Dickran Jebejian, D.J., is the Manager of Food Policy for Met Council Food Programs and Policy and a food-loving advocate and researcher dedicated to social justice and fighting poverty. He is responsible for the research, analysis, and advocacy that goes into Met Council's work with local, state, and federal agencies and elected officials. Through his work, Met Council has secured over $6 million in funding for their Food Programs and Policy while also helping push for legislation, budgets, and policy changes that have directly benefited emergency food organizations throughout New York City.

While pursuing his bachelor's degree at the University of California, Santa Cruz, D.J. cemented his love for feeding people as a line cook. Through this work, he learned about service, food systems, and procurement in the largest agricultural market in the United States. From there, D.J. pursued a master's in public policy from the University of California, Los Angeles. There, he studied qualitative and quantitative policy analysis while receiving mentorship from the founder of the Los Angeles Food Policy Council.

Before joining Met Council, D.J. worked on housing and homelessness for the Office of the Mayor of Los Angeles and conducted academic research with housing and healthcare researchers at UCSC and UCLA.