Nick was a 4th Class Zero Hunger Intern in 2021.
Emerson Fellow
Nick Battles
29th Class, 2022-2023
Nick is from Indianola, Iowa. As of May 2022, he is an alumnus of Iowa State University with Bachelor of Science degrees in Global Resource Systems and Agriculture & Society (agricultural and rural policy studies), plus a minor study in Learning & Leadership Sciences. In 2017, he spent time interviewing farmers in rural India as a Borlaug-Ruan International Intern and, in 2019, collaborated with peers from around the world while studying at Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands. Prior to joining the 29th class of Emerson Fellows, Nick worked as a Legislative Aide at the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), an opportunity made possible thanks to his initial stint at FRAC as a Zero Hunger Intern in the summer of 2021. Anti-hunger work has shaped much of Nick’s path for nearly a decade and he is thrilled to continue learning and leading as an Emerson Fellow.
Field placement: Hunger Free Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Nick is working on the Policy Team at Hunger Free Oklahoma (HFO) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. By collaborating with organizational partners and coworkers dedicated to lived experience inclusion, he is helping to craft a map for HFO to utilize when forming an Oklahoma Blueprint to Food Security. Identifying opportunities, barriers, best practices, and proper scope for HFO and the blueprint will be his priority as they seek to establish logistics and a timeline of incorporating collaborators and folks with lived experience into creating this important blueprint for Oklahoma.
Policy placement: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Washington, D.C.
At USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Nick is working with the Community Meals Policy Division within Child Nutrition Programs to advance the implementation of new guidance for both the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). He has the opportunity to take part in a wide array of projects at various stages on both teams, from drafting to reviewing. In addition to developing and delivering materials that assist with the overall implementation of the SFSP and CACFP, Nick is identifying ways to make FNS' website more organized and user-friendly.