Creating Allergy-Conscious Communities: Insights from Duke Dining's 'Ask Me' Allergen Awareness Initiative

Grayson Crabtree is a leader in the college dining industry, serving as the Program Director for Duke Dining. With over eight years of experience at Duke University, Grayson has played a key role in shaping the campus dining experience.

As the founder of the ASK ME Program, a trademarked and patent-pending initiative, Grayson has championed creating a more inclusive and informed dining community, particularly in addressing food allergies, dietary needs, and evolving food trends. Her work ensures that students receive personalized support through collaborations with nutritionists, dining staff, and university leadership.

Beyond her professional role, Grayson holds an undergraduate and a Master’s degree, reflecting a commitment to lifelong learning and leadership development. Her passion for customer service, operational efficiency, and community engagement makes Grayson a driving force in college dining innovation.

Andrea Carlisle, MS, RD, LDN is a Registered Dietitian with experience in university dining, nutrition education, and food service management. At Duke University, she supports students with special dietary needs, collaborates with culinary teams on nutrition programming, and provides allergen safety training. Andrea is passionate about making healthy eating accessible, inclusive, and practical in food service settings.

Ruchi Gupta, MD, MPH, is a Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Clinical Attending at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Dr. Gupta has over 20 years of experience as a board-certified pediatrician and health researcher and currently serves as the founding director of the Center for Food Allergy & Asthma Research (CFAAR). She is world-renowned for her groundbreaking research in the areas of food allergy and asthma epidemiology, most notably for her research on the prevalence of pediatric and adult food allergy in the United States. She has also significantly contributed to academic research in the areas of food allergy prevention, socioeconomic disparities in care, and the daily management of these conditions. To reduce the burden of these diseases and improve health equity, she and her team develop, evaluate, and disseminate interventions for families and conduct work to inform local, national, and international health policy. Dr. Gupta is the author of the Food Allergy Experience and Food Without Fear, has written and co-authored over 200 peer-reviewed research manuscripts, and has had her work featured on major TV networks and in print media. She and her team strive to improve the lives of children and their families through their research and hope to continue finding answers and shaping policies around allergic conditions.  

Riya is a freshman at Duke University studying Public Policy with a passion for innovation, leadership, and social impact. She is the founder of The Land of Can, a nonprofit that produces world-class children's books and other resources to empower kids to realize that more is possible when they define themselves by their strengths rather than their deficits. She is also a dedicated food allergy advocate, having lobbied on Capitol Hill to promote legislation that improves the lives of families managing food allergies. With experience in entrepreneurship, storytelling, and public service, Riya is committed to creating inclusive solutions that uplift and empower others.