Tanya Kerssen joins Food First Staff as Research Coordinator

Food First is pleased to introduce the newest member to our staff (though not new to Food First), Tanya Kerssen. As Food First Research Coordinator, Tanya will be managing the core of Food First’s long-time work: its rigorous, progressive research publications. In addition to contributing research and writing, Tanya will work with Food First’s vast network of fellows, movement leaders and contributing scholars to generate timely, cutting edge analysis on food justice and food sovereignty.

Tanya has already been with Food First for over four years, working in various capacities to advance our mission to end the injustices that cause hunger. She is a committed activist, researcher and educator with expertise in the political economy of food, agriculture and peasant resistance. For two years, she edited Food First’s French-language e-newsletter African Agroecological Alternatives to the Green Revolution. She also helped to develop Food First’s educational travel program Food Sovereignty Tours, planning and leading delegations to Latin America, Africa, Europe and Asia.

Tanya has worked as a Graduate Student Instructor teaching Latin American history and International Rural Development Policies at UC Berkeley. She currently teaches an online course in Community-Based Food Systems through Village Earth/Colorado State University. Click here to register for the upcoming session, taking place January 25-March 1 (Registration ends Jan. 20!).She has contributed research and writing to various Food First publications, and is the author of the forthcoming book Grabbing Power: The New Struggles for Land, Food and Democracy in Northern Honduras (February 1, 2013). She can be contacted at tkerssen [at] foodfirst.org