Ted Faulkner named director of Dining Services
After a nationwide search, Virginia Tech has named Ted Faulkner as its new director of Dining Services. He will assume the role in mid-February.
Faulkner began his career at Virginia Tech in 1998 as a nutritionalist at Shultz Dining Center and went on to serve as unit manager at Southgate Food Center and unit manager senior at Dietrick Dining Hall before becoming associate director of Dining Services in 2003. He was named senior associate director for Dining Services in February 2011.
“Ted Faulkner possesses a contagious enthusiasm for Dining Services at Virginia Tech," said Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Frank Shushok, Jr. "In his 14 years here, Ted has championed a dining experience that places students first, offers exceptional quality, and has garnered Virginia Tech a national reputation for excellence. I am grateful that Ted has said yes and will lead the next iteration of Dining Services, and we both agree that advances in sustainability, investment in the development of personnel, and a commitment to participatory management and collaboration will be hallmarks of Dining Services in the days ahead.”
During his tenure at Virginia Tech, Faulkner has been involved in the redesign of four award-winning dining centers, the development of Turner Place at Lavery Hall, initiatives to improve sustainability efforts, and the coordination of many customer service and employee development programs.
“I look forward to the great opportunity in providing a holistic and dynamic dining program to the students, staff, and university community,” Faulkner said. “It is an honor to be working with one of the very best dining services staff in the entire country and sharing in their future successes."
Faulkner received an associate's degree in social sciences from Jamestown Community College in New York and a bachelor’s degree in hotel, restaurant, and institutional management from Virginia Tech.
Prior to his time at Virginia Tech, Faulkner served as director of food and beverage at the Marriott Blacksburg and Four Points Hotel by Sheraton.
The university’s dining program has experienced substantial growth over the past decade, currently serving more than 6.3 million meals a year to more than 18,500 students. The growth will continue with the opening of Turner Place in the new Academic and Student Services Building in fall 2012. To accommodate the growth, Dining Services became its own department in February 2011 after splitting from the housing program.
