Fellowship Program | Harvard University Dining Services

The Fellowship Program

Harvard University Dining Services’ (HUDS) Food Literacy Project Fellows learn about the food system, leadership, event design and much more. FLP Fellows plan projects and events that help educate and engage our community and connect food-related initiatives and projects across the University. FLP Fellows also engage in peer-to-peer education with their House/class. Every undergraduate housing neighborhood of dining halls has FLP representation; FLP also has a presence at GSAS.

HUDS has more than 15 Food Literacy Project (FLP) Fellows – students from a range of backgrounds and with an array of perspectives and interests when it comes to food. Interested in becoming a Fellow? Read more about the opportunity below, and apply by Monday, September 8th (deadline extended!).

Become a Fellow

The Food Literacy Project is HUDS’ food education initiative. With focuses on sustainability, nutrition, food preparation & community, the FLP seeks to empower everyone to make informed food choices. Interested in educating the Harvard community about food? Apply to be a Food Literacy Project (FLP) Fellow!

Open Positions:

There are no open positions at this time.

What we're looking for:

An eagerness to learn more about our food system.
The motivation to stay on task, plan ahead and organize opportunities to build community and food literacy within your house and neighborhood.
Engagement in FLP meetings and activities.

Federal Work Study Program Preference: Either FWSP or non-FWSP

Commitment Details (about 5 hrs per week)

Must be available to attend weekly in-person meetings on Wednesday afternoons from 4:30-5:30pm. Every other week we invite in a guest speaker; past guests have included New Entry Farm, Food for Free, and HUDS Director of Culinary.
Organize FLP events for your House and/or neighborhood community
Attend other Fellows' FLP events
Work on FLP and/or HUDS projects, as assigned
Help communicate the FLP and its upcoming events by tabling at 2 events per semester
Work in partnership with HUDS to raise awareness of food related issues on campus (e.g. food waste, food recovery)
Attend the Fall and Spring FLP retreat
*Commitment details are subject to change.

What You'll Get

Expanded knowledge about the food system
Demonstrable experience in event planning, budgeting and marketing
Direct interaction with practitioners at the top of their field
Volunteer and hands-on experience with local food organizations
Opportunities to engage with a community of Harvard students across the college who are working to increase food literacy

Stipend

FLP fellows receive a $1,500 stipend per academic year, paid in four installments.

To Apply

Send your resumé and a cover letter to foodliteracy@harvard.edu by September 8, 2025. In your cover letter, explain why you are interested in becoming an FLP fellow, and what you can bring to the position. All Harvard College students, regardless of prior knowledge about food, are encouraged to apply. Please note your year, house and contact information in your email or cover letter. Fellow applications are reviewed on a rolling, and as-needed basis.

Food Literacy Project Manager

Fellows are led by our FLP Manager, Gwen Koch. Gwen is a graduate of New York University and in 2024, completed a Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) at the Harvard Extension School. She has spent her career exploring food and hospitality, working with and for some amazing industry leaders. Gwen acted as an assistant wine buyer and store manager for a boutique wine store (and is a Certified Sommelier), helped coordinate and manage volunteers for the Boston Fermentation Festival, was a front-of-house restaurant manager, and completed a food systems-focused intensive 10-week food studies program in Sicily. She is deeply curious about the food system, especially the intersection of food and the humanities: food history, food and women’s labor, cookbooks, and the material culture of food.