Meet Malory Henry ’19, Nutrition and Food Security Lead in Nigeria for Olam Agri
• Currently applying to MD/PhD with the goal of earning a PhD in Medical Anthropology or Global Health
• Whittier major: Medical Anthropology through the Whittier Scholars Program
"In nearly every class I took as a Whittier student, I felt that professors made an active effort to learn about the students as people and would go out of their way to support us on our paths. This not only made me more interested in the course material, but it opened up so many doors for networking and future opportunities. This level of one-on-one advising, support, and encouragement is unique to Whittier and was my favorite part of being a Poet!"
What was your experience like with the Whittier Scholars Program (WSP)?
The Whittier Scholars Program is the main reason I joined the Whittier community! In WSP, the sky’s the limit in terms of what you can study, and the professors provide unparalleled support to help you achieve it.
I was always interested in health and medicine, but I didn’t want to focus solely on the sciences and lose the human aspects of wellbeing. Designing my major in Medical Anthropology allowed me to understand not only the biological and chemical foundations of being human, but also the cultural, religious, and institutional factors that contribute (to or detract from) wellness.
WSP also provided me with support on my senior project, where I was able to work at a hospital in rural Tanzania to conduct research that contributed to a collaboration with Traditional Birth Attendants.
How did Whittier College prepare you for the Master’s in Public Health you earned at USC and your career path?
The liberal arts education I received at Whittier provided me with a holistic, integrated foundation in which to pursue my career. Whittier’s values of communication, cultural perspectives, community, and connection are such important foundations for any field; we learn to integrate different perspectives, think outside the box, and collaborate towards a shared goal. This provided me with a unique background and perspective to maintain an inclusive, growth-based mindset, which can set any student up for success in graduate school as well as their career.
Additionally, Whittier offers so many opportunities from fellowships to internships that set me up for success; applying for fellowships funded my study abroad and senior project, allowing me to have experience prior to graduation.
What are your responsibilities at Olam Agri?
Olam Agri is a global agri-business that works throughout the agricultural supply chain. My work was based within the sustainability department, a group of individuals driving initiatives that improve the social and environmental sustainability of Olam Agri’s businesses. As the nutrition and food security lead, I initiated and managed some amazing global programmes to ensure equitable access to healthy food, clean drinking water, and health care.
Specifically,
• I initiated a global food security programme called Food Secure Future which promoted access and availability of nutritious foods; in its initial year, we reached over 20,000 households in eight countries with local projects, such as solar driers for women to preserve leftover mango fruits.
• I also led a global workforce nutrition programme that promoted access to healthy food at work, breastfeeding support, health checks, and nutrition education across hundreds of worksites to reach over 10,000 employees!
• I also managed various projects to promote access to clean drinking water and health care in rural communities.
I chose to work with Olam Agri because they view these sorts of initiatives as critical to ensuring the sustainability of their operations—after all, a smallholder farmer can’t do the amazing work of feeding the world if they do not have food for their own families!
