My Story

Built by one
of you.

glutenFreeCampus didn't start as a capstone project. It started as a frustration and a hope that things for people with Celiac disease or gluten allergies could be different.

Sophia Eley
Sophia Eley — Founder
Creative Technologies, Berry College

Hi, I'm Sophia.

I grew up watching the women in my family live with the everyday struggles of Celiac Disease. My grandmother, my mom, and I all share the same diagnosis. There was always a constant anxiety around the safety of food and the same exhaustion that comes from having to advocate for yourself in spaces that weren't designed with you in mind.

"I've watched Celiac take up space in our lives in ways that most people never see. It's isolating, it's mentally draining, and, for a long time, I thought that was just what I was going to have to deal with for the rest of my life."

When I got to Berry College as a freshman, I was hoping for things to be different, but they weren't. The same struggles followed me; limited clarity around safe options, anxiety about cross-contamination, and a campus culture that didn't quite understand why this was such a big deal. Students like me are left to figure it out through trial and error, often at the cost of our health.

So I decided to do something about it. glutenFreeCampus started as my senior capstone project in Creative Technologies at Berry College, but it slowly became something more personal than that. It's my attempt to build the resource I wish I'd had when I arrived. I wanted to create a place where gluten-free students don't have to start from zero, don't have to feel alone, and don't have to learn the hard way.

If you're a gluten-free student at Berry, this is for you.

Grandmother Navigated Celiac before widespread awareness, when "gluten-free" wasn't a label on anything. Showed me that life with Celiac doesn't have to be the end of the world.
Mom Taught me how to be resilient and live with a diagnosis in a world that doesn't even understand its severity.
Sophia Third generation. Decided the cycle of struggling alone stops here, or, at least for students on this campus.

My Mission

glutenFreeCampus exists to make gluten-free life on campus less lonely, less dangerous, and less invisible. I believe every student deserves to eat safely, feel included, and have access to the information they need without having to figure it all out on their own. — glutenFreeCampus Mission Statement

Educate

Provide clear, accurate, research-backed information about Celiac Disease and gluten-free living, especially for students and campuses that don't have it yet.

Protect

Give gluten-free students the tools; scripts, guides, and maps; they need to protect their health without having to become their own expert overnight.

Advocate

Name the problem publicly. Students with Celiac deserve formal accommodations, trained dining staff, and a campus culture that takes dietary needs seriously.

Connect

Reduce isolation by building a community of shared experience. You're not the only one navigating this, and you shouldn't have to feel like you are.

The Research

I took the time to see
just how much this affects people you might know.

glutenFreeCampus is built on real research. Interviews with Berry students, a review of published literature, and a formal analysis of where the campus experience falls short.

01

Student Interviews

In-person interviews conducted with gluten-free and Celiac-diagnosed students at Berry College. Capturing firsthand accounts of the dining experience, emotional burden, and unmet needs.

02

Literature Review

Review of peer-reviewed research on Celiac Disease in higher education settings, cross-contamination risk, mental health burdens, and national accommodation recommendations.

03

Campus Assessment

Hands-on evaluation of Berry's dining locations, allergen labeling practices, staff awareness, and available resources, compared against evidence-informed best practices.

What Berry students said

Six major pain points surfaced consistently across our student research.

1
Limited Clarity Around Safe Dining Options

Students struggle to know what is consistently safe vs. what changes daily, and "gluten-friendly" labeling creates false confidence.

2
High Anxiety Around Cross-Contamination

Shared prep surfaces, inconsistent staff training, and uncertainty during peak hours are major ongoing concerns.

3
Inconsistent or Fragmented Information

Students rely on word-of-mouth and trial and error more than any official resource; often learning what's safe only after getting sick.

4
Social Exclusion & Food-Centered Anxiety

Food safety concerns follow students off-campus into club meetings, events, and friend group outings, which sometimes leads to avoidance and isolation.

5
Emotional & Mental Burden

Constant vigilance, repeated self-advocacy, and the fatigue of explaining dietary needs take a real toll on mental health, on top of an already demanding college experience.

6
Lack of Access to Lived Experience

Students want to learn from other students; trusted meals, strategies for social events, tips for communicating with staff, but have no centralized place to find them.

Full research findings are available in our Reports section

Get in Touch

I'd love to
hear from you.

Whether you're a gluten-free student with a story to share, a Berry staff member interested in collaborating, or someone who just wants to say hi, please reach out.

Send a message

Other ways to connect

Email sophiaeley@glutenfreecampus.com
Instagram @glutenfreecampus
Based at Berry College, Mount Berry, Georgia

Want to share your story?

If you're a gluten-free student with an experience to share, I'd love to feature it. Your story could be the thing that helps the next student feel less alone.

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