with Lily Melendez
Sustainable Foods Educator
Schools often lack holistic and multi-disciplinary spaces to connect and learn about food systems change. As a student UC Santa Barbara, Lily took it upon herself to create not only a space but a Sustainable Food Studies Lab for credit.
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Lily graduated from UCSB in 2023, achieving a dual degree in Environmental Studies and English. Focusing on food studies and agro-ecology, she holds a fervent interest in exploring the intricate nexus between food systems, sustainability, and health, particularly emphasizing the crucial correlation between soil health and nutrition.
During her tenure at UCSB, she conceived and instructed the inaugural student-led Sustainable Food Studies Course, which delved into topics such as food security, life cycle analysis of food systems, agricultural histories and economies, and nutritionism.
Additionally, she co-taught a Traditional Ecological Knowledge course and gained experience in restoring wetland and native garden areas. Through her endeavors, she actively practiced reciprocity, imparting this ethos to her students to cultivate better stewardship of local flora and fauna.
As a trained Sustainability Analyst, she advocates that acquiring the knowledge and skills to nurture and sustain our bodies is paramount in fostering sustainable lifestyles, prioritizing agency and critical thinking in driving positive change.
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