you have ever seen — and then promptly ignored — the QR codes posted around the Rice serveries that invite students to leave feedback, the purpose of the Food Ambassador program should be clear to you. While the QR code signs may fade to the back of one’s subconscious, a familiar face might have more success.
Kyle Hardwick, senior executive chef and Beth Leaver, executive director of housing and dining, launched the food ambassadors program.
“In the fall of 2022, I was a guest speaker for HEAL 498: Special Topics in Health Sciences (Public Health Nutrition), taught by Cassandra Diep, PhD,” Hardwick wrote in an email to the Thresher. “One group presentation discussed ways to engage the student population more through a food [representatives] program to better understand the student population and their food choices and preferences. This made me wonder how we could help build a stronger food rep-type program, and if that group of students could work with Housing & Dining directly.”
The ambassadors are overseen by Faith Richards, the assistant director of communications and marketing for H&D, and Clare Rezentes, the team’s registered dietitian. They, along with executive dining staff, meet with the Food Ambassadors bi-weekly. During the meetings, they hear student feedback, discuss concerns and propose additions to the food offerings at Rice.
Richards said that this work is close to her heart due to her personal connection to dietary needs.
“As someone with celiac disease, I understand firsthand the challenges that come with navigating dining options with allergies or dietary needs,” Richards wrote in an email to the Thresher. “This work gives me the opportunity to connect with students who face similar challenges to me and ensure they have the best dining experience possible at Rice.”
Others in the program share Richards’ passion and motivation. During the Winter Storm Enzo, when Chef Hardwick put out a call for help, several ambassadors showed up to lend a hand in the serveries.
There are two food ambassadors from each college, in addition to representatives from the graduate student and off-campus populations. Supplemental ambassadors who speak for other groups, such as student-athletes, are also a part of the team.
Though Olivia Seo, a Brown College food ambassador, has been involved since the beginning, she said the ambassadors are only getting started. The biggest issue on the table currently is evaluating the new pilot dining schedule, according to Seo, a sophomore, but anticipating the future of a program based on flexibly responding to student preference and feedback is difficult.
“Moving forward, our goals are always going to be evolving to fit the needs of the student population. So I can’t really say what it’s gonna look like in the future,” Seo said. “We really just want students to have their best experience meal-wise, and I think we’re gonna do a lot of things just to go towards that goal.”
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