The Friedman School continues to partner with The Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life to recognize graduating Friedman School students for their civic engagement and community service.
The Honos Civicus Society, launched in 2009 and managed by Tisch College, is a way for us to celebrate and reflect upon our commitment to civic engagement. We believe that Friedman School students are not only passionate about food and health, but about making an impact through public service. Honos Civicus, Latin for “Civic Honors”, celebrates and publicly recognizes graduating students who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to active citizenship during their studies. Congratulations to our 2022 Honos Civicus honorees!
Gabriella Rao
Throughout her time at the Friedman School, Gabby has worked to build upon the school's legacy of community engagement and service. This has included leadership in Service Scholars, a student organization which aims to establish a larger community of service-oriented students within the Friedman School, and to encourage high-level careers in service and leadership after graduation. Gabby’s work helped to revive a dying Service Scholars organization, as well as to conduct Friedman’s first pilot service-learning project in a class at the school. After graduation, Gabby plans to go into dietetics, with the hope of one day owning her own practice to serve athletes and those with disordered eating.
Ricardo Moreno
Ricardo has focused on Nutrition and Educational Equity during his time as a student at the Friedman School. This has included leadership in the Friedman Student Alliance for Racial Equity and the Nutrition Equity Scholars Program (NESP). Ricardo's work helped both groups to support students in Dorchester to learn healthy nutrition habits and pursue academic excellence. In addition, Ricardo has served on various DEIA committees and has worked with Obesity180 to help prevent childhood obesity in various communities around the country. Ricardo plans to continue supporting youth and fighting for equity in Boston after graduation. Ricardo is looking forward to the future and releasing his book on the Chicano experience titled ‘In the Background’."
Hamsa Ganapathi
During her time at the Friedman School, Hamsa has focused on the intersection between climate change science and agriculture, with specific interests in modeling future climate scenarios to understand how they will affect what can be grown and where in US agriculture. Hamsa’s involvement at the school has included a wide variety of activities, including being a founding member of Nourish Café, the school’s entrepreneurship club, the Friedman Food Policy Action Council, and the Student Alliance for Racial Justice. She also serves on the Friedman School’s Social Justice, Inclusion and Diversity Committee as a student representative. Her volunteer work has included volunteering at Boston area farmers markets, including the Union Square and Somerville Winter Farmers Markets, as well as organizational work in her faith community and voting and election volunteering. While at the Friedman School, her work in internship opportunities has been used to inform farm to school initiatives in Connecticut and has been used in the development of a strategic plan to use genomics as a climate resilience strategy in Massachusetts. After she graduates, she will be joining the Environmental Fellows Program at Yale University, and intends to pursue a career in climate, Earth, and agriculture policy.
Jessika Brenin
Jessika obtained her dual degree from the Friedman School and the Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning program at Tufts. During her time at school, Jessika engaged with the Somerville Community Growing Center, a public garden park supporting environmental education and community development in Union Square. She conducted an archival process, partnered with the Growing Center for her thesis research, and served as a garden host to facilitate open hours for the community (which she continues to this day). Her work has supported the Growing Center in building awareness about its role, responsibilities, and strategic vision for addressing community wellbeing in Union Square and greater Somerville. Jessika is now a Public Health and Food Systems Planner with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, where she collaborates with municipal and community partners at the intersection of food systems, climate resilience, community design, and public health infrastructure.