Professor Ken MacLean, Ph.D., Sustainability and Social Justice and the Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, advocates for mindful eating, urging consumers to educate themselves about where their food comes from and the conditions under which it is produced.

By navigating these ethical dilemmas with awareness and intention, individuals can strive to make more responsible and meaningful food decisions.

To start, what is ethical eating?

MacLean: For me, especially in the classroom, one of my goals is to have students better understand where their food comes from, under what conditions, and what are the costs or impacts that can be positive or the ecosystems in which they emerge, the species, especially animals we consume for meat, on up to our health and the ways we eat in terms of interacting or having a social connection with people.

I don’t want to tell people what they should and shouldn’t eat. I would say the overarching principle for me might be no harm while bearing in mind it is almost impossible to eat today in our globalized food systems without somebody bearing the cost.

And that’s one of the challenges, as with awareness, recognizing that, and then saying, okay, is it possible for me to do harm reduction? In what ways can I become a more knowledgeable consumer and perhaps change my food ways support those organizations, what have you, that are trying to promote food ways that have a greater positive or beneficial impact than those that do not?

How do you personally balance animal welfare, labor rights, and environmental justice as a consumer?

MacLean: In an ideal world, you would buy free range, uncaged chickens, for example, or beef or pork that was raised and slaughtered humanely. But short of going to the places where these foods, these animals are raised and the foods made out of them, it’s really difficult to verify. In fact, most animal raising places, certainly the more industrialized structures, you’re forbidden from going in or filming or anything.

To a certain degree, you have to take a leap of faith and trust when a product says it is X, Y, and Z, that the odds are greater than something that doesn’t say it. Whether you try and eat chicken that’s free range, cage-0free, organic, no hormones and so on. The challenge is that these foods generally cost more, sometimes a great deal more. And not everyone is in a position to spend that much more because of their income levels, the size of their family and so on. Everyone has to make decisions in the context of opportunities and importantly, the constraints they face.

How can an individual consumer be more mindful? Can a person actually make a difference?

MacLean: A well-educated consumer has the option or possibility of being a more ethical consumer, bearing in mind that sometimes knowledge be implemented because of the constraints you find yourself in. But without that knowledge, you can’t make an informed choice as soon as the choice is available to you. So as an educator, it’s hardly surprising. My answer is do research! Teach yourself, learn more.

If you have the resources and the commitment, support local food producers. Supporting local organizations like REC, the Regional Environmental Council, which, unlike most food markets, actually offers vegetables and other items that communities consume.

Learning about different food traditions, supporting them, and trying new dishes can be a powerful way to connect with others.

It fosters mutual understanding, appreciation, and assistance, creating a shared experience that brings people together. You might even discover new flavors you love while building meaningful connections across cultures.

Can small businesses adapt to more ethical choices while maintaining profits? Can it be sustainable?

MacLean: One of the success areas has been local food producers who enter into contractual relationships with restaurants that want fresh local foods that go into their dishes they serve. Support local food groups that are trying to help people to have access to healthy food. There are a whole variety of ways. It depends on what your passion is.

Once you figure out your passion, it becomes much easier. Find out what you care about and then see how you can get involved.

What is one thing each of us could do today to be more sustainable?

MacLean: Reuse and repair things instead of throwing them out. Buy things that have been lightly worn, instead of fast fashion that is going to fall apart in six months. Don’t upgrade your cell phone every time a new model comes out.

Consume less is the easiest way to be more sustainable.

I think just becoming more conscious of what we put in our bodies and eating better foods helps things become more sustainable. The standard rule is when you shop, shop around the where you can find fresh foods and avoid the middle to the extent you can. But, it’s not wrong to treat yourself every now and then – but it should be a treat and not an everyday thing.

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Clarkies Ryan Norton, Geographic Information Science alum, and Katie Walker, current Environmental Science and Policy student were recognized at GIS professional conference.

Katie Walker was awarded the Dr. Marilyn O’Hara Ruiz Young Professional Scholarship.

At Clark, she is a GIS Teaching Assistant and an Environmental Data Analyst Intern for the U.S. Forest Service.

This May, she will be graduating with her Master of Science degree in Environmental Science and Policy. Katie’s master’s thesis will focus on the impact of wildfires on air quality in New England.

Congratulations, Katie!

Ryan Norton was awarded the Barbara Hirsch Special Service Award at GIS-Pro.

This award is presented to members or staff who have made special contributions to URISA. Ryan is a Clark alumni and an employee of the Town of Foxborough, Massachusetts.

He served on the NEURISA Board of Directors, and has served URISA as the Chairman for its Membership Committee and was a member of its OneURISA Task Force.

Congratulations, Ryan!

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Marissa Kelemen ’25, an International Development student, spent the summer working at AYAT Education.

“I interned at AYAT Education, a social enterprise located in Dhaka, Bangladesh,” said Kelemen.

“[While there], I reported every weekday to one of their two offices where I researched, transcribed interviews, and met with my advisor to piece together everything I read and witnessed.”

“I learned about the societal norms, social issues, and challenges of Bangladesh through my focus of studying childcare centers.”

“I conducted site visits to various garment factories, schools, and early childhood education centers to assess the need of accessible childcare options for Bangladesh’s next generation.”

“SSJ taught me the importance of dignity-centered development work which played an important role in my analysis of childcare centers and how it impacts gender issues in Bangladesh.”

“Thank you to the Department of Sustainability and Social Justice at Clark University for this opportunity.”

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Anser Khan, an Environmental Science and Policy student, spent the summer working at the United Nations.

“During my internship at the United Nations’ Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), I worked as an Environmental Affairs Intern in the Intergovernmental Policy & Review Branch (IPRB),” said Khan ’24.

“My responsibilities included supporting the analytical and substantive preparations for the General Assembly’s Second Committee, ECOSOC, and the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).”

“I conducted research, facilitated intergovernmental negotiations, managed event logistics, and updated official websites. The collaborative and dynamic environment enriched my understanding of sustainable development and international diplomacy.”

“This internship has prepared me for future challenges and underscored the valuable education I received.”

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Will Talbot’s passion for maps led to his job as an assistant planner at the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC), with Clark playing an instrumental role.

After completing a bachelor’s degree in geography from Clark, Talbot returned to earn his fifth-year master’s in Community Development and Planning. His advanced degree studies included an internship at CMRPC, which became a permanent job after graduation.

“My internship was excellent,” Talbot says. “A major aspect of my role was to incorporate GIS maps into various planning projects. I was thrilled to be able to continue with CMRPC after earning my degree.” Talbot says good community development involves more than writing reports, collecting data, and preparing grant proposals.

“My classes at Clark taught me how to think about morality and ethics within my field,” he says. “My GIS classes discussed ethical questions that relate to the use of geographic information science.

“At Clark, I learned the importance of asking yourself ‘What’s the right approach to serve people in need and bring about positive change?'”

For Talbot, such consideration is at the core of what makes Clark unique. “People at Clark talk about not just the best idea but also the best practice. They are careful not to dive into something without thinking about the repercussions that affect different community stakeholders. You must be deliberate and careful, especially with big infrastructure projects. You have to ensure that policy changes will have positive impacts and help make a more just society.”

Clark’s faculty-practitioners appealed to Talbot. “I liked learning from professors who have experience working outside of academia,” he says. “My community development finance professor worked for an agency that helps finance affordable housing in Massachusetts.”

Talbot also appreciated the range of ideas that reached him through guest speakers on campus. “The New Earth Conversation program, the Geography Colloquium Speaker Series, and the Extractives@Clark series bring excellent guest speakers to Clark – academics and professionals who talk about their research and work experiences. I found it incredibly enriching to learn about many different topics relating to my academic and professional interests outside of my class time.”

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Looking for a respite after nearly a decade of corporate employment in the United States, Feyzal Ebrahim returned to his native Somaliland, where he worked as an education planning consultant. While there, he heard “an inner voice persuading me to give back to a society that so desperately needs healing from injustices such as war, food insecurity, and climate change,” he says. Heeding the call, Ebrahim leveraged his citizenship as a naturalized American to join the Peace Corps.

In March 2019, after 10 weeks of intense training, Ebrahim was posted to the rural Langogu Village in Karaga District, Ghana. As a Business Agriculture Extension volunteer, he led community education sessions and demonstrations on agriculture techniques, nutrition, malaria prevention, and sanitation. He also conducted a community needs assessment that was instrumental to the opening of a much-needed health care clinic three months later.

Then COVID-19 hit. Ebrahim was evacuated, content with his accomplishments in Ghana and determined to find equal purpose in the next chapter of his life. And that’s what led him to Clark.

Making positive impacts in multiple ways

Ebrahim was drawn to the IDCE department to pursue a master’s degree in International Development. One-on-one advising sessions with Associate Professor Jude Fernando motivated him to declare a concentration in Refugee and Forced Migration. But, as is the case with many Clark students, his learning and leadership experiences would extend well beyond the classroom.

Ebrahim served as a member of President Fithian’s University Diversity Action Committee and was part of the Food Security initiative led by the Dean of Students office. As the IDCE Student Association Co-President, he helped students connect with one another and served as a link between students and faculty. And in the summer of 2022, he organized three Peace Corps recruitment opportunities for Clark students.

Through his varied experiences at Clark, Ebrahim discovered how to become a resource for others, culminating in his current position as supervisor of Clark’s Campus Ambassadors. In this role, he schedules, trains, and motivates a contingent of 19 student ambassadors who provide assistance to fellow students and visitors across the Clark campus. In their signature red jackets, Campus Ambassadors are a welcome presence at Gala, Commencement, Reunion, and other significant university events.

“They’re a great team,” Ebrahim says, adding that his ambassadors are always on the move. “There’s nothing stationary about this job,” he says with a grin.

Given his global journey to Clark, Ebrahim is quite familiar with being on the move himself.

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Three graduate students from the International Development, Community, and Environment (IDCE) department at Clark University are among the 2023 recipients of the Albert, Norma, and Howard Geller ’77 Endowed Research Awards. The fellowships support student-initiated research projects that advance our understanding of natural resource and environmental sustainability and develop practical improvements that can move society towards more sustainable outcomes.

The 2023 recipients include:

• Oluwole Olakunle Ajayi, M.A. International Development, for Gender Equality: The Pathway to Food Systems Security, Economic Sustainability, and Ecological Preservation. Faculty Mentor: Jude Fernando.
• Josaphat Barcenas Argueta, M.A. International Development, for Green Economy: Its Role in Lithium Extraction and Climate Change. Faculty Mentor: Denise Humphreys Bebbington
• Abby Beilman, B.A. Environmental Science/M.A. Environmental Science and Policy, for Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter in the Blackstone River Watershed: Winter to Spring Transitions. Faculty Mentors: Tim Downs and Karen Frey

Each year, submissions for the Geller Research Fellowships are evaluated on their relevance to practical approaches of advancing sustainability, originality and innovation, the clarity and feasibility of their research plan, and other criteria. An interdepartmental faculty committee that shares Howard Geller’s interest in student research and activism for sustainability selects the successful proposals.

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When she applied, Marissa Kelly ’23 was unaware of how coveted the fellowships were. What she did know is she wanted to do humanitarian work abroad, which has been the mission of Catholic Relief Services since 1943.

“One of my life philosophies is to knock on doors, make every effort, and see which doors open up to me,” Kelly says. With the Catholic Relief Services fellowship, making every effort meant persevering through a rigorous five-month selection process.

Only 76 of the applicants were invited to complete video interviews – fewer than 2%. “Then 24 of us went on to complete the language test, which we all passed,” Kelly says. “So there were 24 finalists.” Being named one of the 12 fellows was surreal, Kelly says. “I felt honored and, of course, I’m excited.”

Clark Career Services and the Clark alumni network were a big part of Kelly’s success in getting her fellowship. “Sharon Hanna, director of IDCE Career Development, was directly responsible for making me aware of the fellowship and helped guide me every step of the way,” Kelly says.

“Speaking with a Clark alum who did the fellowship provided me with valuable insights. It was also very helpful to talk with Professor Denise Humphreys Bebbington, who for several years worked at Catholic Relief Services.”

Doing work in line with her values

Before coming to Clark to pursue her master’s degree in International Development, Kelly was a Peace Corps volunteer in Costa Rica. “I heard about Clark when I applied for a Coverdell Fellowship,” she says. “The Coverdell Fellows program helps returned Peace Corps volunteers continue their service to underserved communities while also pursuing graduate studies at a reduced cost. Clark is one of the program’s partner universities.”

Originally from Olympia, Washington, Kelly found the application process at Clark to be a positive experience from start to finish. “I felt like Clark was a place that cared about me as a person,” she says. “Clark was willing to invest time in me. They were willing to have numerous conversations with me and answer my many questions. Right off the bat, I felt that Clark was a supportive community.”

As a fellow with Catholic Relief Services, Kelly will focus on food security and education in Laos. She credits Clark with preparing her for the work ahead.

“Clark cares about developing professionals who are going to do good things in the world. My professors nurtured my commitment to justice, to having difficult, honest conversations, and to taking action. They all had real experience ‘doing development’ and shared their best practices with me. And in addition to being experts in their field, they are great people who care about you,” Kelly says.

Kelly is hopeful that her fellowship with Catholic Relief Services leads to a long and rewarding career with the organization. “I can see myself growing professionally and personally,” she says. “It’s important to me to do work that is in line with my values, and I believe I have that opportunity with Catholic Relief Services.”

A similar alignment of values is one of the reasons Kelly found studying at Clark so rewarding. “I think being respectful, critical, and honest is important,” she says. “And I think that’s something that Clark encourages and inspires in its students.”

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