Newsletter November 2009

A Dream For Two
Owning and running two successful restaurants. Keeping their marriage strong. And going to college at the same time. For Paul and Dana Dabrowski, it’s all in a day’s work. When he’s not in restaurant, food and beverage management classes at JWU, Paul can be found managing their two restaurants: Marley’s on Thayer in Providence and Marley’s on the Beach in Warwick. And Dana, who’s studying culinary nutrition, develops the menu for Marley’s and takes care of the business management.

The couple, who met when Paul was training Dana as a bartender, says it’s always been their dream to open up a restaurant. They’ve found great support in the JWU community. Professor Fred Farias, who teaches in The Hospitality College, has been an excellent guide, Paul says, and fellow faculty member Steven LaBush helps with the numbers. Their staff? All Johnson & Wales students, of course.

Food Flight
On many flights these days, you’re lucky to be tossed a bag of peanuts. But if you’re flying first- or business-class on Delta Airlines, you’re in for a treat. North Miami Campus grad Michelle Bernstein ’94, ’03 HDR – restaurateur, Iron Chef winner, and television personality – has created in-flight menus that bring airline food to a whole new level. Travelers on Delta flights can now choose from menu options such as roasted chicken breast with balsamic cipollini onions and blue cheese sauce, to seared cod with tomato and olive ragout, potato galette and sautéed leeks.

Bernstein, a James Beard Award winner, is noted for introducing Americans to Nuevo Latino cuisine. Her first restaurant, Michy’s in Miami, was named one of the “Top 50 Restaurants in the Country” by Gourmet magazine.

Much To Do in Denver
Salsa dancing. First Friday Santa Fe Art Walk. Yoga classes. Volunteer support for Race for the Cure. Sunday worship. Music swaps. A visit to the Boulder Farmer's Market. These are just some of the dozens of on- and off-campus activities that freshmen at the Denver Campus have participated in through WIGIS.
So what are WIGIS? WIGIS (pronounced “wee-gees”) stands for Wildcat Interest Groups for Incoming Students. It’s a new program designed to provide incoming students with opportunities to connect with other students, faculty and staff. Each group of approximately 20 students is formed around shared interests, resulting in 22 different topical or theme based groups. It’s a great way to get involved, make new friends and explore everything Denver has to offer.

New Student Center
So what’s new on the Charlotte Campus? The new student recreation center, for one. Construction on the building is scheduled to begin in early 2010, and it’s scheduled to open in early 2011. The center, which will serve the entire campus community, will include features that all JWU students can appreciate. This includes a 600-seat gymnasium, a fully-equipped fitness center, an aerobics room, locker rooms and showers, athletic offices and a multipurpose performance space.

The student center will be located right next to the NFL’s Carolina Panthers practice field and will serve as home to JWU’s men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams. Go Wildcats!