Maryam Khojasteh, research support specialist in Growing Food Connections, has her focus on bridging the gap between vulnerable consumers and farmers.

Maryam holds a MUP from the University at Buffalo and a BA in Urban Planning from the University of Tehran, where she became interested in revitalizing low-income neighborhoods. After being introduced to the joint of public health and built environment, she tried to connect her initial interest in economic development with food systems planning. Her current research explores the role of immigrants in creating healthier food environments. Her research is focused on understanding the motivation of immigrants to engage in healthy food retail, the challenges they experience, and the reasoning behind their failure or success as healthy food retail entrepreneurs.

Maryam can be reached at mkhojast@buffalo.edu