From the president
Michael Hannigan is a nontraditional student in the Farm and Food Systems program at Greenfield Community College, and brings a wealth of life experience and a deep commitment to social justice to his work on campus and beyond. Since starting in fall 2023 through the MassReconnect program, he has become a campus and community leader focused on combating food insecurity.
Michael leads the GCC Permaculture Club, and has organized student-led gleaning projects to rescue produce from local farms. These efforts have led to free on-campus farmers markets, providing fresh food to students in need. He has held multiple internships with local organizations fighting food insecurity, and has joined statewide and national initiatives to expand food access.
In addition to hands-on service, Michael is a passionate advocate. Elected Student Trustee and Student Senate President, he has pushed for expanded access to free food, affordable textbooks, and student support services - amplifying student voices at local, state, and federal levels.
Through his leadership, empathy, and action-driven approach, Michael exemplifies civic engagement and inspires others to join him in building a more equitable, food-secure community. His work reflects the powerful role higher education can play in creating a more just society.
Personal Statement
As a nontraditional student who returned to school through Massachusetts’ MassReconnect program, I’ve seen how smart public policy can transform lives. Access to free community college allowed me to return to school, and I’m committed to ensuring others have the same opportunity, not just to enroll, but to succeed. That means meeting students’ basic needs. I’ve coordinated gleaning efforts that rescued thousands of pounds of produce, connecting local farms and nonprofits to stock our campus pantry and support free farmers markets. This work opened my eyes to the scale of food insecurity and led me to advocacy. As a student trustee, MassPIRG organizer, and member of Swipe Out Hunger’s Student Leadership Council, I’ve pushed for expanded SNAP access, affordable textbooks, and stronger food security policies. I’ve testified before lawmakers, led lobbying efforts, and co-authored research on tax incentives for food donation, published by UMass Fruit Notes. My mission is to advance education as a tool to end poverty and hunger. Through coalition-building and student advocacy, I aim to create a system where no one is held back by their background, and where public policy reflects lived experience.