Jeffrey Piestrak
Cornell University
Community Member
Involvement/Activity
Community Member
What I would like to offer as a collaborator…
I am interested in food systems related issues as they relate to health and equity within communities and across the value chain from producer to consumer. I recently completed a year long fellowship focused on that topic and the role that Land Grant institutions Cooperative Extension and libraries like mine (Mann Library @Cornell) can play in promoting those outcomes. That includes those aligned with Planetary and One Health initiatives our new MPH program is based on (I work closely with Gen Meredith on campus and community projects). A full listing of my fellowship outputs including my final report Optimizing for Health: Linking & Leveraging Land Grant Knowledge Assets in Support of Healthy People Food Systems & Communities is available here: https://www.extension.org/jeff-piestrak/
What I am looking for from a collaborator…
I have over 20 years of agrifood systems experience including close partnerships with community and regional organizations specifically promoting health and equity. Through work at Cornell’s Mann Library I have also initiated and led a variety of outreach and engagement activities bringing on and off campus communities together exploring a variety of issues related to health and equity. My library work has also provided me with insights and expertise relevant to creating and maintaining systems and platforms supporting collaborative knowledge creation and exchange. I am interested in applying these skills and experiences toward collaborative projects with others through partnerships facilitated by the Center.
