MSU Denver Food Pantry Sees Surge in Demand, MBA Students Develop Sustainability Plan

Graduate students create 3-5 year strategy to help Rowdy's Corner food pantry keep up with growing need among students.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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At Metropolitan State University (MSU) of Denver, the campus food pantry called Rowdy's Corner has seen a nearly 70% increase in usage by students last semester. To address this growing demand, MBA graduate students are now working on developing a 3-to-5-year strategic plan to ensure the long-term sustainability of the pantry. The students, acting as business consultants, are split into groups to research the issue and propose solutions that consider the "triple bottom line" of profit, planet, and people.

Why it matters

Food insecurity among college students has been an increasing concern nationwide, and the surge in demand at MSU Denver's Rowdy's Corner food pantry reflects this broader trend. The MBA students' sustainability plan aims to equip the pantry with the tools and forecasting ability to continue serving the growing number of food-insecure students on campus.

The details

The 35 graduate students in Professor Paul Anderson's course on Integrative and Strategic Perspectives of Organizations are creating detailed proposals that include research, summaries, and step-by-step guides for Rowdy's Corner's future. Their plans will address factors like changes to SNAP benefits, the overall landscape of food insecurity, and technological solutions to better serve students. The proposals will be presented to Rowdy's Corner leadership, who will then decide which ideas to implement.

  • Rowdy's Corner usage increased by nearly 70% last semester.
  • The MBA students' proposals will be delivered to Rowdy's Corner leadership in the following week.

The players

Chase Jurgaitis

An MSU Denver student who has been using Rowdy's Corner food pantry for almost three years.

Paul Anderson

A professor at MSU Denver who is overseeing the MBA students' project to develop a sustainability plan for Rowdy's Corner.

Rowdy's Corner

The free campus food pantry at Metropolitan State University (MSU) of Denver.

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What they’re saying

“I've been using Rowdy's Corner for almost three years now and it really just provides peace of mind and a stress-free place where I know that I can get food on a hard day and see welcoming people and just get what I need.”

— Chase Jurgaitis, MSU Denver student (denver7.com)

“In business, we look at like the triple bottom line, not just the profit, but the planet and the people.”

— Paul Anderson, MSU Denver Professor (denver7.com)

What’s next

The MBA students' proposals will be presented to Rowdy's Corner leadership, who will then decide which ideas to implement in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of the campus food pantry.

The takeaway

This project highlights the growing need for campus food pantries to support food-insecure college students, and demonstrates how business students can apply their skills to develop strategic plans that address social issues and community needs.