Chef NaDean Johnson
Lead Chef Instructor, Baking & Pastry Arts, General Education
"In addition to seeing our students develop their skills in the kitchen, I adore managing my team. I’m all about team-building, motivating, and coaching, so this job is absolutely the perfect fit for me!"
About
Chef NaDean was a small business owner from 1999-2005. During this time she became a professional barista and culinary educator while running her cafe-bakery. Realizing that education and mentoring were her real passion, she decided to hang up the demands of business ownership in 2005 to return to school where she completed her master’s degree in Leadership in Higher Education.
After graduating with honors, she came to Escoffier where she was a pastry arts chef instructor. Nine months later, she took the position of Lead Chef Instructor where she now oversees a team of instructors and works to drive student success.
Certifications & Affiliations
- ServSafe® Manager
- ServSafe® Inventory and Cost Control
- Level I Sommelier
Professional EXPERIENCE
- Owner & Head Baker - NaDean's Coffee & Bakery, Kalamazoo, MI
- Hospitality Management & Culinary Arts Instructor - Benton Harbor, MI
- Hospitality Management & Culinary Arts Consultant and Trainer - MI
- Chef Instructor - Escoffier
- Pastry Lead Chef Instructor - Escoffier
Education
- Master's of Arts in Higher Education Leadership, Siena Heights University
- Bachelor of Arts in Professional Communications, Siena Heights University
- Hospitality Management & Culinary Arts, Lake Michigan College
In The News
Martha Stewart 9/14/2023
Special Interests
Chef NaDean is a Level I Sommelier, personal trainer, avid gardener, and eternal optimist. She lives in Michigan with her husband David, two dogs, and three cats. She loves growing her own food, baking for friends and family, watching football and hockey, and being active outdoors with her husband and dogs.