Jennifer Purcell ‘96

Instructor, Business Management, The Culinary Institute of America; Saint Helena, CA

Jennifer Purcell ‘96, EdD, CHE is an adjunct instructor at The Culinary Institute of America, where she has worked for more than 16 years. Throughout her tenure with the college, she progressively moved from teaching hospitality, service, and business management courses to the position of associate dean overseeing the curriculum and faculty for the Hyde Park campus’ public restaurants and wine and beverage programming. She most recently held the position of director of education at the CIA’s Greystone campus in St Helena, CA, before leaving the college to travel and enjoy a planned career gap. Jennifer earned both associate and bachelor's degrees from the CIA, graduating in 1996. She also holds a masters of science degree in hotel, restaurant and travel administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and a doctorate in education-human and organizational learning from George Washington University in Washington, DC. Jennifer has also achieved certified executive chef (C.E.C.), Certified Hospitality Educator (C.H.E.) and the introductory level of the Court of Master Sommeliers. Her professional kitchen experience includes banquet chef at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, and executive chef at Kaffeehaus restaurant in New York City, and La Luna Ristorante in Bethesda, MD. She has also held various chef positions with the Hyatt, Marriott, Park Place, and Ladbrokes (Hilton) hotel companies. Additionally, she was a production and general manager with foodservice contractor Sodexo, an on-site food service management company, in the Boston and Denver areas. (St. Helena, CA)