Anderson headshot

Emerson Fellow

Kevin Anderson

12th Class, 2005-2006

Kevin graduated magna cum laude from Northwestern University in 2005, receiving a BA in political science and legal studies.  He wrote honors theses for both majors: the first paper posited a legal and political solution to the Iraqi debt crisis and the second paper examined the evolution of U.S. foreign aid programs. Kevin interned with the Northwestern Law School and Center on Wrongful Convictions, the Office of Illinois Senator Richard J. Durbin, and the Office of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.

Field placement: Alameda County Community Food Bank

Oakland, California

While in Alameda County, Kevin worked to improve food stamp outreach efforts and increase the number of eligible people enrolled in food stamps.  He interviewed county officials, new food stamp applicants and formerly denied applicants, and tracked applications using the county’s eligibility determination system to assess barriers to approval.  In addition, Kevin pilot tested a client interview tool designed to examine why some individuals initiate a food stamp application, but fail to complete the application process.

Policy placement: Northeast-Midwest Institute

Washington, D.C.

At the Northeast-Midwest Institute, Kevin served as a core member of the coordination team for the Farm and Food Policy Project (FFPP), assisting with policy development and the consensus building process for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation-funded coalition-building effort that crossed a variety of advocate communities including anti-hunger, public health, environment, sustainable agriculture and others.  In addition, Kevin spearheaded a series of policy research projects intended to inform members of the Northeast-Midwest Senate and Congressional coalitions about priority issues related to hunger, nutrition assistance, and issues surrounding community food security and local and regional food systems.

Publications