In conjunction with the University of Chicago’s 2017 Zero-Waste Earth Fest activities, the Frizzell Speaker and Learning Series will be hosting Sam Kass for a conversation on food security, health, and youth. Mr. Kass will be interviewed by Monica Eng from WBEZ Chicago. Check out the UChicago News article and The College’s article written about this event!
Sam Kass
Sam Kass (AB ’04) is a food entrepreneur, former White House Chef and Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition. He is also the founder of TROVE, a partner in Acre Venture Partners, and a MIT Media Lab Fellow.
Sam joined the White House kitchen staff as Assistant Chef in 2009 and became Food Initiative Coordinator in 2010. During his tenure at the White House, he assumed several additional roles, including Executive Director of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign and Senior White House Policy Advisor for Nutrition. Sam is the first person in the history of the White House to have a position in the Executive Office of the President and the Residence. As one of the First Lady’s longest-serving advisors, he served as Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives, and he assisted the First Lady in creating the first major vegetable garden at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt’s victory garden.
In 2011, Fast Company included Sam in their list of 100 Most Creative People, and in 2012, Sam helped establish the American Chef Corps, which is dedicated to promoting diplomacy through culinary initiatives.
Monica Eng
Monica Eng reports and produces segments on food, health, and ethnic culture in Chicago and beyond. Before coming to WBEZ, she was a food, culture, and watchdog-investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune for 16 years. Before that, she wrote and edited for the Daily Southtown and Chicago Sun Times. Monica has won multiple writing awards and been nominated for the James Beard Award five times. Monica is a fourth generation Chicagoan whose children are fourth generation Chicago Public School graduates.
Earth Fest 2017 at The University of Chicago is sponsored by:
Bon Appétit
Campus Athletics and Recreation
Campus and Student Life
Environment, Agriculture, and Food Group
Facilities Services
Frizzell Memorial Series
Institute for Molecular Engineering
Institute of Politics
Office of Civic Engagement
Office of Sustainability
Office of the Provost
Program on the Global Environment
The College
UChicago Dining
University Community Service Center
UChicago Laboratory Schools
