African Diaspora Foodways Institute
of Vermont (ADFI-VT)
Leadership Team Bios
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Lydia Clemmons, PHD, MPH President and Executive Director Clemmons Family Farm, Inc. Dr. Clemmons is a medical anthropologist with a 35-year career leading national and community-level public health, agriculture and nutrition, and community development programs in the US and more than 20 African countries. She has more than 20 years of senior executive-level experience managing national and global program annual budgets of $20-$50 million dollars. She is internationally recognized for her innovative work integrating arts and culture into effective maternal and child health, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, K12 education and social change programs at national and community levels. Dr. Clemmons began her international work as a Peace Corps Volunteer in rural Democratic Republic of Congo. She has worked as a senior project director and technical adviser for the US Agency for International Development, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and numerous US nonprofit organizations working in international development. She grew up on her family’s farm in Vermont and returned in 2013 to help her parents preserve the farm- one of just 0.4% of all farms in the US that is African-American owned- for future generations. As President of the Clemmons Family Farm, Inc., she provides leadership for the farm’s transition into a 501c3 nonprofit organization and oversees its programming. She is fluent in French and Lingala. Dr. Clemmons is the recipient of the 2021 Con Hogan Award from the Vermont Community Foundation, the 2021 Arthur Williams Award for Meritorious Service to the Arts from the Vermont Arts Council, and the 2022 NAACP-Rutland Branch Lifetime Achievement Award. Areas of Expertise
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Mary Kwamboka Onsongo, MS. ADFI-VT Senior Advisor for Agriculture, Food, and Marketing, Clemmons Family Farm, Inc. Ms. Kwamboka Onsongo is a results-driven development professional with over 20 years of experience leading international food and agriculture programs and projects including those funded by the United States Agency for International Development and the USDA. She is recognized for her expertise in strategic planning, agricultural resilience, stakeholder engagement, and capacity-building. Most recently, Ms. Onsongo served as Senior Technical Lead, Agriculture Resilience and Water for Winrock International, providing technical leadership and financial oversight for agricultural resilience programs totaling $41M. She has a long-standing success in fostering partnerships, advancing food security initiatives, and integrating cultural heritage into sustainable agricultural systems in numerous countries. Bilingual in Swahili and English, she is committed to promoting food justice and empowering communities through innovative and impactful solutions. Areas of Expertise:
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Catharine Noel, AA Director, Board of Directors, and ADFI-VT Senior Adviser for Farm-to-Table, Clemmons Family Farm, Inc. Ms. Catharine Noel is a seasoned culinary professional with 28 years of experience in the culinary field. She is deeply committed to student development and learning, combining extensive classroom experience with a passion for sustainable, locally sourced food. Ms. Noel has developed and taught a comprehensive 12-week farm-to-table curriculum, providing hands-on instruction and evaluating student performance to ensure practical learning outcomes. Throughout her career, she has held significant roles, including teaching at Le Cordon Bleu, serving as the Lead Baker at the University of River Falls, WI, and as a Pastry Chef and Chef at Lucia’s Restaurant and Bakery in Minneapolis. Currently, she brings her expertise to the Swift House Inn in Middlebury, Vermont, where she produces high-quality pastries that reflect her dedication to the craft. Ms. Noel serves on Clemmons Family Farm's Board of Directors and as a senior adviser to the African Diaspora Foodways Institute of Vermont. Areas of Expertise
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The African Diaspora Foodways Institute of Vermont is funded in part through grants from the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Market's Working Lands Enterprise Initiative.
