Dr. Leslie Hossfeld, is PhD Trained in Rural Sociology at North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and is Director of Public Sociology Undergraduate and Graduate Programs at UNCW. She received the 2005 Faculty Fellow in Public Policy and Public Engagement at the Institute for Emerging Issues at North Carolina State University.  Her research focuses on poverty and job loss in rural Southeastern North Carolina.  She has made presentations to the United States Congress and to the North Carolina Legislature on the subject of job loss and rural economic decline and recovery.  Dr. Hossfeld is co-founder of the Southeastern North Carolina Food Systems Program.

Jane Steigerwald, RD, LDN, is the Director of Feast Down East. Jane is a NC State Licensed and Registered Dietitian with a Master of Science Degree in Nutrition Education. Jane has had an extensive career in clinical dietetics and foodservice management. Jane has been committed to food systems work since 2009 as a way to help communities  improve their health and well-being.

Molly Rousey, Processing & Distribution Coordinator

Tammy Violette, Administrative Assistant at the FDE Processing & Distribution facility.

Erin O'Donnell, is a VISTA Service Member is addressing the food security issue and working to increase access to healthy foods in the underserved areas of Wilmington. 

Casey Hancock, FoodCorps Service Member is building school gardens, teaching about  nutrition, gardening and local agriculture in the classroom and helping bring more fresh local produce into the school cafeterias.

UNCW is the lead agency of the Southeastern North Carolina Food Systems Program. Committees are formed, as needed, around critical needs and issues identified by the SENCFS Program.  

The SENCFS Program meets monthly.  Please consider joining a committee to help us sustain and expand our Local Food Systems work. To join a committee please email us at info@feastdowneast.org.