Over the last decade, Marissa has built an expertise in assessing the effectiveness of community-based interventions and opportunities across policy and programming to improve equitable community food access, systematic infrastructure development, and capacity building across community networks. Marissa serves as a strong convener between nonprofits, the public sector, and philanthropic partners to build out community centered, systemic policy and systems change. Prior to joining VNL, Marissa has worked for local government, led a nonprofit for economic development of farmers and food businesses, and served within a variety of roles across several sectors of the food system.

Marissa is a Bloomberg American Health Initiative Fellow at Johns Hopkins University, where she received her Masters in Public Health, as well as certificates in Food Systems and the Environment and Finance and Health Management. She received her MA in bioethics and a BA in psychology and environmental studies from New York University.