Taylor Allgood

Taylor Allgood is a two-time graduate of the University of Cincinnati, where she earned dual honors degrees in International Affairs and Political Science (2023) and an MPA with a social justice focus (2024). Her academic work included an IRB-approved pilot study on cultural frictions within charitable food access models, which inspired her developing “Fullness” framework, a multidimensional approach to measuring food security beyond scarcity metrics.

Her commitment to transforming food access deepened through sustained leadership at UC. As Student Body Vice President ('21-'22), she helped broaden institutional attention to basic needs and later advanced long-term solutions as a student employee at the Bearcats Pantry & Resource Center. There, she created Healthy Bites, a university-funded nutrition access program, and Family First, a childcare essentials program for student parents. Both remain active and continue supporting hundreds of students annually.

Taylor currently serves as the Student Support Coordinator at American University, where she manages the campus food pantry and leads basic needs initiatives. Her work centers culturally responsive service delivery and capacity building through community partnerships. Additionally, Taylor served as the Content Manager for the Student Basic Needs Coalition, where she hosted “The Student Impact Report,” a podcast that highlighted student leaders and higher education advocates across the country.

As a 2026 Marshall Scholar, Taylor will pursue an MA in Anthropology of Food at SOAS University of London and an MSc in International Planning and Development at Cardiff University, preparing for a PhD in Food Anthropology and a future career as a global food security analyst and policy leader.