Rolland Bailey Wesen (he/him)
Professor College of Food Innovation & Technology Interdisciplinary Food Studies Providence
Biography and Expertise
Chef Rollie Wesen, Ed.D. is a full professor at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI, and the co-founder, vice president and executive director of the Jacques Pépin Foundation (JPF). Professor Wesen was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. He graduated with honors from Carnegie Mellon University, with a B.A. in English Literature and Creative Writing in 1990. Pursuing his passion for both food and travel, he literally circled the world, working in restaurants in Pittsburgh, PA, Glacier Park, Montana, and Seattle, WA before launching a two year trip around the world. He experienced the cuisines and cultures of the south pacific, New Zealand, India and Thailand among many others, and cooked in kitchens with Michelin stars, in London and France, ultimately settling in New York City. Rollie met Claudine Pépin in 2001. Married in 2003, they continued to explore together, relocating to Portland, OR where their daughter Shorey was born, then on to Denver, CO where Rollie worked for Hyatt Hotels and Resorts.
Returning to the east coast, chef Wesen joined the culinary faculty at Johnson & Wales University in 2011. He teaches many different courses, including culinary labs at all grade levels, and academic courses in the Sustainable Food Systems program and the Masters in Food Innovation and Technology. His specialties include French and Global Cuisines, and the Science of Cooking. His academic courses focus on the history of food, the American food system, and sustainability issues. Professor Wesen earned his Master of Education degree and doctorate in Educational Leadership from Johnson & Wales University, in 2019. He has been an adjunct professor in the culinary certificate program at Boston University since 2014. Chef Wesen regularly gives demonstrations and lectures onboard Oceania Cruise Lines. He and his wife Claudine founded the JPF in 2016. The foundation provides content, curricular materials and grants to culinary training programs for adults with barriers to employment. The foundation has grown from a small family run operation to a significant force in food service workforce development, and culinary education more broadly. Chef Wesen and his wife live in Barrington, with their dog Bisous, and frequent the home of his father-in-law, Jacques Pépin, in CT.
Education
EdD
Johnson & Wales University
MA
Johnson & Wales University
BA
Carnegie Mellon University
Digital Media Award
International Association or Culinary Professionals
Webby Award
The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences
Providence, Rhode Island: Where Culinary Culture Defines Local Life (Magazine)
Forbes
March 14, 2025
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jillbarth/2025/03/14/providence-rhode-island-where-culinary-culture-defines-local-life/
Best of Evanston: YW Culinary receives $10,000 to continue supporting aspiring food service employees (Newspaper)
the Daily Northwestern
February 13, 2025
https://dailynorthwestern.com/2025/02/13/city/best-of-evanston-yw-culinary-receives-10000-to-continue-supporting-aspiring-food-service-employees/
Cooking up careers: Texas culinary program offers fresh start for job seekers (TV)
KVUE – ABC Austin, TX
February 7, 2025
https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/free-cooking-program-central-texas-food-bank/269-f82f7467-9ffe-488a-8a81-edd30d0b6e77
The Importance and Science of Butter (Magazine)
Saveur
April 23, 2024
https://www.saveur.com/
Food Service Workforce Development (Other)
Work Forces
October 24, 2023
https://www.jalssid.com/workforces/episode/c85ffca8/rollie-wesen-the-jacques-pepin-foundation-and-johnson-and-wales-university
The Jacques Pépin Foundation and Culinary Education with Rollie Wesen (Other)
Chefs without Restaurants
October 13, 2023
https://www.podpage.com/chefs-without-restaurants/the-jacques-pepin-foundation-and-culinary-education-with-rollie-wesen/
The Illusion of Diversity in our Food System (Other)
Culinary Now Podcast
June 22, 2023
https://www.buzzsprout.com/731372/13090296
‘An upward journey’: YWCA hopes to continue culinary training program after receiving Jacques Pépin Foundation grant (Newspaper)
Daily Northwestern
February 13, 2023
https://dailynorthwestern.com/2023/02/13/city/an-upward-journey-ywca-hopes-to-expand-culinary-training-program-after-receiving-jacques-pepin-foundation-grant/
Cooking is an Act of Love (Newspaper)
Greenwich Sentinel
September 30, 2022
https://www.greenwichsentinel.com/2022/09/30/column-cooking-is-greatest-act-of-love/
Claudine Pépin and Rollie Wesen, Jacques Pépin Foundation (Other)
All in the Industry
January 20, 2022
https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/claudine-p%C3%A9pin-and-rollie-wesen-jacques-p%C3%A9pin-foundation/id819549938?i=1000548439728
Want to Cook like Jacques Pepin (Other)
Federal News Network — Foodie and the Beast
December 12, 2021
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/podcast/foodie-and-the-beast-podcast/foodie-and-the-beast-dec-12-2021/
Empowering Communities Through Culinary Education: Rollie Wesen & Jacques Pepin Foundation (Other)
Making Room by Gather
November 21, 2021
https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/empowering-communities-through-culinary-education-rollie/id1495418137?i=1000543562504
Bounty (Radio)
George Hirsch Lifestyle Radio — WLIW-fm
November 14, 2021
https://www.wliw.org/radio/programs/george-hirsch-lifestyle-radio/
SPECIAL REPORT #9: Jacques Pépin & Rollie Wesen on Culinary Frugality & the Power of Knowing How to Cook (Other)
Andrew Talks to Chefs
March 30, 2020
https://andrewtalkstochefs.com/podcasts/special-report-9-jacques-pepin-rollie-wesen-on-culinary-frugality-the-power-of-knowing-how-to-cook/
International Association of Culinary Professionals
National Restaurant Association
American Culinary Federation
James Beard Foundation
Wesen, R.
Cook with Jacques Pépin and Friends, Vol. 1 – Vol. 7
Jacques Pepin Foundation
Wesen, R.
Jacques Pepin: A Legacy of Technique
Rouxbe.com
Wesen, R.
Destination Chef
KROC Center
Wesen, R.
Cooking Lessons by Jacques Pepin at Forge City Works
Website
Restaurant Guys
Podcast
Restaurant Guys
Virtual
Science of Cooking
Demonstration
Newport Food & Wine
Newport Preservation Society
Rosecliff Mansion
Newport
RI
United States
Cooking in the North Atlantic
Demonstration
Oceania
Tell Me More
Oral Presentation
Podcast
Escoffier EDU
Virtual
Denver
CO
United States
“Growth Hacking the Jacques Pepin Foundation Brand”
Lecture
Columbia University Graduate School of Business
New York
NY
Food Service Professionalism
Keynote/Plenary Address
Groundwork Kitchen — New cohort Welcome
Paul’s Place
Groundwork kitchen
Baltimore
MD
“changing lives through culinary education”
Oral Presentation
International Association of Culinary Professionals annual conference
International Association of Culinary Professionals
Virtual
2019: Power Through Food – National Museum of American History
Demonstration
Food History Weekend – 2019: Power Through Food
Smithsonian Institute –
National Museum of American History
Washington
DC
United States
“Community Based Culinary Arts Training Programs Outcomes: Chef-Instructor and Employer Valuations”
Poster
Faculty Scholarship Showcase
Johnson & Wales University
Faculty Scholarship Showcase
Providence
RI
United States
Culinary Demonstration – Science of Cooking
Lecture, Demonstration, Hands-on Cooking Class
Community Kitchen at the RI Food Bank
Community Kitchen at the RI Food Bank
Providence
RI
United States
Culinary Lecture and Hands on Cooking Class – Introduction to French Cuisine
Lecture, Demonstration, Hands-on Cooking Class
Culinary Certificate Program
Boston University, Met College
Boston
MA
United States