Chefs, left to right. Top row: Matt Sato, Victor Valenzuela, Alison Warrington, Jared Heck. Bottom row: Alexis Brown, Jeremy Miller, Angel Castillo.
Industry‑leading development programs strengthen culinary talent and elevate the campus dining experience.
Fourteen chefs from Aramark Collegiate Hospitality and Aramark Canada have earned ProChef® II certifications from The Culinary Institute of America, marking a significant milestone in their professional development and reinforcing Aramark’s focus on advancing campus dining. As members of the latest ProChef cohort, these chefs bring enhanced culinary expertise, leadership, and innovation to college and university dining programs across North America.
“The dedication demonstrated by this year’s ProChef graduates highlights the vital role our chefs play in shaping the campus dining experience,” said Barbara Flanagan, President and CEO of Aramark Collegiate Hospitality. “Earning ProChef certification reflects a commitment to both craft and leadership, and these chefs continue to raise the standard of culinary excellence for our college and university partners.”
The following chefs earned their ProChef II certification on February 20, 2026:
- Baelyn Cureton, Hood College
- Brooke Shade-Rodriguez, Albright College
- David Bourne, University of North Carolina
- Laura Richardson, Carlton University (Aramark Canada)
- Neil Melvin, Eastern Carolina University
The following chefs earned their ProChef II certification on February 27, 2026:
- Alexis Brown, Grand Valley State University
- Alison Warrington, University of Washington Bothel
- Angel Castillo, University of California Irvine
- Charles Cude, Erskine College
- Jared Heck, Pikeville University
- Jeremy Miller, West Region Culinary Director
- Matt Sato, Sacramento State University
- Michael Foster, James Madison University
- Victor Valenzuela, University of California Irvine
Together, these ProChef II graduates represent the depth of talent across Aramark's collegiate service. Their achievements strengthen campus dining programs by fostering innovation, mentorship, and elevated food experiences for students, while supporting the continued growth of future hospitality leaders.
The ProChef certification program is a comprehensive professional development pathway that combines culinary excellence with leadership and operational skills. ProChef II certification recognizes exemplified proficiency in culinary arts, team leadership, and financial management at an advanced stage of a chef’s career. To learn more about Aramark’s commitment to culinary excellence, please visit https://www.aramark.com/our-services/food-services.
About the Culinary Institute of America
Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is dedicated to developing leaders in food, beverage, and hospitality. The independent, not-for-profit CIA offers associate degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts; bachelor’s degrees with majors in culinary arts, baking & pastry arts, food business management, hospitality management, culinary science, and applied food studies; and master’s degrees in culinary arts, culinary therapeutics, food business, sustainable food systems, and wine and beverage management. The college also offers executive education, certificate programs, and courses for professionals and enthusiasts. Its conferences, leadership initiatives, and consulting services are a valuable resource to industry professionals, and its worldwide network of nearly 60,000 alumni includes innovators in every area of the food world. The CIA has locations in New York, California, Texas, and Singapore. For more information, visit www.ciachef.edu.
About Aramark
Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves the world’s leading educational institutions, Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, prominent healthcare providers, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 16 countries around the world with food and facilities management. Because of our hospitality culture, our employees strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and the planet. Learn more at www.aramark.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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