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OUR TEAM
Our accomplished consultants bring rigorous, solution-focused research and communication strategy to organizations that are reifying the vision of a sustainable future.
North Mountain’s expertise spans across health and science communication, user research, visual design, and food system sustainability. All our work is underpinned with deep expertise in theory and research methods. We partner with a variety of mission-aligned startups and nonprofits around the world.
OUR STORY
Keri's appreciation for agriculture began early (her family grew asparagus and their chickens hung out on the front porch). However, it wasn’t until her postdoctoral training in science communication that she recognized the meaningful potential for technological advancements to transform our food systems. Consequently, she left academia to conduct research for the Good Food Institute and then uncovered her passion for supporting organizations developing sustainable technologies. Recognizing the need to provide strategic and actionable consumer insights for mission-driven startups, she founded North Mountain Consulting Group in April 2020.
From the mountains to the oceans, our food system connects land, water, air, and all living things. North Mountain Consulting envisions a sustainable food system that honors this connection and optimizes resources for future generations. Please reach out if you are interested in partnering!
WHO WE ARE
Keri Szejda, PhD
Founder & Principal Research Scientist
Keri Szejda is the founder of North Mountain Consulting Group and a visiting scholar with the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Arizona State University (ASU). She earned her PhD in Health Communication from ASU’s Hugh Downs School of Human Communication and completed postdoctoral work in Science Communication with ASU’s School for the Future of Innovation in Society. Previously Senior Consumer Research Scientist for The Good Food Institute, Training Specialist for Hawai‘i Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations, and a Communication Instructor at three universities, Keri brings significant experience in communication strategy, research methods, and engaging with diverse stakeholders. Keri enjoys hiking in the nearby North Phoenix Mountains, growing food in her backyard, and camping with her friends and family.
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Yanqin Liu, PhD
Senior Research Scientist
Yanqin Liu is a health communication researcher and adjunct faculty in the department of communication at Western Kentucky University. She is actively committed to conducting communication research that translates best practices in improving the health of populations across different cultures. She earned her Ph.D. in Health Communication in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at Arizona State University and completed postdoctoral research work in the ASU Center for Strategic Communication. Her research has appeared in multiple academic journals, including Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, Journal of Health Communication, Communication and Sport, PLOS One, and Health Psychology Review. She enjoys traveling, cooking, and playing with her sweet dog Sugar.
Adam Cohen, MA
Graphic Designer
A social and environmental designer by training, Adam is passionate about the power of design to create social impact. Across a two-decade, globe-trotting career, he’s worked for world-renowned organizations IDEO, The Guardian, UNICEF, and Amnesty International. Adam believes in a holistic approach to creativity, using ingenuity and design-thinking to tackle real-world issues. This approach has led him to work with a diverse roster of social and cultural giants, including Oxfam, Planned Parenthood, New York Public Library, and The New School.
