About Lilly Jan, Ph.D.

Dr. Lilly Jan is a food and beverage management academic, researcher, consultant, chef, and educator with nearly 15 years in hospitality and foodservice, across the industry in catering and events, retail, television production, and more. She is currently a faculty member of Cornell University’s Hotel School in Ithaca, New York, teaching courses in food and beverage management, cultures and cuisine, and restaurant design.

Previously, she was the Director of Culinary Operations for Newbury College in Brookline, MA. In this role, she oversaw day-to-day operations and finances for the College's culinary program, she was responsible for managing five commercial teaching kitchens and an instructional restaurant. She managed the department's purchasing and food safety procedures, special events, and served as an academic advisor for associate and bachelor degree students.

As a business consultant, she specializes in F&B entrepreneurship, focusing on helping small business owners usher food business concepts to market. Past clients include food trucks, on-demand food delivery, consumer packaged goods start-ups, and retail food stores.

Her research focuses on food culture and restaurant culture, specifically looking at career opportunities and progression for foodservice employees as it relates to education, training, inclusion, cultural competency, and workplace environments.

A frequently invited speaker for executive education, conferences, and industry-related events, Dr. Jan addresses food and restaurant trends, food and restaurant culture, as well as diversity and cultural competency in F&B. Most recently, she served as faculty director for James Beard Foundation’s 2022 Women Entrepreneurial Leadership (WEL) Program, developed an executive education session for the American Frozen Food Institute, and hosted a session for AB InBev’s Brewers Collective.

Dr. Jan has also been frequent speaker and media contact on food, food culture, food studies, cooking and Chinese cuisine, and has been featured in a number of print and radio outlets, including the The Washington Post, CNN, Boston Globe, Boston Magazine, Associated Press, and others. She worked on TV production for America's Test Kitchen (season 10) and was a regular contributor for WGBH's Boston Public Radio.

She earned her Ph.D. in hospitality management from Iowa State University, focusing on food safety and training. She previously earned her Masters of Liberal Arts in Gastronomy and Bachelor of Science in Communications at Boston University. When not in Ithaca, Dr. Jan can be found living out of a suitcase and wandering the streets looking for soup dumplings and wifi.