Academic: I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (2013) and a Master of Science in Cultural and Environmental Resource Management from Central Washington University (2021). This interdisciplinary program integrates geography, anthropology, economics, and policy providing a foundation for my thesis research, Higher Education and Food Access: A Case Study of Food Access Initiatives and their Community Impact [1]. Throughout 200 hours of ethnographic fieldwork, I mapped food movements across campus, documenting hunger relief efforts and community-driven food security initiatives. This work aimed to strengthen social-ecological relationships and improve food access in local and regional food systems.

[1]  Wheaton, Rebecca. "Higher Education and Food Access: A Case Study of Food Access Initiatives and Their Community Impact." (2022).

Professional: I bring a decade of experience in the environmental non-profit sector. I’ve worked closely with county and state agencies to develop community-driven solutions using qualitative evaluation methods. Throughout my career, I have collaborated with farms, non-profits, and community organizations across North Carolina, Colorado, and Washington. My roles have ranged from ranch hand and educator to environmental program coordinator and social impact research and evaluation manager.