Division of Student Affairs Appoints Executive Director of Dining Services

After conducting a comprehensive national search, the Division of Student Affairs has named Michael White as Executive Director of Dining Services effective November 4, 2022.

White holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from UConn and a Master of Arts in Industrial Organizational Psychology from the University of New Haven.  In his 26^th year as a UConn employee, he brings an impressive base of UConn experience to this position, including serving as Interim Senior Associate Director of Dining Services for the past 1.5 years. Prior to that, he served as the Associate Director of Dining Services, an Area Manager, General Manager of Retail Operations, and Student Program Coordinator. He started out in 1994 as a student worker washing pots at Shippee Dining Hall and progressed through the ranks, gaining a thorough understanding of the role that every level of Dining Services plays in delivering a quality experience to all customers.

In addition to leading various aspects of Dining Services, White also held the UCPEA roles of President from 2015 – 2021 and First Vice President of Collective Bargaining from 2009 – 2015. In these positions, he served as a SEBAC representative and as a member of the Health Cost Containment Committee and the Vendor Advisory Committee. He also sits on myriad UConn committees, including Strategic Visioning, Covid-19 Medical Services Workgroup, Vice Provost’s Committee on Food Insecurity, University Senate, and the Access & Accommodations Committee.

Mike lives in Norwich, CT, with his wife Jill (also a UConn alum ‘97). He has twin daughters, Teagan and Cassidy, who attend UConn-Avery Point. Teagan is majoring in Psychology, and Cassidy is majoring in Speech-Language Pathology.

The Division of Student Affairs appreciates the work of the search committee chaired by Tracey Roy (Interim Executive Director of Dining Services), administered by Samantha Courtois (Dining Services) and composed of David Clokey (Assistant Vice President, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs), Cheryl Radzvilowicz (Environmental Health & Safety), Padma Srimatkandada (Student Affairs Information Technology), and Isaac Barber (Director, Student Union).

Much thanks are given to Dining Services staff members who stepped up to fill interim roles while the search was underway, including Tracey Roy as Interim Executive Director, Rob Landolphi as Associate Director of Residential Dining, and White as Interim Senior Associate Director. Also appreciated is the outstanding work of all Dining Services staff who stepped up during this time of transition under Tracey’s interim leadership and continued to deliver the high-quality services for which Dining is known. 

C. Dennis Piece, who most recently served as the Executive Director of Dining Services, announced his retirement in April.  Pierce has provided UConn with 34 years of devoted service and he will be greatly missed by students and colleagues alike.

A talented leader and accomplished food service administrator, his vision and expertise in college dining services has driven notable enterprise growth in resident board operations, retail, and the catering service sectors. His achievements have been featured in Food Service Director, Food Management, and Restaurant & Institutions magazines. He currently writes a column in Neighbor’s, a local regional paper, called, From the Ground Up, Buying Local in Connecticut, for which he has received two Connecticut Journalism awards. He has held the position of the President of the National Association of College & University Association, and has been the recipient of the Association’s Ted Minah award, the most prestigious recognition that the association offers. Topping off his foodservice career, Dennis received the Silver Plate Award for the College & University sector, Class of 2018, by the International Food Manufacturer’s Association.

Dennis’ attention to detail, while keeping the broader picture in mind, has been invaluable. His willingness to put in extra time and effort to help UConn meet the varied needs of students has demonstrated a commitment to excellence that we have come to depend upon.

A national search will be conducted in the fall to refill the Executive Director of Dining Services position.

The UConn Bakery (Not Just Desserts) has launched two online stores on the UConn Dining Services website. One store is for the bakery’s standard cakes and baked goods and the other store is for the annual Thanksgiving Pie & Baked Goods sale.

Items in the Bakery online store include: birthday/occasion cakes (10”, half sheet & full sheet), 10” gourmet chocolate chip cookies, and gluten-free cakes/baked goods. Students and staff are welcome to place orders, pay with Husky Bucks, and pick up at the C-Store or Bakery.

Items in the Thanksgiving store include: Pies, cheesecake, cookies, breads, pumpkin whoopie pies, gluten-free pies/cheesecake. Thanksgiving orders must be received by 4:00pm on Wednesday, November 11, 2020, and all orders have to be picked up at the Bakery on Wednesday, November 25th. Orders cannot be picked up prior to the 25th.

At this time the Bakery is not able to do shipments or deliveries to offices/student rooms.

The campus community and public are welcome to start placing orders.

You can find access to both stores here: dining.uconn.edu/bakery