About Us

A foundational principle of Hunger Solutions Institute is hunger is a solvable problem, but only when relevant knowledge from all academic disciplines is combined with abilities and strengths from all sectors.

Hunger Solutions Institute (HSI) was established by the College of Human Sciences and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station at Auburn University in 2012. As an academic center on a university campus, HSI leads teaching, research, and outreach activities to positively impact hunger and food insecurity. Whether educating students on causes, consequences, and responses to hunger; determining impact of innovative solutions; or facilitating multi-sector partnerships in utilizing best practices to address food insecurity, HSI continuously works toward fostering a zero-hunger world.

Explore the website to learn more about the teaching, research, and outreach activities led by HSI, and reach out to hsi@auburn.edu for additional information.

What is Food Insecurity?

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, food insecurity is the “limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.”

What is Hunger?

According to the World Food Program, hunger is “discomfort or pain caused by a lack of food. It is different from food insecurity.”

Meet our team

Name Title Email Phone Address
Alicia Powers, Ph.D. Managing Director arp0042@auburn.edu (334) 844-3749 2191 Haley Center
Caitlin Allen Communications & Marketing Specialist cam0199@auburn.edu (334) 844-8481 2195F Haley Center
Patrice Benson Administrative Support Specialist bensopa@auburn.edu (334) 844-3219 2193 Haley Center
Theresa Burdette Contracts and Grants Accounting Specialist thh0009@auburn.edu (334) 844-3720 2195D Haley Center
Joetta Good Project Coordinator jlg0066@auburn.edu (334) 844-3707 2195D Haley Center
Sarah Grace Kaschak, Ph.D. Project Administrator sgw0002@auburn.edu (334) 844-3274 2195B Haley Center
Vikas Mishra, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow vkm0011@auburn.edu (334) 844-3720 2195D Haley Center
Kara Newby, Ph.D. Project Manager kara.newby@auburn.edu (334) 844-1340 2195C Haley Center
Kait Fischer, Ph.D. Project Administrator kmf0101@auburn.edu (334) 844-3219 2195E Haley Center
Hunger Solutions Institute

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