joseph pool

I study food as a lens on public policy, civic life, and law.

I'm Joseph Pool. My research looks at how governments decide who gets access to food, and why some levels of government have tools that others lack. I founded Breaking Bread to test a simpler idea: that sharing a meal can help people talk across deep differences.

I'm a 2026 graduate of Rollins College, completing the MITx MicroMasters in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy, and preparing for law school.

Joseph Pool

Where to start

  • Research & Writing

    A co-authored chapter on culinary diplomacy, an honors thesis on localizing food access, research on agricultural trade, and commentary in the Orlando Sentinel.

    Read the research

  • Breaking Bread

    A civic initiative that pairs shared meals with facilitated conversation. Founded at Rollins in 2023, it has since expanded to the University of Central Florida and, most recently, Rhodes College.

    See how it works

  • Public Service

    Internships in the U.S. House of Representatives and at the Florida House on Capitol Hill, and four years in Rollins student government, including as president.

    Read my story

My work has been covered by Forbes, Rollins College, WESH 2 News, Central Florida Public Media, College Presidents for Civic Preparedness, Omicron Delta Kappa, and the Orlando Sentinel.