Laureate Education Names Christopher Koetke Vice President of Culinary Arts

BALTIMORE, March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Laureate Education has named Christopher Koetke vice president of culinary arts programs for Laureate International Universities.  Koetke is the dean of the School of Culinary Arts at Kendall College in Chicago.  In his new role, Koetke will also be responsible for strategic leadership of Laureate International Universities' culinary arts programs, which are offered at nine institutions in nine countries.  

Koetke has served as dean of Kendall's School of Culinary Arts since 2005.  He joined Kendall College in 1998, serving first as a culinary instructor and later as associate dean.  Koetke began cooking professionally in 1982, and has worked in some of the world's finest kitchens, including French restaurants Pavilion Elysees, Pierre Gagnaire, Taillevent and Pierre Orsi.  He is a certified executive chef and certified culinary educator by the American Culinary Federation.

Koetke was named the 2009 Cooking Teacher of the Year by the International Association of Culinary Professionals, and is host of the Emmy-nominated cooking show, "Let's Dish" on the Live Well HD network. Under his leadership, the School of Culinary Arts at Kendall College has been awarded the Academy of the Culinary Arts Cordon d' Or – Gold Ribbon Cooking School of the Year Culinary Academy Award for 2008.  

The culinary arts program at Kendall was named "exemplary culinary program" by the American Culinary Federation in 2008. The school was also named the official educational partner of the National Restaurant Association Conserve Environmental Initiative in 2009.  Kendall is the only culinary school in the U.S. to receive Certified Green Restaurant status from the Green Restaurant Association for both the Dining Room and Cafeteria.

"Chris Koetke is recognized around the world as a visionary in higher education in culinary arts," said Douglas L. Becker, chief executive officer of Laureate Education.  "Thousands of students in our network are enrolled in culinary arts programs, and we know there is growing demand for professionals in this field worldwide. Chris has the leadership skills, expertise, and knowledge needed to develop and implement our expanding portfolio of culinary programs for our network."  

In his role as vice president of culinary arts, Koetke will work with the more than 50 institutions in the Laureate International Universities network, helping them fully leverage curriculum, faculty, and program expertise worldwide. He has already collaborated on a project with Les Roches International School of Hotel Management to create the first international culinary institute in Jordan.  

Koetke earned a B.A. from Valparaiso University and an M.B.A. from Dominican University.  He is a member of the board of the American Culinary Federation Foundation Accrediting Commission, the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the International Food Editorial Council and the National Restaurant Association. He is also a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, National Restaurant Association, International Food Editorial Council and Chaine des Rotisseurs.  

ABOUT LAUREATE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITIES

Laureate International Universities is a leading international provider of quality, innovative higher education. The Laureate International Universities network of more than 50 accredited campus-based and online universities offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 550,000 students around the world.  Our students are part of an international, academic community that spans 21 countries and more than 100 campuses throughout North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia.  Laureate International Universities offer more than 130 career-focused, undergraduate, master's and doctoral degree programs in fields including architecture, art, business, culinary arts, design, education, engineering, health sciences, hospitality, information technology, law, and medicine.  For more information, visit http://www.laureate.net.

SOURCE Laureate Education, Inc.