MA in Transformative Food Systems: Victoria Eastus & Food Justice

Life has a way of leading people down unexpected paths! For years, Victoria Eastus navigated the fast-paced, high-stress world of finance, but after the 2008 market collapse, she reached a major turning point. She longed to reinvent herself, feeling hope and opportunity, so she leaned into her lifelong passion: cooking.

Victoria took the leap and started a culinary business with a simple, delicious batch of pickles. Sixteen years later, she is still bringing scratch-made soups, seasonal salads, quiches, and preserved goods to farmers’ markets throughout Connecticut. What started as a career pivot quickly transformed into a vibrant way of life, allowing Victoria to build deep, meaningful relationships with regional farmers and the agricultural community. But Victoria knew she needed to add another layer to her business and experience.

Victoria wanted a better understanding of the mounting pressures of climate change and food supply. Victoria did something she never expected, and she went back to school for a Master’s Degree. It was an intimidating step, but it completely amplified her mission. She wasn’t sure where to start, or whether what she was looking for even existed, so she began researching. Victoria stumbled upon Prescott College and found a program that matched all her needs and desires: the online MA in Transformative Food Systems. 

While she and her family live in beautiful Connecticut, Victoria found that many neighborhoods are considered food deserts. Witnessing this gap firsthand ignited Victoria to use her education to give back. Today, she partners with local non-profits to host incredible outreach programs focused on food security. She hosts preservation classes where she teaches individuals who receive SNAP benefits or fresh-produce vouchers how to safely can and preserve seasonal items purchased directly from the markets. She even plants seeds with community members, showing families how to build a direct relationship with their food through kitchen and container gardens, thus proving that anyone can grow fresh herbs and vegetables even on the smallest patio! Victoria found that even though her Master’s program was online, it still fostered collaboration with professors, professionals in the field, and classmates with similar missions. They encouraged Victoria to step outside her comfort zone and start the conversations needed to support the agricultural and food community in the place she called home.

Victoria’s journey has been a wild ride full of forks in the road, but waking up every day to do what she’s passionate about, while empowering others to feed themselves fresh and sustainably, has made every step worth it. At Prescott College, this is what we do: give you the tools to grow and encourage positive change in your community.