Creating Viv: Cultivating Conviviality and Community in Campus Dining
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What happens when you blend the warmth of Friendsgiving with the expertise of campus dietitians and nutrition students? You get Viv—a research-based dining program fostering connection through shared, family-style meals.
Discover how dietitians and nutrition students turned a pop-culture holiday into a public health initiative, drawing on research linking communal meals to better physical health, mental well-being, and satisfaction. Launched with a Friendsgiving-themed event and a shared Thanksgiving menu in an all-you-care-to-eat dining room, Viv invites students to put down their phones and connect through collaborative ordering, portioned platters, and intentional presentation.
Presenters outline the program’s journey from concept to launch, including collaboration, logistics, communication, aesthetics, and student roles in menu creation, surveys, marketing, and logo design. Survey results show strong participation, increased connection, and attendance beyond expectations, with more data coming as Viv wraps up its second year. This webinar offers practical takeaways for campuses eager to blend culinary creativity, nutrition research, and community engagement.
Recorded October 22, 2026
Jennifer Bostedo, RDN
Director of Dining & Wellness, Montclair State University
Montclair State University
Jennifer is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with more than 20 years of experience in the field of dietetics. She has dedicated her career to elevating the role of nutrition within campus dining, foodservice operations, and community wellbeing.
Throughout her extensive career, Jennifer has been recognized for her ability to blend culinary excellence with evidence‑based nutrition, creating dining experiences that are both nourishing and welcoming. She has led and designed numerous innovative programs, including enhanced allergen‑aware dining protocols, student‑centered wellness campaigns, menu transparency initiatives, and immersive culinary‑nutrition education series that help students build lifelong healthy eating habits. Her work focuses on cultivating environments where food, connection, and community can thrive.
Jennifer also serves as a NACUFS Regional Ambassador-elect for the Mid-Atlantic region, where she supports colleagues across institutions, shares best practices, and champions the advancement of nutrition and dining professionals. Known for her collaborative spirit, passion for foodservice, and commitment to continuous improvement, she works every day to make campus dining more 'conVIVial', inclusive, and student‑focused.
Jessica Carr, MS, RDN
Senior Campus Dietitian
Montclair State University
Jessica is the Senior Campus Dietitian at Montclair State University. In this role, she blends food service management, community nutrition, and one-on-one nutrition counseling. Along with providing counseling to students, student athletes, faculty, and staff, Jessica manages a dining hall, develops menus, hosts nutrition and culinary education events, and supports individuals with food allergies and dietary restrictions to help them dine safely on campus. One of her top priorities is building Nourish, the university’s dietitian-led wellness program, making sure it’s accessible, engaging, and relevant to the campus community. Jessica has also served as the Chair of Nutrition Awards for the National Association of College and University Food Services, where she helps recognize and celebrate outstanding nutrition initiatives in higher education nationwide.
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