Dr. Jennifer Purcell is dean of the Food Business School at CIA in Hyde Park, NY, a role she has held since 2023. She leads strategic direction, curriculum development, and faculty oversight for CIA’s business education programs, drawing on more than two decades of experience in culinary operations, teaching, and academic leadership.
Since joining CIA in 2003, Dr. Purcell has served in several key academic and administrative positions, including associate dean of restaurant education and operations, director of education at CIA at Greystone, and assistant professor and adjunct instructor in business management and hospitality. Her work has shaped both the academic rigor and industry relevance of CIA’s programs across campuses.
Before transitioning into higher education, Dr. Purcell built a diverse and accomplished career in foodservice operations. She has held culinary leadership roles at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City; Kaffeehaus Restaurant in New York City; La Luna Ristorante in Bethesda, MD; and with Hyatt, Marriott, Park Place, and Ladbrokes (Hilton) hotels. She also served as production and general manager with Sodexo, overseeing large-scale foodservice operations in the Boston and Denver regions.
Dr. Purcell earned both her associate degree in Culinary Arts and bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts Management at CIA. She later completed a Master of Science in Hotel, Restaurant, and Travel Administration at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a Doctorate of Education in Human and Organizational Learning at The George Washington University.
In addition, she holds the professional credentials of Certified Executive Chef (CEC), Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE), and Introductory Sommelier Certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers. In 2015, she was named a Woman of Influence in the Food Industry by the Griffin Report of Food Marketing.
Outside of her work, she enjoys domestic and global travel, live music, dance, hiking, and DIY home projects.