B.F.A., Columbus College of Art & Design; M.A., Ursuline College; M.F.A., Kent State University
Associate Professor of Graphic Design, Jennifer A. Vokoun, is the founder and Director of the Center for Sustainable Food Design, formerly the Food Design Institute, at Walsh University, facilitating community engagement and leading research on food systems issues utilizing design thinking, human-centered design, and participatory-design. Vokoun teaches courses in design, visual communication, and visual culture, and developed the graphic design program at Walsh. She has led frequent study abroad programs, and currently serves as the faculty co-leader of the University’s Blouin Global Scholars class of 2024, an interdisciplinary cohort studying, food, hunger, and sustainability, and served as the faculty leader for the 2020 Blouin Global Scholars cohort focused on food, sustainability, and hunger in a local and global context, leading students in study abroad programs in Tanzania and Italy. In 2019, she organized and led the 3rd Ohio Hunger Dialogues at Walsh University.
Vokoun holds a B.F.A. in Illustration, from Columbus College of Art and Design, an M.A. in Art Therapy, from Ursuline College, and an M.F.A. in Visual Communication Design, from Kent State University. Vokoun was a 2017 Design Incubation Fellow. She has trained in design thinking with IBM in New York, and in Gestalt methods and group facilitation at the Gestalt Institute in Cleveland. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Stark County Food Council and AIGA Cleveland, the professional organization for design.
Her teaching, scholarship, and service work is mission-driven and functions in an integrated model, connecting students and faculty to the community and the community to campus. In 2016 Vokoun was named an Ohio Magazine Excellence in Education honoree.
Vokoun’s research is centered on innovation and participatory design applied to sustainable food systems and food insecurity issues. Her book, Critical Mapping for Sustainable Food Design: Food Security, Equity, and Justice, co-written with Audrey Bennett, is now available.
For more information on Professor Vokoun’s work with the Center for Sustainable Food Design, click here.
GRANTS
Vokoun, J. (2017-2020). Stark Community Foundation. Walsh University Food Design Institute: Using Design Thinking to Fight World Hunger.
Vokoun, J. (2019). Universities Fighting World Hunger (UFWH). Walsh University Food Design Institute: Campus Farm and Mobile Market.
PUBLICATIONS
Bennett, Audrey G., and Jennifer A. Vokoun. Critical Mapping for Sustainable Food Design: Food Security, Equity, and Justice. Taylor & Francis, 2023.
Berry, A.H., Acayo Laker, P., Rutherford, S., and Vokoun, J. (2020). We Are Not Alone: Navigating Design Research and Writing Challenges with Group Support. Dialogue: Proceedings of the AIGA Design Educators Community Conferences.
Vokoun, J. A. (2018). Food Democracy: Critical Lessons in Food, Communication, Design and Art,. Design and Culture, 10(2), 227–229.
Stock, K. L., Bucar, B., & Vokoun, J. (2017). Walking in Another’s Shoes: Enhancing Experiential Learning Through Design Thinking. Management Teaching Review, 3(3), 221–228.
Vokoun, J. A. (2017). Strategic Design Thinking: Innovation in Products, Services, Experiences, and Beyond. Design and Culture, 9(3), 357–359.
SELECT PRESENTATIONS
Bennett, A.G. & Vokoun, J. (2020). Places to Intervene in the Global Food System: Defining Problems that Designers Should Address. College Arts Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, February 14, 2020.
Vokoun, J. (2019). Food Design Thinking: A Workshop. Universities Fighting World Hunger (UFWH) Summit, Portland, ME, March 16, 2019.
Berry, A.H., Acayo Laker, P., Rutherford, S., & Vokoun, J. (2018). We Are Not Alone: Navigating Design Research and Writing Challenges with Group Support. DECIPHER: AIGA Design Educators Community Conference, Ann Arbor, MI, September 27, 2018.
McDonagh, D., Massari, S., Vokoun, J., & Zehr, S.M. (2018). A Design Thinking Approach to Food Insecurity. Presidents United to Solve Hunger (PUSH) and Universities Fighting World Hunger (UFWH) Summit, Portland, ME, March 16, 2018.
Vokoun, J. (2018). Teaching Students to Fail in Order to Succeed. Lilly Conference for Teaching and Learning, Anaheim, CA, February 22, 2018.
Vokoun, J. (2018). Creating a Campus Culture of Creativity: Doodle Day. University & College Designers Association (UCDA), Kutztown, PA, February 22, 2018.
Vokoun, J. (2017). The Intersection of Food and Design. Summit Squared: Universities Fighting World Hunger and Campus Kitchens Project Summit, North Canton, OH, March 25, 2017.
Vokoun, J. (2017). Zooming In – Zooming Out: Strategies to Help Students Understand Content Relevance. Lilly Conference for Teaching and Learning, Austin, TX, January 6, 2017.
Vokoun, J. (2016). Growing Together: Golf, a Garden, and Global Scholars. Ohio Hunger Dialogue, Cincinnati, OH, November 12, 2016.
Vokoun, J. (2016). Are You Surfing or Diving? A Formative Assessment to Develop Student Self-Awareness of Deep Learning. Lilly Conference for Teaching and Learning, Newport Beach, CA, February 20, 2016.
Vokoun, J. (2015). The Future of Food Design. Food Design x Education European Meeting, Milan, Italy, October 8, 2015.
Vokoun, J. (2015). The Future of Food Design. European Conference Understanding Food Design, Milan, Italy, October 9, 2015.
Beach, B., Lahaie, U., & Vokoun, J. (2015). Implementing Active-Learning in a Technology-Rich Flexible Learning-Environment: Lessons Learned. Higher Learning Commission Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, March 31, 2015
Vokoun, J. (2015). Flipping the Design Classroom: A Blended Learning Approach to Studio Courses. International Design Principles and Practices Conference, Chicago, IL, March 12-14, 2015
Bucar, B., Stock, K., & Vokoun, J. (2015). Introducing Design Thinking and Innovation in the Classroom and on Campus. International Lilly Conference for Teaching and Learning, Oxford, OH, November 20-23, 2014.
Stock, K., & Vokoun, J. (2014). Addressing the Innovation Gap by Integrating Design Thinking and Experiential Learning. Midwest Academy of Management Conference, Minneapolis, MN, October 2-4, 2014.
Embree, C., Kim, A., Splendore, C., & Vokoun, J. (2014). Formative Assessment to Improve Student Learning. International Lilly Conference for Teaching and Learning, Oxford, OH, November 21-24, 2013.
INVITED SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Professor Vokoun is available for speaking engagements and workshops on food systems design thinking.
Vokoun, J. (2021). Food Design Systems Thinking. Design in Social Systems class, Washington University, St. Louis, MO., February 10, 2021. Guest Lecture.
Vokoun, J. (2020). Food Design Systems Thinking. Campus and Community Gardens class, Kent State Stark, Canton, OH., May 29, 2020. Guest Lecture.
Vokoun, J. (2020). Food Design Systems Thinking. Design in Social Systems class, Washington University, St. Louis, MO., February 17, 2020. Guest Lecture.
Vokoun, J. (2019). Walsh University’s Food Design Institute. Massillon Lions Club, Massillon, OH, October 8, 2019. Keynote Speaker.
Vokoun, J. (2019). Walsh University’s Food Design Institute. Massillon Rotary Club, Massillon, OH, August 23, 2019. Keynote Speaker.
Vokoun, J. (2019). Food Design Systems Thinking. Campus and Community Gardens class, Kent State Stark, Canton, OH., May, 28, 2019. Guest Lecture.
Vokoun, J. (2019). Food Design Thinking Workshop. PROPEL Ohio Regional Conference, North Canton, OH, February 15, 2019. Workshop Facilitator.
Vokoun, J. (2018). Food Design Systems Thinking. Campus and Community Gardens class, Kent State Stark, Canton, OH., May 29, 2018. Guest Lecture.
Vokoun, J. (2018). Food and Design. Sustainable Nourishment @ Kent State (SN@KS), Keynote Speaker, Kent State Stark, Canton, OH, April 5, 2018. Keynote Speaker.
Vokoun, J. (2017). Walsh University’s Food Design Institute. Hunger Awareness Month Dinner, Stark County Hunger Taskforce, Canton, OH, November 9, 2017. Keynote Speaker.
