91制片厂

Since graduating from 91制片厂 in 2017 with a degree in dietetics, Alana Davidson has been continuing the work she began as an undergraduate to reduce food insecurity and building a career committed to sustainable and equitable access to food for all.

Discovering Passion and Determining a Path

When Davidson arrived at 91制片厂 in August 2013, she was interested in sports nutrition, but by her sophomore year she realized that she wanted to focus on food insecurity. That year, she conducted a research project on food insecurity among college students that included a campus survey. The results were eye-opening: Of the nearly 1,000 students who responded, 25 percent reported being food insecure 鈥� they did not have reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious food.

Not content to simply share her results, Davidson worked with the 91制片厂 faculty and administration to create Swipe It Forward, a program that makes donated money for meals available to 91制片厂 students who qualify. Students can scan their fingerprints or use their meal cards to access meal credits that have been donated to the 鈥渟wipe bank.鈥�

The experience taught Davidson the importance of designing food security programs that are as non-stigmatizing and respectful as possible, and it continues to influence her.

鈥淭here is a quote by Nelson Mandela that I thought about a lot when I was at 91制片厂: 鈥楨ducation is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world,鈥欌�� she says. 鈥�91制片厂 really exemplifies this idea. Through the research opportunities and the mentorship of Jesse Stabile Morrell and others, my time at 91制片厂 set me on my path to use food policy and research to effect change, both small and large.鈥�

Beyond starting Swipe It Forward, the list of Davidson鈥檚 accomplishments at 91制片厂 is long. She is a Hamel Scholar and a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship and has won multiple awards for excellence and research at both the university and program levels.

鈥淚t is not hard for those of us who know Alana to appreciate her exceptional dedication to social change, her thoughtful leadership style and her impeccable academic excellence,鈥� says Jesse Stabile Morrell 鈥�99, 鈥�04G, 鈥�13G. 鈥淚n my 20 years of teaching, I don鈥檛 believe I鈥檝e met another student like her.鈥�

After graduating from 91制片厂, Davidson studied food policy at the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, and in 2019 she earned her master鈥檚 degree in food policy and applied nutrition with a concentration in law and justice. While at Tufts, she interned at the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), an agency that administers economic benefits, food assistance and workforce training to the state鈥檚 low-income residents. Her internship turned into a full-time job as the outreach interagency specialist for DTA鈥檚 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Davidson has been DTA鈥檚 director of communications since 2020 and oversees external communications, including the department鈥檚 website and social media, press releases, press inquiries and events. She also assists with client communications and outreach materials, some of which are produced in 11 different languages.

An Unexpected Challenge

Shortly after Davidson began her job at DTA, she was faced with a new set of challenges brought by the global pandemic.听

She and her colleagues redoubled their efforts to bring new resources to their clients. The department launched a multilingual mobile-friendly website, made updates to the 鈥淒TA Connect鈥� app, started online grocery shopping for SNAP participants, initiated the use of text messages in six languages and joined forces with community partners and other agencies to share information via text about COVID-specific resources.

"Something I think about all the time is where can I make the biggest difference? Where can I be that will help the most people? That kind of drives wherever I am."听

The increased access to information and support helped lead to a 34 percent increase in the agency鈥檚 caseload. Now, DTA is serving more than a million residents, many of whom are receiving SNAP benefits for the first time.

鈥淭he pandemic has truly shown the importance of federal nutrition programs and how the federal and state governments and local partners must work together to expand dignified, equitable access to these critical programs,鈥� says Davidson.

In the early days of the pandemic, Davidson was selected to manage the Massachusetts COVID-19 Command Center鈥檚 Food Security Task Force, which was charged with ensuring that food insecurity and food supply needs were addressed during the public health emergency. The task force鈥檚 successes include spurring Gov. Charlie Baker to invest $100 million to support food security and build a more equitable food system.

What鈥檚 next

When you talk to Davidson, it鈥檚 hard not to notice her expressions of gratitude. She often begins responses to questions about her achievements with the words 鈥淚 was really lucky to 鈥︹�� or 鈥淚 had the privilege to鈥�.鈥� Perhaps it鈥檚听

because she recognizes that access to success 鈥� like access to food 鈥� isn鈥檛 always equitable. Combined with hard work, drive and intelligence, there鈥檚 a certain amount of serendipity sprinkled in.

鈥淚鈥檓 fortunate to have found my passion in college,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut I never expected to be in a communications role. I was interested in food policy, data, research, and advocacy, and I鈥檝e realized that this role can be used to do a lot of what I want to do.鈥�

As DTA鈥檚 communications director, Davidson has a hand in research and policy, including assisting with the submission of public comments during federal rulemaking and tracking relevant legislation. She has not ruled out the possibility of seeking elected office someday.

鈥淪omething I think about all the time is where can I make the biggest difference? Where can I be that will help the most people? And so that kind of drives wherever I am,鈥� she says.

When asked what she hopes to have achieved by the end of her career, Davidson pauses thoughtfully. 鈥淚 think I will have had a hand in helping us, as a country, see the day when every person has access to healthy and culturally appropriate food in a sustainable and equitable way. We have the tools and resources. I do think we can get there. We need to get there.鈥�