Our Fellowship Program
A unique employment opportunity blending food systems education and idea incubation
The Bon Appétit Fellows are recent college graduates who were sustainability champions on campuses that we serve. They join us as full-time employees for one to two years to learn about what our vision of “food service for a sustainable future” truly means — and what goes into making it a reality.
Hungry for change
Fellows engage creatively with Bon Appétit campus communities: generating interest in food and sustainability issues and communicating the company’s policies through farm visits, guest lectures, educational events and assistance with the implementation of sustainability-related programs. Their backgrounds enable them to be credible peer-to-peer educators about where a college dining hall’s food comes from, how it was grown or raised, and why knowing that is important.
Fellows also participate in the company’s work to make change at a broader level by conducting in-depth research projects on important food system issues, writing posts for our corporate blog, creating guides for best practices, and making recommendations for innovative programs that help maintain the company’s position as a leader in sustainability. Past projects have included: reducing food waste, defining fair farm labor, creating a network of student gardeners and farmers at colleges nationwide, and starting food recovery programs.
Local Food Purchasing Insights from 25 Years of Farm to Fork
In research done by the Bon Appétit Fellows, both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used to identify what factors determine a successful local sourcing program. Just one example of the kinds of projects our Fellows work on during their tenure.
The position allowed me to understand ‘sustainable food service’ from a bird’s-eye view at the corporate policy level to the grassroots level on farms and in the cafes — and everything in between. The team encourages the Fellows to think critically, ask questions, and contribute new ideas.
Interested?
If you’re a passionate food systems advocate on your Bon Appétit-served campus and want to continue that work after graduation, consider our fellowship program. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply, as we value a broad set of perspectives and experiences. Fellowship applications for the coming year are accepted mid-November through January; top candidates are interviewed and notified by March or April. The fellowship is a one-year program (typically July through July), with the option to renew for a second year by mutual agreement.
