Hungry for Change Conference

“From Awareness to Action”

Monday, September 21, 2026
ECU Main Campus Student Center
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The ECU Center For Leadership & Civic Engagement is pleased to announce the inaugural Hungry for Change Conference happening on Monday, September 21, 2026, at the East Carolina University Main Campus Student Center. The theme for the conference is “From Awareness to Action.”

This conference was created to raise awareness of food insecurity on college campuses and bring together students, institutions, and community partners to develop practical strategies and implement tangible solutions that address hunger at ECU and throughout the region.

The Hungry for Change Conference brings together UNC System schools, community partners, faculty, staff, students, and food system professionals to share ideas, strengthen partnerships, and identify practical solutions to reduce food insecurity on college campuses.

Registration

Registration opens on July 2.

Students can register through The Pirate Experience. Faculty, staff, community members, and/or organizations may register here.

Call for Proposals

Goals

• Campus Solutions: pantry operations, meal-share programs, basic needs hubs
• Student Voice: centering students in program design and on campus outreach
• Community & Regional Partnerships: food banks, businesses, agencies, and donors

Call for Proposals Form

Submission Guidelines

For all submissions, please include the following information:

• The names and contact information (email, full institutional affiliations of the responsible (presenting) author and collaborating authors), plus short descriptions of their relevant expertise. Please specify the main contact.
• The title of the proposed workshop;
• A description of the workshop topic, identifying the specific issues on which the workshop will focus;
• Select the format of your presentation. It is important to ensure that sufficient time is allocated to presenting submitted work.

Conference Proposal Deadline: July 27, 2026

Inquiries concerning proposal submissions may be directed to Toya Jacobs at jacobst@ecu.edu.

Location/Parking

The conference will be held in the East Carolina University Main Campus Student Center. A parking garage is located next to the Main Campus Student Center.

• 501 E 10th Street, Greenville, NC 27858

Lodging

• Hampton Inn Greenville
  • Group Code: HCC
  • Room Rate: $129
• Hilton Garden Inn, Downtown
  • Group Code: 90C
  • Room Rate: $159
• Hilton Greenville
  • Group Code: ECULS
  • Room Rate: $159
  • Reserve by August 20, 2026

Schedule/Keynote

Keynote Speaker: Amy Beros

Amy Beros is a nonprofit executive whose career has been shaped by a simple conviction: the people closest to a challenge should help shape its solutions.

As President & CEO of the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, Amy leads one of the nation’s hunger-relief organizations, serving a diverse 34-county region through a broad network of community partners. Her focus extends beyond distributing food to building a stronger, more responsive organization and advancing solutions that address why hunger exists in the first place.

Amy brings experience in national network leadership, philanthropy, organizational strategy, food access, and disaster response. Before stepping into the CEO role, she served with Feeding America, helping food banks nationwide strengthen their capacity and deepen their community impact. She has also held leadership roles with Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, Easterseals UCP, Pillars Community Health, and the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. During her previous tenure at the Food Bank, she led the campaign that made its Raleigh headquarters possible and helped position the organization for its next era of growth.

Amy holds a bachelor’s degree from Clemson University and an MBA from DePaul University. In addition to her work at the Food Bank, Amy serves as board treasurer for Feeding the Carolinas and as a member of Feeding America’s Neighbor Access and Experience Advisory Council. She lives near Raleigh with her husband, two children, and rescue dogs. When she is not working, she can usually be found enjoying live music, spending time with her family, or reminding people that Dolly Parton is both a cultural icon and a highly credible leadership philosophy.

Important Dates

• June 23rd: First Call for Submissions
• July 2nd: Early Registration
• July 27th: Submission Deadline
• July 28th: Regular Registration
• August 7th: Selections Finalized
• August 10th: Selections Finalized
• August 17th: Acceptance Notifications
• August 21st: Presenter Confirmation and Materials Due
• September 21st: CONFERENCE. On-Site Registration

Inquiries concerning the conference may be directed to Ramya Mabry at mabryr25@ecu.edu.

Sponsors

Presenting Sponsors

• ECU Dining
• Aramark

Change Agent Sponsors

• Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC
• William E. Williams, D.D.S

Purple Pantry Supporters

• United Way, Inner Banks
• ECU’s College of Business

Sponsorship inquires may be directed to Lauren Howard at howardL16@ecu.edu.

Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Should contact the Department of Disability Support Services at least 48 hours prior to the event at (252) 737-1016 (Voice / TTY).