  JWU Culinary Administrators Named Global Master Chefs NORTH MIAMI, Fla. – June 11, 2008 – Chris Wagner, director of culinary operations at the North Miami Campus, and Karl Guggenmos, university dean of Culinary Education were two of the 27 chefs from six different countries to receive the Global Master Chef distinction from the World Association of Chef Societies on May 14, at the World Trade Center in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This was the first time that such an honor was given and is the highest level of certification that can be bestowed upon a chef in his or her career. Guggenmos is the university dean of Culinary Education at the university, and a certified German master chef. Before assuming his current position in 2004, he served as director of Culinary Education at JWU's Charleston Campus, and dean of the College of Culinary Arts at the Providence Campus. Guggenmos is a native of Germany, where he earned a degree from the Master Chef Program in 1981. Prior to entering the educational realm, he served as a chef on the corporate level and at country clubs, hotels and restaurants in the United States as well as in his native Germany. He received both his bachelor's degree in Foodservice Management and M.B.A. from Johnson & Wales. Through the American Culinary Federation, he is a certified executive chef and certified culinary educator. Originally from Germany, Wagner is a member of the American Culinary Federation, Research Chefs Association and International Chefs Association. He completed a three year apprenticeship in Augsburg, Germany and worked his way from chef de cuisine to the top of his profession, eventually being appointed head chef at one of the most prestigious hotel restaurants in Europe located in Gertshofen, Germany. After working in the industry for five years, Wagner returned to school to pursue his master chef degree from the Industrie und Handelskammer fuer Augsburg und Schwaben, Germany. He has been at JWU since 2002 where he teaches food science and design, and oversees operations for the campus’ College of Culinary Arts. About The World Association of Chefs' Societies (WACS). WACS is a global network of chefs associations first founded in October 1928 at the Sorbonne in Paris. At that first congress there were 65 delegates from 17 countries, representing 36 national and international associations, and the venerable August Escoffier was named the first Honorary President of WACS. Today, this global body has 72 official chefs associations as members, with three that just joined at the 31st World Congress in March. The biennial congress is a hallmark tradition of WACS and has been organized in over 20 cities around the world throughout its illustrious 74-year history. Johnson & Wales University, founded in 1914, is a nonprofit, private institution. A recognized leader in career education, we offer accredited degrees in business, hospitality, culinary arts, technology and education. With a diverse student body of more than 16,000 graduate and undergraduate students, representing all 50 states and 89 countries, JWU prepares students for personal and professional success by integrating rigorous academics and professional skills, community leadership opportunities and our unique career education model. The university is committed to urban revitalization and thoughtful historic renovation. Through active civic participation and by offering unique learning opportunities, JWU improves the quality of life in its campus communities in Providence, R.I., North Miami, Fla., Denver, Colo., and Charlotte, N.C. For more information visit www.jwu.edu.
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