Missing on the Menu: Campus Dining and African International Student Sense of Belonging

Missing on the Menu: Campus Dining and African International Student Sense of Belonging
Evans L. Aglah, Dr. Ali Watts
Concurrent Session #2
 
This presentation explores how campus dining services shape African international students' sense of belonging at higher education institutions in the United States. Using student narratives and equity-minded theoretical frameworks, we examine how food availability, cultural representation, and dining practices contribute to experiences of inclusion or alienation. We argue that food is not just nourishment, but a cultural anchor that impacts students' emotional well-being, identity, and adjustment. By centering African students' voices, this session highlights how everyday campus spaces like dining halls can reinforce or challenge exclusion, urging educators to view belonging as an institutional responsibility beyond the classroom.
 
Grad Students,New Professionals, 0-3 years,Seasoned Professionals, 8+ years 
 

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