Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Date

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Liberal Studies

Department

Liberal Studies

Committee Chair

Colin Chapell

Committee Chair

Jebose Okwumabua

Committee Member

Jeremy Killian

Committee Member

Terra Smith

Abstract

Food insecurity adversely affects health, and education can impede this vicious cycle. Food security and education are crucial to improving human health outcomes and building a sustainable future. Food insecurity in Liberia is a public health concern. Achieving food security, ensuring healthy and dignified living, promoting sustainable agriculture, equitable quality education, and lifelong learning opportunities for all, while achieving gender equality and empowering all women, are key agendas of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Liberia. UNESCO launched Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) as a tool to address and achieve this monumental task. However, studies on food insecurity and Education for Sustainable Development integrated into the existing curriculum for college students in Liberia are absent from the scientific literature. Food security and education are crucial to improving health outcomes in human populations, building a sustainable future, and mitigating human suffering. The purpose of this study was to uncover practical ways ESD can reduce food insecurity by understanding the perspectives of administrators, faculty, college students, parents, community leaders, and influencers experiencing food insecurity in Liberia. Implicit within this goal was to discover the opinions and perceptions of administrators, faculty, students, parents, community leaders, and influencers regarding ESD, and to understand the complexities that influence their knowledge, choices, actions, and reactions to food insecurity. Results from this study indicate that ESD integration into Higher Education Institutions' curricula plays a pivotal role in reducing food insecurity among college students and paving the way to achieving the SDGs. Key Words: Education for Sustainable Development, food insecurity, curriculum, Liberia

Comments

Data is provided by the student.”

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest/Clarivate.

Notes

Embargoed until 03-30-2027

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Available for download on Tuesday, March 30, 2027

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