Powered by Purpose: Students Leading the Fight Against Hunger

The Baylor Hunger Collaborative’s mission to end hunger is strengthened every day by the passion, creativity, and commitment of its community partners. Among the most impactful of these partners are Baylor students, who serve as interns, employees, volunteers, and advocates. Their involvement is wide-ranging and deeply meaningful—from hands-on service projects to leadership in policy and systems change.

Student Leaders at the Hunger Collaborative

One powerful example is the Student Food Security Council (SFSC), a multidisciplinary group dedicated to addressing food insecurity on campus. Through their campus food recovery and donation program, the SFSC has rescued more than 4,500 pounds of food for the student food pantry and local hunger agencies. This spring, the SFSC will continue building on this momentum by pursuing advocacy and policy work.

Alongside these student-led initiatives, the Hunger Collaborative’s team—including Master of Social Work interns and undergraduate student workers—contribute through research, advocacy, and applied learning. Students regularly lead thesis projects and support critical policy initiatives that strengthen the Hunger Collaborative’s work. Last summer, Hunger Collaborative interns and SFSC members traveled to Washington, D.C. for Bread for the World's 2025 Advocacy Summit where they learned from national leaders, met with policymakers on Capitol Hill, and advocated for vital programs such as SNAP and WIC.

Expanding Awareness Through Undergraduate Engagement

Student engagement also flourishes in the classroom, where Hunger Collaborative staff design courses connecting academic learning with real-world impact. Undergraduate students can enroll in the PPS 1100: Philanthropy and Public Service (PPS) course Hunger and Punishment: Food Security and the American Carceral System, which explores the intersection of food insecurity and incarceration. One student, Trisha Sudeep, reflected on her experience, sharing the course "reinforced that addressing hunger, health inequities, and incarceration requires not only policy solutions, but a commitment to seeing people for who they are, not just what they have experienced.”

Fall 2026 brings another opportunity for undergraduate students to explore the intersection of faith and public service through a Hunger Collaborative-led chapel course, guiding students through a liturgical exploration of being a faith-informed and politically active citizen.

A Deepened Mission Through Graduate Programs

Graduate students have an opportunity to deepen their engagement through the immersive “minimester” course, TEFJ 7340: The Intersection of Theology, Food Justice, and Public Policy, offered to Truett Seminary students, as well as graduate students across disciplines at Baylor. This unique experience combines faith, advocacy, and hands-on learning, including a week-long residential experience in Washington, D.C. Student Madi Hayden described gaining insight into food injustice "across all sectors, from a systemic point of view, from a policy perspective, and from all sides of the political spectrum," while remaining grounded in her faith.

In addition to its partnership with Truett Seminary’s master’s degree in Theology, Ecology, and Food Justice, the Hunger Collaborative is excited to launch a new online master’s degree in Social, Nonprofit, and Public Leadership alongside the Garland School of Social Work in fall 2026. This new degree aims to cultivate professionals by preparing them to make a lasting, meaningful impact in the social and public service sectors.

Through service, research, advocacy, and academic exploration, Baylor students bring energy and heart to the Hunger Collaborative’s work. Their dedication reminds us that ending hunger is not only possible—it is a shared responsibility. Together, Baylor students lead the way in building a stronger, more compassionate future for our communities.

Interested in learning more about student opportunities? Contact Bella Burns (bella_burns1@baylor.edu).

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