Conference Speaker:

Jennifer DiFrancesco is the director of culinary innovation for Sodexo Campus, leading the development of crave-worthy student menus using insights and innovations to transform dining on campus today and tomorrow. Prior to this position, Jennifer was the culinary program manager of the Humane Society of the United States. In this role, she was responsible for identifying menu gaps and diversifying recipes with delicious plant-based options for food service companies. Today, Jennifer continues to drive plant-based developments and sustainability actions through Sodexo Campus menus with a goal of helping achieve the company’s commitments to make 33% of menu offerings plant-based by 2024. While attending the Niagara Falls Culinary institute, Jennifer loved creating plant-based variations of dishes she was learning, especially in baking and continued that passion beyond the classroom. She has spent over 20 years in the foodservice industry, starting her culinary career at Wegmans Food Markets, before transitioning to the college and university segment. Jennifer’s previous higher education foodservice management experience includes University at Buffalo, Canisius College and Buffalo State College. (Buffalo, NY)