Summer 2026 Practicum Opportunity
Supporting Nutrition Education Program Design for Early Childcare Education Settings
This practicum opportunity will help FEC advance its nutrition education work by exploring how caregivers and early childhood educators want to engage with nutrition education and by informing the design of feasible activities and resources for children and their families in early childcare settings.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Applications close at 11:59pm on February 27th.
All applicants will be notified of their decision no later than March 13th.
About Food Equity Collaborative
Food Equity Collaborative (FEC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to create a more just and resilient food system through community-based food access programs, nutrition education initiatives, and relationships that support local food producers.
FEC was founded by Dr. Alice Ammerman, Mildred Kaufman Distinguished Professor of Nutrition and Director of the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, to provide a range of food systems support to our community. Prior to starting the nonprofit, Dr. Ammerman started a social enterprise business, Equiti Foods, which produces Good Bowls, ready-to-heat, healthy meals based on the Med-South diet and made with locally sourced ingredients.
Since beginning work in 2025, FEC has focused on building relationships with community organizations, providing Good Bowls to food pantries at no cost, and developing programmatic plans for nutrition education initiatives.
We are seeking two Nutrition, Food Systems and Health students for our Summer 2026 Practicum.
Practicum Activities
Activities will be determined collaboratively. Possible activities may include, but are not limited to:
Conducting interviews and/or surveys with caregivers of young children to understand their experiences with and perspectives on nutrition education at home and in early childhood education settings.
Conducting interviews and/or surveys with early childhood educators to explore feasible ways nutrition education and family engagement efforts can be incorporated into existing routines.
Identifying implementation considerations, risks, and opportunities for nutrition education efforts in early childhood education settings.
Researching, selecting, and adapting age-appropriate nutrition education activities for FEC-led programming in early childhood education settings, including reviewing the program “More Peas Please” and talking with the NCSU developers about potential use or adaptation of the program.
Work Products
Work products will be determined collaboratively. Possible work products may include, but are not limited to:
Report(s) summarizing findings and recommendations based on caregiver and/or educator interviews/surveys.
Program plans outlining:
Recommended approaches for implementing nutrition education activities in early childhood education settings, and/or
An implementation roadmap to guide FEC in developing and launching nutrition education activities in early childhood education settings.
Nutrition education materials designed for use:
During in-classroom programming,
With children and caregivers, and/or
At home.
Drafted session curricula for FEC-led nutrition education programming in-classroom or with children and their caregivers.
Logic model describing FEC’s informed approach to childcare nutrition education and intended outcomes.
Format
Start and end dates are flexible within UNC’s requirements
Minimum 200 hours with flexible schedule to be determined with student and preceptor
Remote work with occasional opportunities to co-work with preceptor in Pittsboro/Carrboro/Chapel Hill or complete some activities (such as interviews) in person
Requirements and Skills
Required
UNC MPH Nutrition, Food Systems and Health student with all prerequisites completed
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Reliable personal computer and access to wifi
Ability to work independently and adhere to co-created deadlines
Interest in food systems, childhood health, and nutrition education
Preferred
Familiarity with Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, etc.) and Canva
Experience with interview and survey design and analysis
Understanding of basic principles of nutrition
Experience working with young children
Payment
This is a Gillings sponsored practicum opportunity. This opportunity is only open to Gillings MPH students in the Nutrition, Food Systems, and Health (NFSH) concentration on a Summer 2026 practicum timeline, with required practicum hours completed between May 11 (earliest start date) and August 14 (latest end date).
The Gillings School, Department of NFSH, will provide a $2,900 stipend, contingent on completing practicum hours and a short reflection survey (about five questions).
Upon selection, completion of your 703 Learning Agreement assignment, and receipt of the Practicum Team’s Approval to Begin Practicum Hours notice, a funding contract will be sent for your signature by Meg Maccherone, MPH Practicum Partnerships Coordinator, with details of the payment structure.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Applications close at 11:59pm on February 27th.
All applicants will be notified of their decision no later than March 13th.
Contact Tori with any questions at tori@foodequitycollaborative.org