Scaling Up Agriculture through Academia

Kaila Balch is a Park City, Utah, native and recent graduate of Duke University with a Master’s of Science (MSc) in Global Health. Her graduate work focused on the the impact of gold mining, mercury, and infectious disease in the Amazon, taking her to Peru, Ecuador and Guyana for fieldwork. Prior to her MSc, Kaila graduated from the University of Utah with a dual B.A. in Environmental Studies and B.S. in International Studies, focusing on Food Systems and Global Health, respectively. Her undergraduate work sparked her interest in areas of environmental justice, conservation, food security and sustainable agriculture. Throughout her academic career, she worked on her campus farms and food pantries; served in AmeriCorps; developed food security materials with the International Rescue Committee; and focused on women’s health and gender-based violence with the Administration for Children and Families (D.C.) and National Coordinating Coalition (Guyana). Outside of professional work, Kaila is an avid climber, skier, and travel enthusiast. As a part of the 12th Leland Fellowship class she looks forward to further engaging in food security and justice work.