The World Food Prize Foundation Announces Appointment of Awards and Lectures Coordinator

The World Food Prize Foundation is pleased to announce that Grace Dunham joined the organization earlier this year as Coordinator I, Awards and Lectures.

"Grace brings an exceptional combination of research experience, global perspective and organizational skill to our team," said Mashal Husain, President, World Food Prize Foundation. "Her background in agricultural development and international engagement strengthens our ability to recognize and connect those driving progress across the global food system."

In her role as Coordinator I, Awards and Lectures, Ms. Dunham supports the planning and execution of the World Food Prize Foundation's award and lecture programming. She assists in administering the nomination and selection processes for the annual World Food Prize Laureate and the Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application by maintaining candidate records, supporting communications with selection committees and preparing necessary documentation.

Ms. Dunham's work also includes managing communications and logistics for award recipients participating in the Foundation's international dialogues, supporting award programs like the Innovate for Impact Challenge, and coordinating with the Foundation's partners to ensure meaningful and well-executed engagements. She develops content for award program features and outreach materials that highlight global leaders advancing food security and agricultural innovation.

"Being able to elevate the achievements of those advancing food security is incredibly meaningful to me," said Ms. Dunham. "I am passionate about amplifying their work and advocating for a world where all people have adequate, nutritious food."

Ms. Dunham became involved with the World Food Prize Foundation at age 16, when she participated in the New York Youth Institute. She later returned during her college years to volunteer at World Food Prize Foundation programs, like DialogueNEXT in D.C. and the Borlaug Dialogue.

Prior to joining the Foundation, she worked for the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture as an operations intern, where she supported events with national and international stakeholders, helped coordinate an agribusiness trade mission and assisted in grant proposal development.

In 2024, Ms. Dunham conducted field research with the Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition in New Delhi, India, examining how farmer cooperatives enhance rural livelihoods. She has also contributed to agricultural labor and management research through her work with Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development.

Ms. Dunham graduated from Cornell University in 2025 with a Bachelor's of Science in Global and Public Health Sciences.