Rick Tietjen is the associate vice president of planning & operations support at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA). In this role, Mr. Tietjen is responsible for major process improvements and the planning of new initiatives that promote college effectiveness and support its goals, in collaboration with the leadership of the college's four campuses.

Mr. Tietjen joined the CIA in 1990. Prior to his current appointment in 2010, he advanced through successive responsibilities in the Information Technology Department, achieving the senior position of director of systems and networking. He also taught Computers and Food Business as an adjunct instructor from 2005 to 2007, and he was awarded CIA Staff Member of the Year in 2002.

As background for his work at the college, Mr. Tietjen gained foodservice industry experience in dining operations at the Beekman Arms in Rhinebeck, NY from 1987 to 1992.

Mr. Tietjen earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Capella University in Minneapolis, MN in 2003 and his Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY in 1991. He also holds Oracle DBA and Novell CNE technical certifications.