Jacques Pépin Foundation Awards Johnson & Wales University $100,000 To Support Students

Funds will be used to create a student scholarship and student support fund

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Wales University (JWU) received a $100,000 gift from the Jacques Pépin Foundation (JPF) to establish two new funds that will expand educational access and provide critical support for students across the university.

Established in 2016 by Jacques Pépin's daughter, Claudine Pépin, and her husband, Rollie Wesen, Ed.D., the JPF honors Jacques' generosity and lifelong passion for sharing culinary knowledge. Claudine serves as the Foundation's President, while Wesen is its Executive Director and an adjunct professor at JWU, where he joined the faculty in 2011.

The gift creates The Jacques Pépin Foundation Endowed Scholarship and The Jacques Pépin Foundation Financial Support Fund. Together, the funds will help students pursue their educational goals while addressing financial barriers that can impact student success and persistence.

"Johnson & Wales University is deeply grateful to the Jacques Pépin Foundation for this meaningful investment in our students' education," said Chancellor Mim Runey, LP.D. "This gift reflects a shared commitment to removing barriers to education and empowering students to achieve their academic and professional goals. The impact of these funds will be felt by students across our university community for years to come."

The endowed scholarship will support students enrolled in JWU's College of Food Innovation & Technology (CFIT), helping aspiring food and culinary professionals gain access to the university's industry-focused education. The financial support fund will provide high-impact assistance to students facing unexpected financial challenges that could jeopardize their ability to continue their education at JWU. Support from this fund will be available to eligible undergraduate students across both the Providence and Charlotte Campuses and is not limited only to CFIT students.

"As a faculty member for over 15 years at Johnson & Wales University, I've seen firsthand the transformative role culinary education can play in shaping a student's future," said Wesen. "I've also seen how financial challenges, whether anticipated or unexpected, can stand in the way of a student completing their degree and reaching their full potential. The JPF is proud to support the next generation of culinary and hospitality professionals through these two funds, helping ensure that talented, passionate students have the opportunity to pursue their education, and that financial hardships don't prevent them from achieving their goals."

The gift also builds on the longstanding relationship between JWU and renowned chef, educator and author Jacques Pépin himself, who received an honorary degree from Johnson & Wales University in 2010 and was honored at the CFIT 50^th anniversary gala in 2023.

About JWU

Founded in 1914, Johnson & Wales University is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with more than 8,000 graduate, undergraduate and online students at its campuses in Providence, Rhode Island and Charlotte, North Carolina. An innovative educational leader, the university offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in arts and sciences, business, food innovation, hospitality, nutrition, and health and wellness. It also offers undergraduate programs in culinary arts, dietetics and design. JWU's unique model provides students with the personalized attention, academic expertise and industry connections that inspire professional success and personal growth. The time students spend at JWU is nothing short of transformative, as demonstrated by career outcomes, expected earnings and economic mobility rankings. The university's impact is global, with alumni in 125 countries pursuing careers worldwide.

About the Jacques Pépin Foundation:

Founded in 2016, the Jacques Pépin Foundation (JPF) was created to honor Jacques' generosity and lifelong passion for sharing his culinary knowledge. The JPF envisions a future where culinary education is accessible to all - creating opportunity, dignity and connection across communities through Jacques' joyful approach to cooking. The JPF's mission is to create opportunities for culinary education that benefit society. This is realized through partnerships with community organizations nationwide to expand access to learning, and to foster workforce pathways through the transformational power of cooking. Its work also includes providing hundreds of hours of free instructional cooking videos - available through social media, YouTube, and the Foundation's website - as well as additional recipes and videos from renowned and inspiring chefs for members through the Cook with Jacques Pépin & Friends Video Recipe Book. The JPF is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. To support the JPF or learn more visit https://jp.foundation and follow the JPF on Instagram.

SOURCE Johnson & Wales University