University News

Food Insecurity Conference March 22

March 7, 2019

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MOLINE, IL - - Western Illinois University-Quad Cities will host its third annual Food Insecurity Conference from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, March 22 in Riverfront Hall with check-in beginning at 9:30 a.m. The event is free and open to the public, but advanced registration is required by March 15th.

This year's theme is "The Relationship Between Food Insecurity and Mental Health" and will feature ACES Distinguished Professor Craig Gundersen of the University of Illinois, Associate Professor of Human Nutrition and Foods Melissa Olfert of West Virginia University, Clinical Assistant Professor Charles Bermingham of the University of Iowa, WIU-QC Professor and Clinical Mental Health Coordinator Leslie O'Ryan and Ph.D. candidate at the University of Iowa in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies Mitchell D. Lingo. All will be sharing their research and experiences with food insecurity and mental health.

"Last year, the conference was focused on the more recent issue of food insecurity on college campuses, and this year we are trying to build on that by bringing in speakers who are able to show its effects on mental health as well," said Cameron Ruiz, a WIU-QC graduate from Rock Island, IL, and AmericorpsVISTA organizing the conference. "This conference has been able to bring in a wide range of people with different backgrounds to discuss this issue, and I hope we can do the same this year."

To register, visit wiu.edu/qc/student_life/pantry or for more information, contact Cameron Ruiz at cr-ruiz@wiu.edu or 309-762-9080.

Posted By: Alisha Looney (AA-Looney@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing