There are many inroads to a career in hospitality and those who dive in bring with them an array of unique trainings and experiences. Here is a sampling of unexpected college degrees received by some of today's leaders who have made hospitality their chosen industry.
Click the names to view the details of their career paths and see what roles they had to get them to where they are now.
- David Patterson: Executive Chef at The Broadmoor Hotel College
Degree: Bachelor of Arts, Sociology (University of Kentucky) - Emery Whalen: CEO/Co-Owner of QED Hospitality
Degree: Bachelor of Arts, Comparative Literature (Princeton University) - Hillary Sterling, Executive Chef at Ci Siamo
Degree: Bachelor of Applied Science, Business and Marketing (Indiana University) - Julia Coney, Founder of Black Wine Professionals
Degree: Bachelor of Arts, English Literature (University of Houston) - Jocelyn Ramirez, Founder of Todo Verde, Co-Founder of Across Our Kitchen Tables and Cookbook Author
Degrees: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Design & Marketing (Woodbury University); Master of Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship (Woodbury University) - Mailea Weger, Chef/Owner of LOU
Degree: Associate of Arts, Fashion Merchandising (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) - Marc Farrell, Founder & CEO at Ten To One Rum
Degrees: Masters of Business Administration (Harvard Business School), Master of Philosophy, Technology Policy (University of Cambridge), Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) - Michael Lennox, Founder & CEO of Electric Hospitality
College Degree: Juris Doctor (Wake Forest University School of Law); Bachelor of Arts, Psychology (Hampden-Sydney College) - Peter Hoglund, Director of Operations and Partner at Frasca Food and Wine
Degree: Bachelor of Arts, Economics (Colorado Univeristy - Boulder) - Rita Jammet: Owner & Ambassador of La Caravelle Champagnes / Wines and Founder & President of Bouquet Ventures
Degree: University Degree in Economics and Marketing (University Of Geneva) - Trace Conway, Director of Operations of Butcher & Bee
Degrees: Master of Art, Organizational Leadership (New York University); Master of Art, Industrial Organizational Psychology (New York University); Bachelor of Arts, Psychology (University of California Davis)
