About Us

Meet the Team

The people behind SmartFeed — working to improve food access through technology and data.

The Initiative
An Independent Student Project

NYC SmartFeed is an independent project created by Public Health students at York College, CUNY. Born out of firsthand experience with food access challenges on and around campus, the team set out to build a tool that helps college students find affordable, healthy food options in their neighborhoods — powered by real USDA data and AI. The project's AI development was spearheaded by Dr. Erin Jacques, and the public health content and marketing were reviewed by faculty advisors within the Public Health program.

Our Mission
Why We Built SmartFeed

Millions of Americans live in neighborhoods classified by the USDA as low-income and low-access areas — places where supermarkets and fresh food are hard to reach. Many college students face these barriers daily: tight budgets, packed schedules, and food environments dominated by fast food. SmartFeed was built to help students understand their food environment, find healthier options nearby, and make informed nutritional choices — because eating well shouldn't depend on your zip code.

Student Team
The People Behind SmartFeed
Public Health students at York College, CUNY who designed, built, and launched this project.
Nischal Sharma
Nischal Sharma
Feature Dev & Bug Fixes
Public Health student focused on nutrition and community wellness. Her own struggle with unhealthy eating during a packed class schedule inspired SmartFeed. She manages features, updates, and bug fixes to keep the app running smoothly.
Jeanique Gordon
Jeanique Gordon
Wellness & Community
Fourth-year Public Health and Nutrition student in York College's 4+1 accelerated program. Her passion for healthy cooking and active living — and seeing that not everyone has equal access — is what brought SmartFeed to life.
Guadalupe Luna
Guadalupe Luna
Research & Content
Public Health major whose interest in the field grew during the COVID-19 pandemic after experiencing its impact firsthand. Inspired by her son's nutrition and mental health challenges, she focuses on making healthy eating easier and more accessible for busy students.
Abiba Fofana
Abiba Fofana
Feature Management
Public Health major and advocate for health education, disease prevention, and community empowerment. She manages features, updates, and purchasing decisions for the app, bringing her skills in research and public health communication to the team.
Acknowledgments
Faculty & Advisors
Faculty at York College, CUNY who supported this project through technical leadership, content review, and advisory guidance.
Dr. Erin Jacques
AI Development Lead
Dr. Claudia Calhoon
Public Health Faculty
Dr. Emma Vignola
Public Health Faculty
Dr. Nicholas Grosskopf
Public Health Faculty