ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Chelsea Anderson

As part of our 30th Anniversary celebration, we’re shining the spotlight on our amazing alumni! We’re proud to feature Chelsea, an AAST alumna!

Chelsea Anderson: Connecting Culture, Community, and Nonprofit Storytelling

Chelsea Anderson ’17 has built a nonprofit career around advocating for communities and sharing their stories with care. A Communication major and African American Studies minor, Anderson continues to draw on her CofC education in work that connects marketing, food access, and the Lowcountry’s history and culture.

Today, Anderson serves as Director of Marketing at Lowcountry Food Bank. Based in Charleston, she has worked in the nonprofit sector for nearly 10 years, including roles with Charleston Wine + Food and Coastal Community Foundation.

A Commitment to Community Stories

For Anderson, African American Studies helped shape both her personal values and her professional approach. The program strengthened her interest in work that brings attention to people whose experiences are too often overlooked.

“Throughout my career, I have been drawn to work that allows me to advocate for and champion communities whose stories and experiences are often overlooked.”

That commitment influences how she approaches communication. Sharing a community’s story requires understanding its history, respecting its culture, and being intentional about how people are represented.

Through her work at Lowcountry Food Bank and its connection with Feeding America, Anderson continues to apply those lessons. She has also served on her organization’s EDI committee for more than three years.

Respecting Culture Through Food Access

Anderson points to Lowcountry Food Bank’s work with the Gullah Farmers Cooperative as an example of how cultural understanding can inform community service.

The partnership works with local farmers to provide neighbors experiencing food insecurity with nutritious, culturally relevant food. It supports farmers while helping neighbors access foods connected to their culture and traditions.

For Anderson, this work reflects a lesson that began during her time in African American Studies: effective service requires understanding the community being served.

“AAST also taught me that the Lowcountry has a unique history and culture that should be understood, respected and celebrated.”

That perspective connects her marketing work with a broader responsibility to represent people and places thoughtfully.

Listening Before Forming an Opinion

One of the program’s most lasting contributions to Anderson’s work is the habit of considering different perspectives.

She credits African American Studies with teaching her not to assume that everyone shares the same experiences. Instead, she finds herself asking questions, listening, and seeking a fuller understanding before reaching a conclusion.

Those habits have supported her ability to connect and collaborate with people from many backgrounds throughout her nonprofit career. They also inform her interests in marketing and communications, food insecurity, nonprofits, and EDI.

Recognition for Nonprofit Communications

Anderson’s work received several recognitions in 2026:

• Employee of the Year, Integrated Media Publishing’s Excellence in Nonprofit Awards
• Spark Award for Best Website for Lowcountry Food Bank, American Marketing Association, Charleston Division
• Spark Award for Best Branded Content for Lowcountry Food Bank, American Marketing Association, Charleston Division

These accomplishments accompany a career grounded in community advocacy and an intentional approach to storytelling.

Knowledge and Community That Last

Anderson encourages students to consider African American Studies because its influence extends beyond the classroom. She describes the program as a source of confidence, providing literature, history, and ideas that students can carry throughout their lives.

“You learn how to speak up, engage in important conversations and better understand the world and the people around you.”

Studying in Charleston and the Lowcountry offers opportunities to engage with history close at hand. For Anderson, the experience also created meaningful relationships and a sense of belonging.

As she puts it, “you gain community, friendship and family with the program!”