Monica Chen is the executive director of New Roots Institute, where she has overseen the development of a unique series of educational programs. New Roots educates high school and college students on the devastating impacts of factory farming and supports them as they become advocates for a just and sustainable food system. By working intensively in a handful of regions across the US, New Roots is shifting attitudes and behavioral norms toward plant-centered menus.
Monica serves as an advisor to Scarlet Spark, Animal Defense Partnerships, and the AVA Summit. A veteran teacher, she taught classroom environmental education to students at all grade levels and in residential settings. Monica earned her BA at UC Berkeley and her Master’s in Education, with a focus on the environment, at the University of New Mexico.
