Annual INFAS Member Awards

Established in 2021, the Annual INFAS Member Awards were created to recognize and honor the efforts of INFAS members who exemplify the spirit of our Network. These awards highlight individuals who have gone above and beyond in their dedication, service, and leadership efforts to further the INFAS mission of creating a sustainable and socially just US food system.

Each fall, INFAS presents three distinct awards:

  • The Overall Impact Award
    Recognizes a member who has made sustained and significant contributions to INFAS impact and development over multiple years.
  • The Stepping Up Award
    Honors a member who has made a notable contribution to a specific INFAS project or program within the past year.
  • The Committee Service Award
    Celebrates a member who has shown exceptional commitment and service to an INFAS working group or committee over the previous year.

Overall Impact Award Recipients    Stepping Up Award Recipients  Committee Service Award Recipients  


INFAS Overall Impact Award

2023-2024 Award Winner: Casey Hoy

Casey has demonstrated exceptional leadership in the early formation and development of INFAS and served on the inaugural executive committee. He was a contributing author of the INFAS supplement to the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) report, that highlights the critical role of U.S. land-grant universities in identifying and addressing structural racism within the food system. His efforts have also helped INFAS remain connected to the Sustainable Agriculture Education Association (SAEA). Casey has shared his administrative experiences with INFAS members, and recently co-authored our paper, "Resilience strategies for centers and institutes focused on food systems transformation" in the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development. 

Past INFAS Overall Impact Award recipients
2022/23 - Shorlette Ammons
2021/22 - Christine Porter
2020/21 - Joanna Friesner

INFAS Stepping Up Award

2023-2024 Award Winner: Polly Ericksen

In 2024, Polly played an essential role in strengthening INFAS’s connections to the UVM Food System Summit, focusing on engaging emerging leaders, showcasing our work, and expanding our membership. She helped sponsor seven INFAS members, including four graduate fellows from the CISC-INFAS HBCU Fellowship Program, to present at the summit during our collaborative session, "Harvesting Potential: Developing Leaders for a Sustainable Food System." Through her dedication to building partnerships and amplifying INFAS’s mission, Polly created opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration that will inspire and equip the next generation of food system leaders.

Past INFAS Stepping Award recipients
2022/23 - Natilee McGruder Kyle
2021/22 - Lindsey Lunsford
2020/21 - Lesli Hoey

INFAS Committee Service Award

2023-2024 Award Winner: Erica Hall

Erica serves on the Executive Committee as both a leader and a community activist, bringing invaluable insights from her extensive experience in community engagement. She has effectively represented INFAS in these spaces and helps bridge academic and community perspectives. Erica has essentially acted as a working group of one, piloting how community leaders can actively participate in and shape the work of INFAS. Her leadership this past year in moderating and facilitating the Wallace Center Food Systems Leadership Network (FSLN) Racial Affinity Group has further strengthened INFAS’s connections with partner organizations and other leaders at the intersection of community and academia.

Past Committee Service Award recipients
2022/23 - Rachael Budowle
2021/22 - Diana Crider
2020/21 - Elizabeth Hoover