Bethany (she/her/hers) manages CSPI’s relationships with state and local partners in the Southern region, providing guidance around equitable community engagement in food policy work and organizational power building. In addition to her role with CSPI’s partner network, including current and potential subgrantees, Bethany leads the Engagement Team’s efforts in internal capacity building to guide CSPI practices in community engagement across research, policy, advocacy, and cross-cutting issue areas. Through her work, Bethany contributes to CSPI’s missions of inclusivity, openness, accountability, kindness, and collaboration, with a strong skillset and passion to center the voices of those most impacted by food system inequities.

Prior experience

Prior to joining CSPI, Bethany worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate and Adjunct Instructor at Washington State University Health Sciences Spokane, with research and teaching focused on serving families and under-resourced communities. Starting in 2021, she also serves as Co-Chair of the NOPREN Food Service Guidelines Workgroup. While pursuing her PhD in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (2017-2020), Bethany served as USDA Study Coordinator, guiding community-based participatory research in local and statewide projects aiming to reduce childhood malnutrition. She earned her Masters (2017) and Bachelors (2015) degrees in Exercise Science from the University of North Florida.

Joined CSPI

Bethany joined CSPI in September 2023.

What's the most inspiring part of your job?

"What inspires me most about my role is getting to learn from CSPI's amazing grantees. Every day, I interact with another passionate advocate who is moving mountains and making real change in their community; they inspire me to be the best version of myself, to stay vocal, and to find ways to support change in my own life and neighborhoods."