Faculty and Staff
Note: If you schedule a culinary advising appointment, be on time. If you need to cancel (for any reason), please call/email at any time before your appointment time to cancel or reschedule your calendar appointment. We have set this time aside for you. Thank you assistance.
Chef Stephanie Herrington
Department Chair / Culinary Arts Professor
Culinary Advisor (Pastry Arts & Culinary Arts)
Contact Information
Hometown: Austin, TX (Austinite!!)
What’s your favorite dish to cook? I would love to be given a “mystery basket” and see what creations I can make!
Education:
AOS Culinary Arts – Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY
Industry Experience:
Executive Assistant Pastry Chef – Sheraton Bal Harbor – Florida
Pastry Chef – Turnberry Isle Hotel, Yacht & Country Club – Aventura, Florida
Pastry Chef, Assistant Lodge Manager – River-Song Lodge – Anchorage, Alaska
Tx. Territory Manager & Consultant – Albert Uster Imports – Gaithersburg, Maryland
Tx. Territory Manager & Consultant – Swiss Chalet Fine Foods – Houston, TX
Adjunct Faculty, Full-Time Faculty, Department Chair Culinary Department – Austin Community College
Adriana Thompson
Program Assistant / Culinary Advisor (Culinary Arts & Pastry Arts)
Contact Information
Schedule a Culinary Advising Appointment
Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas
What’s your favorite dish to cook? My oldest daughter and I make brown butter chocolate chip cookies together, it’s a family favorite!
Education:
Pastry Arts Certificate – Austin Community College
Hospitality Baccalaureate Prep, Associates of Applied Science – Austin Community College
General Studies Associates of Arts – Austin Community College
Chef David Waggoner
Culinary Arts Professor
Contact Information
Hometown: Ann Arbor, Michigan
What’s your favorite dish to cook? Impossible to answer – I like making sauces and soups. I love the process and technique of turning everyday ingredients into something wonderfully delicious.
Education:
Gettysburg College – 1984-89 transfer to OSU
Ohio State – 1989-93 – BFA Bronze & Wood Sculpture
Columbus State CC – 1993-96 – AAS Culinary/Hospitality & ACF Apprenticeship
Industry Experience:
Culinary Educator – Le Cordon Bleu & Austin Community College – Austin, TX
Executive Chef – Stephen F. Austin InterContinental Hotel – Austin, TX
Executive Chef – Huey’s Bar & Grill – Jackson, WY
AM Kitchen Manager – Soaring Eagle Resort & Casino – Mt. Pleasant, MI
Sous Chef – Snake River Grill – Jackson WY
Sous Chef – Teton Pines Golf & CC – Jackson, WY
Sous Chef – The Granary Restaurant at Spring Creek Resorts – Jackson, WY
Chef Ellen Sternau
Culinary Arts Professor
Contact Information
Hometown: Queens, NY
What’s your favorite dish to cook? Pecan Sticky Buns or anything with rich laminated dough. I also love to make soups and stews.
Education:
Bachelor of Science, Hotel and Restaurant Management – New York University
Associate in Culinary Arts – Culinary Institute of America
Certificate in Pastry Arts – Culinary Institute of America
Industry Experience:
Owner/Pastry Chef – How Sweet It Is – New York, NY
Pastry Chef – The River Cafe – Brooklyn, NY
Pastry Chef – Liberty Warehouse – Brooklyn, NY
Instructor – Art Institute of New York City – New York, NY
Instructor – Center for Kosher Culinary Arts – Brooklyn, NY
Chef Bryant Currie
Culinary Arts Associate Professor
Contact Information
Hometown: Wichita, Kansas
What’s your favorite dish to cook? Any food item that can express my southern heritage and African roots.
Education:
A.O.S. Culinary Arts – Johnson & Wales University- 1991
B.A. Foodservice Management – Johnson & Wales University – 1993
M.B.A. International Business – Johnson & Wales University – 1995
Culinary Apprenticeship – Restaurant Paul Bocuse, France – 1992
Executive Chef Training – Divi Resorts, Aruba – 1991
Medical Technology, Candidate – University of Kansas – 1989
Industry Experience:
District Executive Chef – Hays Consolidated ISD – Texas
Program Chair/Lead Instructor – Le Cordon Bleu College Culinary Arts – Texas
Executive Chef/General Manager – Capital One Bank Dining Services – North Carolina
Sr. Director Dining Services – Johnson & Wales University Dining Services – North Carolina
Director Operations – Texas Christian University Dining Services – Texas
Food & Beverage Director – Crown Plaza Hotel – Dallas Market Place, Texas
Assistant Director Finance & Systems – Brown University Dining Services – Connecticut
Access Control Manager – Yale University Dining Services – Connecticut
Craig Sowell
Culinary Arts Associate Professor
Contact Information
Hometown: Missouri City, TX
What’s your favorite dish to cook? I love family favorites, outdoor BBQ and making a good gourmet burger. But my secret love is Asian cooking, especially Chinese and Thai cuisine. I continue to practice and learn, and try to get better and better at it. When I feel like I have perfected it and mastered it, then I can stop ordering takeout!
Education:
B.S. Hotel & Restaurant Management – University of Houston
M.Ed Higher Education – Educational Leadership – Northcentral University
AAS Mortuary Science – Amarillo College
ServSafe and Certified Food Service Handler
ServSafe Instructor and Exam Proctor
Certified Food Service Manager
Industry Experience:
Coordinator for Culinary Procurement – Austin Community College
Independent Restaurant Consultant – Austin, TX
Event Management – Delta Upsilon International Fraternity, Indianapolis, IN
Food Brokerage Sales Representative – ISA Houston
Manager – LaMadeleine French Bakery & Cafe, Houston, TX
General Manager – Antone’s Famous Po-Boys and Deli, Houston, TX
Asst. General Manager – Sharktooth Steakhouse, Destin, FL
Kitchen Manager, Pappasito’s Cantina, Houston, TX
Guest Service Representative, United Inns Hotels, Houston, TX
Manager, Camelot Wine and Spirits, Missouri City, TX
Chef Ryan Swank
Eatery 73 Executive Chef/Instructor
Hometown: Athens, Ohio
What’s your favorite dish to cook? I am a huge fan of cooking what is in season. I tend to lean towards cooking Mediterranean food. Ideally showcasing vegetables in unique ways.
Education:
B.S. Restaurant, Hotel and Tourism; Business Administration Minor- Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
A.O.S Culinary Arts- The Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York
Industry Experience:
Executive Chef- True Food Kitchen, Austin, Texas
Executive Chef- Fin and Brew and The River Outpost Brewery- Peekskill, New York
Chef de Cuisine- Café No Se at South Congress Hotel- Austin, Texas
Sous Chef- Metropole on Walnut at 21C Museum Hotel-Cincinnati, Ohio
Line Cook- Element 47 at The Little Nell- Aspen, Colorado
Line Cook- Montagna at The Little Nell- Aspen, Colorado
Culinary Extern- Toppers at The Wauwinet Inn- Nantucket, Massachusetts
Chef Stella Bromley
Culinary Arts Adjunct Associate Professor
Contact Information
Hometown: Beeville, Texas
What’s your favorite dish to cook? Ginger Peach Oatmeal Crisp
Education:
Bachelor of Science – University of Houston – Conrad Hilton College
Master Library Information Science – San Jose State University
Industry Experience:
Front of the House – Pappadeaux Cajun Kitchen – Houston, TX
Front of the House – The Marine Room – San Diego, CA
Culinary Instructor – Central Market – Austin, TX
Chef Matthew Melton
Culinary Arts Adjunct Assistant Professor
Contact Information
Hometown: Round Rock, Texas
What’s your favorite dish to cook? Swiss macarons.
Education:
AS Baking & Pastry Arts – Johnson & Wales University
BS Culinary Nutrition – Johnson & Wales University
Industry Experience:
Host Person – Mimi’s Cafe
Opening Baker – La Patisserie
Research Chef – Wildtree Herbs
Culinary Instructor – Sur La Table