News Release

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo announces the release of "Transforming School Food Politics around the World," a book co-edited by Sarah A. Robert, PhD, an associate professor at UB’s Graduate School of Education. Published by MIT Press and available in open access, the book provides a comprehensive exploration of how to challenge and transform public school food programs globally, emphasizing care, justice, and sustainability.

Co-edited with Jennifer Gaddis, an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the book brings together insights from eight countries through a series of essays. It addresses the ripple effects of changing how school food programs are valued around the world and provides innovative strategies for transforming these programs to better serve communities.

“Working with Sarah on this book has been a highlight of my career,” said Gaddis, who is also the Jane Rafferty Thiele Faculty Fellow in Graduate Teaching. “Our collaboration has opened new opportunities for international policy work and public scholarship.”

In "Transforming School Food Politics around the World," Robert and Gaddis emphasize the importance of valuing the gendered labor involved in caring for, feeding, and educating children. The book includes contributions from a diverse group of individuals, including young people, mothers, teachers, farmers, school nutrition workers, academics, lobbyists, policymakers, state employees, nonprofit staff and social movement activists. This collaborative approach provides a rich tapestry of perspectives and strategies for effecting change.

Sarah Robert, an expert on gender, education, and school food politics, earned her PhD in Education Policy Studies at UW–Madison. Her previous work, including the 2011 volume "School Food Politics Around the World," has inspired a global audience and fostered international collaborations.

“This book is a culmination of years of research and engagement with educators, policymakers, and communities around the world,” said Robert. “I hope it serves as a resource for those seeking to understand and navigate the complexities of school food policy.”