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Alumna Spotlight: Angelique Perez
Angelique Perez, MPH ’07, understands the importance of networking and maintaining connections. Angelique, who was in the first cohort of MPH students at SPHIS, is the Associate Director of the Food Literacy Project (FLP), a local nonprofit that provides farm-based experiential education and entrepreneurial youth development programs that bring the Field-to-Fork experience to life. She met the FLP executive director and her now long-time colleague, Carol Gundersen, while studying at SPHIS and participating in the Partnership for a Green City’s Environmental Education Committee. She also volunteered with the Community Farm Alliance, helping to complete Louisville's first community food assessment.
“The MPH program encouraged active participation and learning through engagement with local organizations, which offered me the opportunity to apply my studies and build networks and connections that opened professional doors,” Angelique explained.
After graduating with her MPH in 2007, Angelique became a regional supervisor for a statewide nutrition education program. She then joined the FLP staff in 2009 and since that time she has been growing the organization and expanding FLP’s impact. In her current role as associate director, her goal is to fulfill FLP’s mission: youth transforming their communities through food, farming and the land. She feels proud to be part of an organization that is committed to justice and equity and actively working towards a healthy and equitable community.
“It has been a joy and privilege to help this earnest start-up, with a commitment to using food and agriculture, to catalyze health and wellness among Louisville’s children, families, and neighborhoods and watch it evolve into a significant player on the local and national community food and public health radar.”
Angelique’s leadership role at the Food Literacy Project requires her to wear many hats. Her responsibilities include strategic planning, program and organizational development, partnership cultivation, stakeholder engagement, fundraising, and financial management.
When asked to provide advice to public health students and recent graduates, Angelique encouraged them to “get to work and get involved in your community!” She continued, “The best way to find your public health path is to identify organizations with missions of interest and find ways to connect and gain real experience in the field. You already have so much to offer as a volunteer or intern. These experiences and connections lead to long-term career opportunities.”
If you want to connect with Angelique or explore practicum opportunities, feel free to reach out to her via LinkedIn. You can also follow the Food Literacy Project on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Read more about the SPHIS and Food Literacy Project partnership
