Schwebel lectures also reach the public

Youngstown's Schwebel Baking Co. is behind Martin Yan's upcoming stint at Kent State University. Yan will visit as the 10th speaker in the Schwebel Guest Lecture Series, which features an annual lecture by a hospitality industry leader.
The lecture series serves the Hospitality Management program in Kent's School of Family & amp; Consumer Studies. But school director Dr. Mary Dellmann-Jenkins said the Schwebel Guest Lectures reach further than the university: the lectures are always free and open to the public, and they attract audiences that are often made up of about half students and half community residents.
"The students get excited about it," said Dellmann-Jenkins, adding that the series also "... lets people know that the university is for the community, not just for the students."
The choice of speakers, such as popular cooking show host Martin Yan, reflects both of these purposes. Past speakers in the series have included Henry Haller, a White House Chef for 22 years; Herman Cain, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association; and Jim Broadhurst, chairman and CEO of Eat'n Park Hospitality Group, Inc.
The program's Schwebel endowment also supports the school's Catering and Research Kitchen, among other endeavors. Kent's Hospitality Management program was the first of its kind at a public university in Ohio; in fact, only one other accredited program like it exists in the state.
The program currently serves about 125 students. "We are grateful for the support provided by the Schwebel family over the years," said Dellmann-Jenkins, who credits the lecture series with enriching not only the school's connection to the community, but also its academic offerings.