UCI dean named Lawrence president UC Irvine...

UCI dean named Lawrence president

UC Irvine professor Jill Beck will be Lawrence University’s first

woman president.

Beck, 54, will start at the 158-year-old Appleton, Wis. university

in July.

She served as UCI’s arts dean from 1995 to 2003 and founded two

arts organizations during her tenure -- ArtsBridge America and the

daVinci Center for Learning Through the Arts.

Beck has written broadly on issues of arts education. She was

awarded the 2002 UCI Medal, the university’s highest honor, and the

Orange County Department of Education honored Beck with its

outstanding Contributions to Education Award.

Under her direction, the Donald R. and Joan F. Beall Center for

Art and Technology -- the first of its kind in the UC system -- was

established as a research and exhibition center that explores new

relationships between the arts, sciences and engineering, promoting

new forms of creation and expression using digital technologies.

Beck was also instrumental in establishing the Claire Trevor

professorships, funded by the prestigious Donald Bren Endowment,

which allow UCI to maintain a competitive edge in the recruitment and

retention of leading faculty, such as award-winning professor of

drama Robert Cohen and renowned choreographer and professor of dance

Donald McKayle.

Beck will succeed Richard Warch, who will retire June 30 after a

25-year tenure, the longest presidency in Lawrence University

history.

OCC culinary students take win for fifth year

Orange Coast College culinary arts students won the California

State Hot Food Team Competition for the fifth year in a row this

weekend.

Orange Coast College’s team will advance to the American Culinary

Federation’s Western Regional Competition Feb. 25 through 29 in

Colorado Springs, Colo. Last year, OCC earned a gold medal and

finished second in the Western Regionals in Portland, Ore.

Members of OCC’s winning squad include Lauren De Rouen, Edward

Eum, Susie Han, Ashleigh Lewis and Binh Truong. Coaches of the team

are OCC culinary arts graduates Randy Torres and Jeremy Peters.

Torres works as a chef at Bear Creek Country Club in Temecula, and

Peters is chef at the Grand Californian at Disneyland.

American River College of Sacramento finished second in Sunday’s

competition at OCC. Each five-member team was required to prepare a

four-course meal.

Professional chefs from the American Culinary Federation judged

the competition. Judging criteria included: serving methods and

presentation, portion size, nutritional balance, menu and ingredient

compatibility, creativity, flavor and taste, organization,

sanitation, utilization of ingredients and leftovers and cooking

techniques.

Established more than 25 years ago, Orange Coast College’s

Culinary Arts Program today boasts 250 majors. Students in the

program regularly bring home medals and ribbons from local, regional

and national competitions.

OCC’s Culinary Arts Department offers three programs. The programs

include: a one-year Culinary Arts Certificate Program, which

acquaints students with the basics of cooking; a two-year Advanced

Culinary Arts Program, which prepares students for employment in the

restaurant and hospitality industry; and a three-year Cook Apprentice

Program, which provides students with more advanced skills.