Amy Rowat
Amy Rowat is Professor and Vice Chair of Integrative Biology & Physiology at UCLA, where she holds the Marcie H. Rothman Presidential Chair in Food Studies and serves as Faculty Director of the Rothman Family Institute of Food Studies. She leads an interdisciplinary research program in cellular mechanobiology, bridging biology, physics, and engineering to uncover how cells sense and respond to physical and mechanical cues. Dr. Rowat is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Allen Distinguished Investigator award, an NSF CAREER award, and a BRITE Fellowship from the National Science Foundation. Beyond the lab, Rowat has pioneered the use of food and cooking to make complex scientific ideas accessible to broad audiences. She is the founder and director of Science & Food, a UCLA-based initiative that explores the intersection of science and food. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, NPR, CBC, and ABC Australia.
Erica Lee
Erica Lee is the Assistant Director for the UCLA Rothman Family Institute for Food Studies. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Howard University in Nutritional Sciences and a Master of Public Health from Emory University in Global Health. Ever since she was young Erica has had a deep appreciation for food. As a child, she watched chefs like Emeril Lagasse, Bobby Flay, and Ming Tsai and learned the science of creating great flavor from her mother and grandmother. As an adult, she has had the privilege to continue to nurture her curiosity in food. Erica has worked on farms and for the Peace Corps to promote sustainable agriculture. She has also led state, federal, and private grant funded programs aimed at increasing food access and nutrition education for underrepresented populations. Her personal research interests lay in food access and the policies that determine food access, production, and distribution. In her free time Erica enjoys running, tending to her many plants, reading, and cooking for her friends and family.
Deja Thomas
DĂ©jĂ is seasoned program manager, researcher, and strategist on food systems policy, Black worker issues, and organizing for systems change. At LAFPC as the Manager of Strategic Partnerships and Community Initiatives she prioritizes a collaborative and participatory approach to managing and integrating LAFPC convened groups in advancing the Good Food for All Agenda via working groups, capacity building, and community initiatives. She has a Master's of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP), as well as a Food Studies Certificate from UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, with a B.S. in Environmental Studies and Communication from Santa Clara University. She is a 2023 John Mack Weingart Fellow, 2019 Switzer Environmental Fellow, 2016 Udall Scholar, and a 2016 Global Social Benefit Fellow at the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship.
Alba Velasquez
Alba Velasquez leads the Los Angeles Food Policy Council (LAFPC) as the Executive Director, bringing a robust background in program leadership and food justice advocacy. Joining LAFPC in 2017, she has played a pivotal role in strategic partnership and program development. Prior to LAFPC, Alba managed key initiatives at the National Health Foundation and contributed to urban agriculture research at UCLA. Holding a BA in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara and a Master's in Urban Regional Planning from UCLA, her expertise is grounded in her personal experiences as a Salvadoran refugee and community advocate, driving her commitment to creating equitable and sustainable food systems.
Nina Angelo
At the Hollywood Food Coalition, Nina Angelo cultivates the development of the LA Food Collective, a collaborative food hub designed to strengthen Los Angeles' food system. While studying food systems at UC Berkeley, she became immersed in the Bay Area's legacy of food justice, gaining both academic grounding and practical insights that inform her work today. She previously managed the Atwater Village Farmers' Market, deepening relationships with local farmers and piloting community food distribution. Today, she focuses on building partnerships, connecting initiatives, and strengthening shared infrastructure to support resilient and equitable food systems in Los Angeles.
Tonya McClendon
Tonya (Tö-nê-ya) is a collaborative, data-informed, and community-centered public policy professional. At the LAFPC she supports the work of the LA Food Equity Fund within the Policy & Coalitions team, focusing on working group leadership development, administrative support for community initiatives, and more. She has ample experience facilitating strategic retreats, building consensus, and developing intelligence frameworks for economic justice campaigns. Tonya hails from South Los Angeles and holds a masters degree from UCLA in Public Policy with a concentration in Economic Mobility and Data Analytics and a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from CSUN with a minor in Africana Studies.
Florence Simpson
Florence Simpson is the Deputy Director of Food Services for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the nation's second-largest school meal program. Since joining LAUSD in 2004, she has led initiatives in menu development, procurement, operations, and strategic planning. Florence holds an MBA and School Nutrition Specialist (SNS) credentials. She has served on the Executive Board of the Urban School Food Alliance and collaborates with partners such as the Los Angeles Food Policy Council, the Culinary Institute of America, and the Center for Good Food Purchasing to advance equitable, sustainable, and student-centered food systems.
Chef Larry Bethea
Native to Southern California, Chef Larry Bethea II brings his unique flavor profile and flair to Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). Born to a Caribbean mother and a southern father, food has always been a way " to bring comfort and excitement to your loved ones. After graduating Le Cordon Bleu's culinary program in 2011, Chef Larry dove into LA's culinary scene working at a diverse mix of establishments in the Hospitality field from Hotels, fine dining lounges, catered events, universities and a luxury resort acquiring a wealth of culinary knowledge used to carve out a style all of his own fusing various flavors and techniques to create one of a kind dishes. Elite Magazines 2021 Ultimate Male Chef Gentleman in Business winner is always down to give tips, talk food and the latest trends in the culinary world.
Steven M. Finn
Steven M. Finn is Vice President of Sustainability and Public Affairs for Leanpath, the global leader in integrated hardware and software solutions for food waste prevention, where he helps clients take control of their food waste while engaging employees in creating a culture of food waste prevention. He is a member of Leanpath's strategic leadership team with extensive experience in food waste reduction and prevention strategies, speaking frequently at industry events and providing education and guidance to client partners and internal teams. He also manages Leanpath's 12.3 Initiative.
Steven teaches graduate courses on innovation for sustainability and the food-water-energy nexus at the University of Pennsylvania and Boston University in the U.S. His principal research interest involves food waste reduction and food system change efforts to enable the world to meet the challenge of feeding 10 billion by 2050 within planetary boundaries. He is the author of several articles on food waste and has served as a Director for three non-profit organizations in the food sector. He is the author of the blog Food For Thoughtful Action.
Lisa K. Johnson, Ph.D.
Lisa K. Johnson, Ph.D., is a leader in on-farm food loss research, serving as an independent consultant. Her current projects focus on in-field measurement, and estimation and analysis of food loss, all in fruit and vegetable crops. She has provided collaborators with technical assistance and protocols for reducing food loss on farms, in accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12.3. Her protocols have been incorporated into the Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops, CropTrak farm management software, and now a global farm loss tool. She is a strategic and research partner to World Wildlife Fund, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Society of St. Andrew, Boston Area Gleaners, UpRoot Colorado, ReFED, World Resources Institute, and the Consortium for Innovation in Postharvest Loss and Food Waste Reduction. She leads the National SARE Food Loss and Waste Grant Program. Dr. Johnson has authored book chapters in The Economics of Food Loss in the Produce Industry, Routledge Handbook of Food Waste, and Preventing Food Losses and Waste to Achieve Food Security and Sustainability. She has been invited to speak to dozens of unique audiences, including the Consumer Goods Forum, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, and a committee of the European Commission, and has been quoted in major media outlets such as Forbes and Huffington Post. Her focus remains fixed on finding solutions that incentivize, benefit, or at the very least, do not harm food producers. Dr. Johnson engages students several times a year as a guest lecturer, and she is based in Raleigh, NC.
Cheryl Trinidad
CHERYL TRINIDAD, SENIOR CONSULTANT, is a seasoned nonprofit leader with over 25 years of experience in fund development and community health. She specializes in strategy, grant writing, capital campaigns, and project management, with a focus on health equity and organizational growth. Cheryl spent two decades in leadership roles within Community Health Centers and FQHCs, where she led facility expansions and mastered HRSA funding and compliance. Her collaborative style and strategic thinking help teams navigate complex challenges and achieve impactful outcomes. Cheryl has served as Chief Development Officer at T.H.E. Health and Wellness Centers and Director of Development at Eisner Health. She was also a senior associate at a boutique consultancy. Passionate about community service, she sits on the boards of Amigos de Chocola and Invictus Charter School. Cheryl holds a Social Work degree from California State University, Long Beach, and is currently enrolled in The Art of Soulful Leadership executive program.
Nancy Beyda
Nancy Beyda is the Founder and Executive Director of FoodCycle LA, bringing more than 20 years of leadership in the food recovery space. She champions innovation and cross-sector collaboration—integrating climate considerations into every step of recovery logistics to reduce waste, lower emissions, and expand equitable access to nutritious food. In 2022, she was honored by the U.S. Congress as a Woman of the Year for her impact and advocacy.
Policy & Systems Leaders
Bonny Bentzin
Bonny is Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer at UCLA, where she leads cross-campus sustainability efforts and fosters partnerships to create a living laboratory for innovation. She previously held leadership roles at Arizona State University, where she developed and executed campus-wide sustainability strategies, and at GreenerU, a Boston-based consulting firm serving higher education. At the Trust for Sustainable Development, she led sustainability planning for Spirit Bay, a new town project with the Sc'ianew First Nation, securing $540,000 for an ocean thermal energy system. With over 12 years of experience, Bonny has worked across academia, consulting, and community engagement. She's contributed to AASHE since 2006, serving on its board and planning national conferences. A frequent speaker and published author, she also develops professional resources for sustainability officers. Personally, she's an avid rower, gardener, and traveler, known for her keen observation and problem-solving skills. Bonny holds a BS in Environmental Studies from Mount Holyoke College.
Cara Morgan
CalRecycle's Division of Materials Management and Local Assistance Deputy Director Cara Morgan oversees recycling, composting, and waste reduction programs across many materials and jurisdictions to move California towards a circular economy. Her team supports cities, counties, state agencies, and school districts with resources to help them implement their requirements, including food and yard waste recycling and unsold food recovery. Staff also supports circular solutions to reduce waste and grow markets for materials that have historically been landfilled, including electronic waste and tires. Deputy Director Morgan previously served as chief of CalRecycle's Local Assistance and Market Development Branch, helping lead the adoption of regulations for the state's organics law, Senate Bill 1383, and directing compliance assistance for over 600 jurisdictions and 200 state agencies. Her leadership and experience are instrumental to California's success in implementing and building a truly circular economy for all materials.
Ana-Alicia Carr
Ana-Alicia Carr is the Director of Policy & Coalitions at the Los Angeles Food Policy Council, with a background in public health and policy. With degrees in Health Science and Public Health, her journey from health education to community advocacy initiatives has positioned her at the forefront of food policy reform. At LAFPC, Ana-Alicia spearheads efforts in policy development, coalition-building, and partnership cultivation, focusing on expanding access to healthy food and promoting equitable, sustainable food systems. She plays a pivotal role in tracking and influencing food policy at local, state, and federal levels, ensuring that the council's initiatives align with broader legislative trends and opportunities for systemic change. Her work is marked by a collaborative, inclusive approach to policy-making, driven by a deep commitment to transforming the food landscape for the better
Maxwell Burke
Maxwell Burke is the Co-Founder of End Hunger LA, a 527 political organization dedicated to addressing food insecurity across Los Angeles through resource mobilization, policy advocacy, and community coordination. Since founding End Hunger LA in February 2020, Maxwell has worked to ensure no Angeleno goes hungry by building bridges between food banks, grassroots organizations, and policymakers. Maxwell also serves as Co-Founder of LifePod Inc., where he applies his extensive project management background to innovative housing solutions, and as a Board Member of LifePod Corps, working at the intersection of housing stability and community resilience. His work in mutual aid became particularly visible during the Los Angeles wildfires in January 2025, when he coordinated emergency food distribution efforts across multiple evacuation centers and helped navigate bureaucratic obstacles to connect food recovery organizations with communities in crisis. Maxwell's approach emphasizes building collaborative networks rather than siloed efforts, advocating for systems that empower communities to sustain themselves. Maxwell believes that ending hunger requires not just feeding people today, but building sustainable food systems that integrate urban agriculture, food forests, victory gardens, and equitable distribution networks—moving beyond reliance on food waste to create pathways toward true food sovereignty.