Chef, Author, Teacher, Businessman and TV Personality Andrew Zimmern Joins Babson College as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence

WELLESLEY, Mass., Jan. 31, 2012 PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Babson College today announced that Andrew Zimmern, the James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, food writer and food advocate, has joined Babson as entrepreneur-in-residence.

Zimmern, whose hit television show Bizarre Foods has explored food cultures in more than 32 countries, has hands-on experience working with food innovators and food entrepreneurs across the globe, which will inform his work with Babson students. Zimmern will work directly with the Lewis Institute's Social Innovation Lab at Babson as well as the Lab's Food Sol, an 'action tank' focused on innovation in the food system.

"Andrew Zimmern is considered one of the most versatile and knowledgeable people in the food world--and is strongly interested in the intersection of food entrepreneurs and social innovation," said President Len Schlesinger.

"He's an inspirational example of both Entrepreneurial Thought and Action(r) and Entrepreneurship of All Kinds(r). A great storyteller, Zimmern motivates and activates people by recounting the stories of food entrepreneurs he has encountered in dramatically diverse communities all over the world. He highlights out-of-the-ordinary cuisine from traditional recipes passed down through generations as well as modern dishes resulting from innovation. At the same time, he underscores how ordinary people are taking actions to solve food-related problems. Some may not regard themselves as entrepreneurs, but they have developed innovations for feeding communities and have energized local economies in breakthrough ways," said Schlesinger.

"Andrew will be a tremendous resource for our students and faculty interested in virtually any aspect of food," stated Cheryl Kiser, Executive Director of The Lewis Institute for Social Innovation at Babson College. "He can bring opportunities to student entrepreneurs, offer the latest insights and thinking on food issues, and provide a wealth of stories to get people interested and eager to solve food-related problems."

Zimmern brings the world of Bizarre Foods to Babson starting February 6, 2012 when he arrives on the Babson campus for a special event to officially kick-off his new role as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence. At the event, which is open to the public, Zimmern will be introduced to the community and will share observations from his work unearthing bizarre food cultures and showcasing food innovators around the globe. The event, called Bizarre Foods - Babson Edition, requires advance registration. Visit http://www.babson.edu/lewis to register for the event.

What: Bizarre Foods - Babson Edition

When: Monday, February 6th 2:30 p.m.

Where: Babson College
Olin Auditorium, Olin Hall
Wellesley, Massachusetts

About Zimmern

As the co-creator, host and co-executive producer of Travel Channel's hit series, Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, he travels the globe, exploring food in its own terroir.

In May 2010, Zimmern won the prestigious James Beard Award for 'Outstanding Television Food Personality.' He is a three-time Beard
Award nominee. His online series, "Toyota's Appetite for Life," received an Effie in 2010. Bizarre Foods also took home two CableFax awards in 2009, one for "Best Television Program: Food," another for "Best Online Extras" for Andrew's Travel Channel web series, Bizarre Foods in the Kitchen.

Zimmern is a contributing editor at Food & Wine Magazine, an award-winning monthly columnist at Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine and a senior editor at Delta Sky Magazine. As a freelance journalist, his work has appeared in numerous national and international publications.

Andrew has served as a corporate and product spokesperson for Target, Cascal, Pepto Bismol, Toyota and Travel Leaders. Andrew is the author of The Bizarre Truth, and Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre World of Food published by Broadway Books/Random House and has several books slated for release in this upcoming year, 2012.

Stay connected to Andrew on AndrewZimmern.com. Get regular updates and follow him on Twitter at @andrewzimmern and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AndrewZimmern.

About the Lewis Institute

The Lewis Institute for Social Innovation is the GPS for navigating social innovation and redefining expectations for business by moving
from social responsibility to social relevance. Through action research, case development, webinars, convening working sessions with business leaders, and collaborating throughout the Babson community - particularly with the Babson Social Innovation Lab - the Lewis Institute serves as an integrated, objective, and accessible resource of ideas, perspective, and practical knowledge for how to make social innovation work.

Stay connect to The Lewis Institute for Social Innovation at www.babson.edu/lewis, on Twitter at @LewisInstitute, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LewisInstitute

About Babson

Babson College is the educator, convener, and thought leader for Entrepreneurship of All Kinds(r). The College is a dynamic living and
learning laboratory, where students, faculty, and staff work together to address the real-world problems of business and society -- while at the same time evolving our methods and advancing our programs. We shape the leaders our world needs most: those with strong functional knowledge and the skills and vision to navigate change, accommodate ambiguity, surmount complexity, and motivate teams in a common purpose to create economic and social value. As we have for nearly a half-century, Babson continues to advance Entrepreneurial Thought and Action(r) as the most positive force on the planet for generating sustainable economic and social value. For information, visit www.babson.edu.

Media Contacts: Michael Chmura,

[email protected]

, 781-239-4549

SOURCE Babson College