KSU & The International Culinary Arts and Sciences Institute team up

Just as the flavor of an artisanal cheese is enhanced by pairing it with the perfect wine, Geauga County offers a bounty of local resources that are amplified when brought together.

Such is the case with a new partnership recently established between the International Culinary Arts and Sciences Institute in Chester Township and Kent State University Geauga.

Thanks to this new articulation agreement, credits earned by ICASI culinary students can transfer over to any KSU campus toward an associate’s degree in Technical Study.

Courses in the Associate of Technical Study degree program can be individually tailored to provide ICASI graduates a solid foundation for their entrepreneurial and business endeavors in the pastry and culinary fields, whether it be owning and operating their own restaurants, managing a catering service or otherwise bringing business skills in the food service industry.

This agreement became official as of Sept. 1.

Chef Stefanie Paganini, executive director of ICASI, says that the culinary institute was created to give students the handson, practical skills needed to be successful in the food industry.

“This articulation agreement allows ICASI the ability to offer our students the opportunity to tailor their education journey to meet their future career goals.”

She went on to say that ICASI’s founder, Loretta Paganini, “established ICASI to give culinary and pastry students a choice in their education. As the second executive director of the school, I am so proud to further expand her vision and offer our students so much more through this affiliation with Kent.”

ICASI’s Culinary and Pastry Arts Basic Techniques Certificate programs are designed to prepare students for entry level jobs in the food service industry. ICASI’s Culinary Arts and Pastry Arts Advanced Techniques Diploma programs prepare students for positions of responsibility within the industry.

Two types of students attend ICASI: high school grads who want to pursue a career in cooking, and also second-career people who have retired, have been displaced or are finally ready to pursue their passion for cooking.

Paganini says that these entrepreneurs want the all the tools necessary to be a successful business owner in the food service industry in the Cleveland area and beyond.

“Teaching our students how to take the bounty of Geauga County and showcase it through their cooking is one of our mission goals. Our students go on to not only have successful careers but often create businesses, becoming job creators, as well,” Paganini said.