Barrington resident and social entrepreneur Navyn Salem will serve as the commencement speaker and be awarded an honorary degree during Curry College Commencement Exercises on May 20.

As a social entrepreneur, Ms. Salem has the goal of ending childhood malnutrition. Her mission began in 2007 after she went on a trip to Africa. More than a decade later, she has made an extraordinary difference in her father’s homeland of Tanzania, and dozens of other developing countries.

“Navyn’s story is a remarkable one of service and achievement that is both inspiring and an example for all of us. I am delighted she will be able to share her story with the Class of 2018," said Curry College President Kenneth K. Quigley, Jr.

Ms. Salem is the founder and CEO of Edesia, a non-profit organization that manufactures specialized ready-to-use foods for malnourished children. 

Edesia, named for the Roman goddess of food, produces several fortified, peanut-based products, including Plumpy’Nut, in its state-of-the-art factory in North Kingstown.

Each year, Edesia produces millions of "miracle packets" that are delivered into the hands of malnourished children all over the world by humanitarian aid workers with USAID, UNICEF, and the World Food Programme. 

Since 2010, Edesia has made enough life-saving food to reach more than 6 million children in 50 countries, and is poised to reach more than 1.5 million malnourished children each year.