Our Team

The World Food Prize Foundation staff members are dedicated to fulfilling the Foundation's mission of elevating innovations and inspiring action to advance the many contributions to human development that increase the quality, quantity and availability of food for all.

Ambassador Terry Branstad President He has had an important connection to food and agriculture throughout his career, including leading the state of Iowa through much of the 1980s Farm Crisis and rebuilding a state economy where agriculture drives many employment sectors. Amb. Branstad has been a champion of the World Food Prize Foundation from... [ View ]

Mashal Husain Chief Operating Officer Mashal Husain serves as Chief Operating Officer for the World Food Prize Foundation. In September 2008, Mashal Husain joined the staff at the World Food Prize Foundation as Director of Development and Finance. In 2014, she was named Vice President. In 2022 she was promoted to Senior Vice President and... [ View ]

Nicole Barreca Prenger Senior Director, Strategic Communications Nicole Barreca Prenger rejoined the World Food Prize Foundation in August of 2023. Previously she held a variety of positions at the Foundation from 2012-2022, most recently Director, Communications and Events. In her role as Senior Director, Strategic Communications she works closely with Foundation President Ambassador Terry Branstad and Chief... [ View ]

Natalie Bidner Program Manager II, International Dialogues Natalie Bidner joined the World Food Prize Foundation in June of 2021. In her role as Program Manager II, International Dialogues, Natalie coordinates and administers the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, an annual symposium that brings together global leaders to discuss the importance of collective action to address food security... [ View ]

Alyssa Brown Program Manager, International Dialogues Alyssa Brown joined the World Food Prize Foundation in February 2023. In her role as Program Manager, International Dialogues, Alyssa coordinates and aids in administering the Iowa Hunger Summit and the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue. Both events are flagship offerings of the World Food Prize Foundation that bring together... [ View ]

Austin Castillo-Leovan Program Coordinator II, Youth Programs and Partnerships Austin Castillo-Leovan joined the World Food Prize Foundation in September of 2020. In his role as Program Coordinator II, Global Youth Programs, Austin is responsible for assisting the Director of Global Programs and Partnerships in the coordination, innovation and expansion of the Foundation’s youth empowerment and education programs around the... [ View ]

Renee Cooper Program Manager II, Global Youth Programs and Partnerships Renee Cooper joined the World Food Prize Foundation in August of 2023. In her role as Program Manager II, Global Youth Programs and Partnerships, Renee works with the Director of Internships and Youth Impact to implement the World Food Prize Foundation’s USDA Wallace-Carver Fellowship, Borlaug-Ruan International Internship, and George Washington... [ View ]

Ellen Franzenburg Director, Awards and Lectures Ellen Franzenburg joined the World Food Prize Foundation in 2018 as Director of Awards & Lectures. In August 2019, she also took on the role of Director of International Internships through the end of 2020. As Director of Awards & Lectures, her responsibilities include facilitating the World Food Prize Laureate and... [ View ]

Monica Gatrost Program Manager, Building Events Monica Gatrost joined the World Food Prize Foundation in October of 2022 as Program Manager, Building Events. In this position, Monica assists the Foundation’s administration and facilities team in coordinating the management and execution of private events at the Norman E. Borlaug Hall of Laureates. She also supports the overall... [ View ]

Kate Levasseur Program Manager, Archives Kate Levasseur joined the World Food Prize Foundation in July of 2021 as Program Manager for the Archive department. In this position, Kate works closely with the Director of Communications to make the Foundation’s archived materials widely accessible and available to the public. This role strives to preserve and maintain... [ View ]

Rebecca Picard Director, Internships and Youth Impact Rebecca Picard joined the World Food Prize Foundation in September of 2021. In her role as Director of Internships and Youth Impact, Rebecca works in youth education and development, within global agriculture and food security. She delivers the World Food Prize Foundation’s USDA Wallace-Carver Fellowship, Borlaug-Ruan International Internship, and George... [ View ]

Kyle Poorman Director II, International Dialogues Kyle Poorman joined the World Food Prize Foundation in June of 2021. In his role as Director II, International Dialogues, Kyle will help to develop and produce the Foundation’s major programs, such as the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue and Digital Dialogues. These events bring together policy experts, global food... [ View ]

Abigail Turner Program Coordinator II, Youth Programs and Partnerships Abigail Turner joined the World Food Prize Foundation in February 2022. As Program Coordinator II, Global Youth Programs and Partnerships, Abigail is responsible for facilitating educational outreach and training efforts, helping administer teacher training initiatives and providing support on program planning, design and delivery. She is also responsible for assisting... [ View ]

Sherill Whisenand Executive Aide to the President Sherill Whisenand joined the World Food Prize Foundation in January 2023 as the Executive Aide to the President. Sherill serves Foundation President Ambassador Terry Branstad with scheduling, correspondence, executive engagements and relationship management. Prior to joining the World Food Prize Foundation, Sherill had extensive government experience for the State of... [ View ]

Jon Wogman Director, Youth Programs and Partnerships Jon Wogman joined the World Food Prize Foundation in February 2022. In his role as Director, Global Youth Programs and Partnerships, Jon is responsible for providing operational oversight and support to the World Food Prize Foundation’s Youth Institute programs across the U.S. and globally. He also coordinates the Iowa Youth Institute... [ View ]