“Coming to UD, the first selling point was obviously food science, and then learning more that they had a really strong study abroad program was even better,” Connelly said. “One thing that was really impactful to me was learning about food waste, which as the climate change that’s happening all around us continues, we need to find more sustainable sources for food. And that’s something that’s really interested me.”
Drawing from all of her UD experiences, Connelly takes a global mindset to food science. A passion for sharing different cultures through local cuisines and how global food systems are key to sustainability.
“A big part of what we eat is determined by our culture and geographical location,” Connelly said. “What you might find in a grocery store in Newark, Delaware, is vastly different from one in Budapest or Lisbon. I hope to introduce new flavors or ingredients into markets that are familiar to one culture but foreign to the rest.”
Connelly said that analyzing current food systems from a global perspective is critical to determine future trends and improvements.
“As the climate crisis continues to change how we produce, view and consume food, youth involvement in food policies and the ever-growing issue of food insecurity and food hunger are huge concerns,” Connellly said. “I want to continue to explore how I can positively impact current food systems from a product development perspective.”
–Nya Wynn, University of Delaware