James Rossillo ’17 is a lecturing instructor of Baking and Pastry Arts at CIA in Hyde Park, NY. A CIA alumnus, Rossillo returned to the college as a faculty member in 2025, bringing more than seven years of experience in professional kitchen operations, leadership, and student mentorship.
Prior to joining the faculty, Rossillo held several progressive leadership roles at CIA’s Apple Pie Bakery Café, including back-of-house manager-in-training, sous chef, and assistant manager of back-of-house operations. In these positions, he played a key role in training and mentoring pastry arts students while supporting daily production, recipe development, and inventory management within a high-volume teaching environment.
Before his work at CIA, Rossillo founded and operated Custom Cakes by James in northern New Jersey, specializing in custom-designed cakes that combined technical precision with creative artistry. His earlier experience includes roles as a cake decorator and manager at a local Carvel franchise, a chef’s assistant at Mortellaro’s Fine Italian Catering, and a pastry extern at Gotham Bar and Grill in New York City.
Rossillo holds an associate degree in Baking and Pastry Arts from CIA and a bachelor’s degree in Art, Design, and Interactive Media from Seton Hall University. His interdisciplinary background informs his instructional approach, blending classical pastry technique with creativity, visual design, and professional readiness.
Outside of teaching, Rossillo enjoys traveling, exploring local coffee shops and bakeries, experimenting with new recipes, building Legos®, and spending time with his dogs and family.