Profile: Barbara Patterson, Michael Torrey Associates, LSA ‘08
Policies in Washington, DC have a great impact on the way we grow, purchase and consume our food. Food security is something that the fortunate among us take for granted most days. However, COVID-19-related supply chain disruptions, as well as the economic consequences as demonstrated by the unprecedented demand of our charitable food system, exposed what those of us who work in food and agriculture already know - that food security, while so critical to our societal health, is not a guarantee.
After working for a farm organization for several years, I joined Michael Torrey Associates, a boutique food and agriculture lobbying firm in DC. In this role, I work on behalf of clients working on a wide array of matters… but all have some connection to food and agriculture. From nutrition policy to agricultural biosecurity to the farm safety net, I am constantly learning more both in substance and in process as the food system and policymaking dynamics continue to evolve. COVID-19 had us triaging new policies that were developed almost daily for several months to ensure that food was available and that Americans had a way to access that food.
When I enrolled at the University of Michigan, I had a very clear idea of how my future career would unfold. I would major in history and work for the government on foreign policy matters. And while I did end up majoring in history, my career path trajectory shifted while I was in college. I found that one of the most rewarding aspects of a liberal arts degree is exposure to so many different ideas and subject matters and that broad exposure was especially important in influencing my career path.
To fulfill one of my requirements, I took a nutrition class because I thought, “We all eat; at least this will be useful in my personal life.” For years after taking that nutrition course, I would think about it and how important and fundamental nutrition and agriculture, and overall food security, has been in pivotal moments of history. As I worked in a few different jobs in DC while charting my future, I began connecting a number of dots on food and agriculture policy between history and the present day, then realized the magnitude of its impact on society. I could not shake the thought that this is where I needed to focus my energy. I applied to a Master of Science program in food policy and applied nutrition and have been working in the field ever since.
While in graduate school, and thanks in large part to my experience at the University of Michigan, I kept an open mind about academic areas to focus on within nutrition and agriculture. Luckily, I was in an interdisciplinary program that allowed for the type of exploration that my liberal arts background had also provided. I learned about nutrition science and all of the ways that federal policy influenced nutrition outcomes, but I also learned about agronomy and agricultural policy. Understanding how these pieces fit together became a goal in my graduate studies, and maintaining a broader supply chain awareness and understanding continues to be a goal in my daily career.
In my role, I love to connect with fellow Wolverines, both alumni and current students. If you find yourself in DC or are interested in learning more about the work we do on behalf of our clients at Michael Torrey Associates, you can reach me at bpatterson@torreydc.com or on LinkedIn.