Hospitality Careers Initiative Graduates First Cohort

A partnership between the University of New Haven and the New Haven-based nonprofit Workforce Alliance provided an immersion into the hospitality industry and job placement assistance.

July 12, 2018

By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing & Communications

The first cohort of students has graduated from the Hospitality Careers Initiative, a collaboration between the University of New Haven and Workforce Alliance, a New Haven-based nonprofit that provides job development services to job seekers and assists employers with training.

During the program, students received an inside look into the hospitality and tourism fields, enabling them to earn industry credentials and gain hands-on experience at hotels and restaurants in the greater New Haven area. The 24 graduates are receiving job placement assistance now that they have completed the program.

One of the graduates, Maryann Anello, who has a background in the insurance industry is planning to transition her career to hotel management. "The program gave me a global perspective of the hotel industry," she said. "This was well planned. It was structured well."

Derrick Suggs, who works in Yale University’s dining halls, enrolled in the program to take his career to a higher level. Although he had the requisite industry experience, he lacked the credentials he needed to become a chef.

"I liked how it broadened my horizons into the hospitality field. It gave me a clear vision of what to expect." Derrick Suggs

Juline Mills, a former professor in the University’s hospitality and tourism management program, said this initiative fills a need by helping to instill the skills employers are looking for.

"It is a great opportunity for the University of New Haven to increase its connections with the community in terms of preparing individuals for the workforce outside of traditional bachelor’s and master’s degrees," she said. "It’s exposing students to the college environment, while at the same time preparing them to fill a need in our community where we have job shortages."