Student Life and Stories

Food is Your Community

Exciting things are happening at CIA! Take one beautiful campus, add a dash of student clubs, sprinkle in cook-offs and other activities, then season with off-campus exploration in a region full of good food and outdoor adventure. What do you get? The perfect recipe for an amazing college experience!

Scroll down to check out our archive of news and stories about CIA college life with a culinary twist!

A group of chefs wearing white uniforms and tall hats are meticulously plating desserts in a professional kitchen. The desserts appear to include pastries and fruit. The kitchen is spacious and equipped with stainless steel appliances.

Campus Happenings

CIA Mac and Cheese Cook-Off

CIA Students Savor Cheesy Fun!

CIA Mac and Cheese Cook-Off.

Club Spotlight: Teapot Club and Outdoors Club

Club Spotlight: Teapot Club and Outdoors Club

A summer picnic at CIA.

A group of diverse, cheerful people gathered around a wooden counter, some in chef uniforms and others in casual clothing, smiling and holding ice cream cones. They appear to be enjoying their time together, likely celebrating or participating in an event, embodying the vibrant campus life at The Culinary Institute of America.

CIA’s Star-Spangled Cookout

Food and fun on July 4.

People standing under a blue tent at an outdoor market, examining fresh produce on a table, evoke the vibrant culinary atmosphere found at The Culinary Institute of America. A vendor in a white shirt assists customers while various vegetables and leafy greens are displayed. Trees and buildings form the backdrop.

CIA Seasonal Pop-Up Market

Another fun option for getting food at CIA.

Three culinary students in white uniforms and hats prepare food in a commercial kitchen at the Culinary Institute of America. They are working on plating dishes with blue speckled plates, arranging toppings carefully. Shelving and kitchen utensils are visible in the background, showcasing campus life.

Calling All Pizza Aficiona-Doughs!

CIA Pizza Cook-Off.

Two women stand behind a table covered with a white banner that reads "International Women's Day" in purple text with a purple female gender symbol. On the table, adorned with metal containers and glass cups, they celebrate campus life at The Culinary Institute of America. One of the women holds a smartphone, both smiling brightly.

Club Spotlight: Womxn—Women in Leadership Q&A

Women’s History Month.

Read More About Campus Happenings

Flavorful Fun
CIA Cookie Bake-Off.
CIA Celebrates International Education Week
Programs for faculty, staff, and students.
Cooking with a Dash of Magic
Tri-Wizard Cup rounds two and three.
Cooking with a Dash of Magic
Tri-Wizard Cup round one.
Feeding Student Ambitions
The 12th Annual Run for Your Knives 5K.
Turning Up the Heat
CIA Chili Cook-Off.
Club Spotlight: Hermanos Sin Fronteras
Check out CIA student Mole Negro recipe!
Go CIA Steels!
Our soccer players are champions on and off the field.

CIA Scoop

A woman in a gymnasium wears an orange "CIA Steels" T-shirt featuring a knife graphic, highlighting the spirited campus life at The Culinary Institute of America. The gym has a wooden floor, green and yellow ceiling decorations, and volleyball nets set up. Other people are in the background.

Sports at CIA

CIA students take on a variety of sports and intramurals.

A smiling chef, a proud product of the Culinary Institute of America, wearing a tall white chef's hat and white chef's coat stands in a kitchen. Stainless steel utensils and shelves of kitchen equipment can be seen in the blurred background, reflecting the vibrant campus life.

Faculty Spotlight: Chef Claudia Silva

Lecturing Instructor of Baking and Pastry Arts.

Three women wearing sunglasses smile for a selfie in front of a zoo entrance sign on a sunny day. Greenery surrounds the pathway, and other visitors can be seen in the background, reminiscent of the vibrant campus life at The Culinary Institute of America.

CIA Students Explore the Bronx Zoo

One of the many off-campus activities available to students.

A busy restaurant interior with patrons seated at round tables, enjoying their meals. A large potted tree adorns the center of the room, reminiscent of The Culinary Institute of America campus life. A waiter in a white shirt and black vest attends to a table, while others chat and dine in the background. Natural light filters in from large windows.

The Best Meal Plan on the Planet

One way CIA students use their meal plan for a fine dining experience on campus!

A group of six friends stands together under a decorated canopy, smiling at the camera. They have various items on a table in front of them, including colorful crafts, pride flags, and a laptop. The table is covered with a rainbow cloth and small decorative lights surround it—showcasing the vibrant spirit of campus life at The Culinary Institute of America.

Club Spotlight: SAGA

Q&A with the club’s president.

A basketball game at Madison Square Garden featuring the New York Knicks and their vibrant blue and red uniforms captivates a lively crowd, much like how campus life thrives at The Culinary Institute of America. The scoreboard prominently displays team information as spectators fill the arena in excitement.

CIA Takes on Madison Square Garden

Students get off campus for a Knicks game.

Read More About CIA Scoop

Faculty Spotlight: Chef Michael Zebrowski
Associate Professor of Baking and Pastry Arts.
Alumni Spotlight: Zach Moquin ’16
Director of villa operations at the Scottsdale National Golf Club.
Baking and Pastry Student Takes a Culinary Crash Course
Follow along in her first week of class.
We’ve Got 99 Problems, but Relieving Stress Isn’t One
Find out how CIA students relieve stress.
Alumni Spotlight: Chef Paige Damore ’18
Paige Damore’s own little “Disneyland.”
CIA Students Spread Hope in the Hudson Valley
Volunteer opportunity for CIA students.
CIA Hospitality Students Compete in Abu Dhabi
2023 Sustainable Hospitality Challenge.
Alumni Spotlight: Chef Kimberly Roope ’22
International Chef’s Day
The CIA community celebrates International Chef’s Day!
FoodieCon @ NYC Wine and Food Fest
CIA students learned from top influencers in the industry!

Student Support Network

A person in a yellow shirt shakes hands with a smiling man in a white chef's coat, who is carrying a black backpack. Next to him, a woman in a white chef's coat and glasses holds a folder and a box. They are at an indoor event on the Culinary Institute of America campus, with banners in the background.

Attending CIA Career Fair as a College Freshman

What to do at the Career Fair your first semester.

A man with a beard in a white chef's coat shows a pamphlet to two young women in matching chef uniforms. Another man in a suit stands beside them. They are in a bright indoor space, bustling with activity, reminiscent of the Culinary Institute of America campus life at an event or expo.

Navigating Success: CIA Career Fair

Valuable insights to maximize your success at the career fair.

A woman in a black blazer shakes hands with another woman wearing a white chef coat at a career fair, reflecting the vibrant campus life at The Culinary Institute of America. Both are smiling, while another person in a white chef coat stands nearby. Other attendees and booths are visible in the background.

Creating Career Connections

Q&A with recruiters from the top food and hospitality companies.

A man in a black suit stands next to a man in a gray apron and white chef's jacket, who is giving a thumbs-up. Both are smiling and standing against a wall with light-colored tiles, capturing a moment of campus life at The Culinary Institute of America.

CIA Externship Spotlight: Diego Aguilar ’25

A day in the life of a pastry commis at a fine dining establishment.

A person with dark hair and a white shirt is smiling and holding up a menu labeled "Dolce." The background, reminiscent of the Culinary Institute of America campus life, features a dimly lit setting with shelves and hanging lights, suggesting a restaurant or café environment.

CIA Externship Spotlight: Aastha Bhaiyya ’25

A day in the life of a pastry chef extern.

Four people are gathered around a table, collaborating on a project at the Culinary Institute of America. One person is pointing at a laptop screen, while others look on and take notes. Documents and notebooks are spread out on the table in their well-lit room with large windows, showcasing campus life.

Tips and Tricks for Securing Your Externship

Finding where you belong.

The Culinary Institute of America

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Hyde Park, NY 12538

admissions@culinary.edu

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