Hunger on College Campuses: An Interview With Ruben E. Canedo
June 6 is National Higher Education Day, a day that celebrates the power of higher education as a critical step to prosperity, but also highlights the challenges facing students today.
Food insecurity is a well-documented barrier to college completion. To better understand hunger on college campuses, and policy solutions to support students so that they can successfully complete their degree, I interviewed Ruben E. Canedo (he/they).
Ruben is the co-chair of the University of California Systemwide Basic Needs Committee. This committee helps inform a campus-wide initiative that identifies root causes of basic needs insecurity and provides systemwide safety nets so that students are able to succeed and thrive.
Ruben recently testified in fall 2021 in the Congressional hearing on college hunger held by House Rules Chairman Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.).