Karen A. Spiller

Karen A. Spiller is the Thomas W. Haas Professor in Sustainable Food Systems and Affiliate Faculty in the Social Work Department at University of New Hampshire, Durham. Karen is engaged in scholarship on the intersection of disciplines, networks and racial equity across the campus and its surrounding community, extending to higher education partners nationally and internationally.

As Principal of KAS Consulting, with a focus on racial equity and intersectionality, Karen works with local, state, regional and national organizations committed to creating equitable public health and sustainable food systems. Involved in state-wide and regional food system work, Karen is a backbone and steering committee member of and the Massachusetts Ambassador serving as lead coordinator of the Ambassador Team for Food Solutions New England (FSNE), a six-state network focused on food system transformation with racial equity at its core. Celebrating its 9th year of national and international participation, Karen co-leads the FSNE’s 21 -Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge designed to “build skill and will” and action to address racial inequities, through a food system lens.

Karen serves organizations and their missions in various roles that include board membership of the Boston Food Forest Coalition, Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts, Northeast Organic Farmers Association: Massachusetts Chapter (NOFA/Mass) and American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) and is an Advisory Council member of the Global Council of Science and Environment (GCSE) Leaders’ Alliance. Karen is also a founding member of Southern New England Farmers of Color Collaborative (SNEFCC).