Alum Alex Firestine is Pitt’s first Luce scholar

Alex Firestine has made Pitt history — again.

Firestine, the first Pitt student to be named a George J. Mitchell Scholar in 2024, is now the first Pitt graduate to join the Luce Scholars Program, a yearlong opportunity for emerging leaders to live and work in Asia. He will begin the program in June.

The Chancellor’s scholar, who pursued three majors and two certificates as a student at the University’s David C. Frederick Honors College, hopes to use his year in Asia to further his understanding of sustainable food systems by working with a local food organization. Thanks to the Luce’s immersive language component, he’ll also learn the language of his to-be-determined host country.

“It’s such a valuable program, and I think this is the perfect time to explore and challenge myself,” Firestine said.

Firestine (CBA ’23) received his first lesson in food from his grandfather, a dedicated food bank volunteer who allowed his grandson to join him on shifts. That early knowledge grew into a passion when Firestine arrived at the University of Pittsburgh and met Audrey Murrell, a Pitt business professor and co-founder of the sustainable food nonprofit Food21.

“She really taught me about the impact of food insecurity and the disproportionate effect it has on marginalized communities,” Firestine said. In fact, he recently joined Murrell in writing a paper on the subject.

Murrell also wrote his recommendation for the Mitchell Scholarship, which he used to fund a year of study at the University of Galway in Ireland. There, Firestine earned a master’s degree in climate change, agriculture and food security; launched a startup that uses AI to assist horticulturists in their work; and bonded with an international cohort of students who helped to shift and shape his perspective.

“I had friends in the program from Liberia, from Kenya, from Tanzania, from Zambia, from Vietnam, and so I gained this amazing insight into what it's like in countries around the world in terms of food systems and the detrimental impact that climate change is having on those food systems.”

That experience, along with his current position as the program manager of a Dublin-based venture capital fund focused on human and planetary health, convinced Firestine to apply for the Luce Scholars Program and continue his global education.

“Alex has given us not only our first Mitchell scholarship, but also our first Luce award, which is a tremendous accomplishment,” said Lesha Green, director of national scholarships at the Frederick Honors College. “He continues to be an exemplary representative of Pitt and its amazing students. I can think of no one more deserving."