Shawn J. Loving, chair of the Culinary Arts department, will join the Detroit Athletic Club (DAC) as its Executive Chef beginning Monday, Jan. 18.
Loving, one of only 68 Certified Master Chefs in the country, is a Schoolcraft College alum, has been a full-time instructor since 2005 and has won numerous awards and medals from the American Culinary Federation.
The Detroit native has worked as a Chef for the Disney Corporation and Euro Disney, and was the 2008 U.S. Summer Olympics Basketball Team Chef when it competed in China. He was the Executive Chef for the FIBA (basketball) World Championship in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2010 and Barcelona, Spain, in 2015.
Loving also was the Executive Chef for the U.S. Basketball Team at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. This past summer, he worked with the NBA to supervise culinary operations in the league’s “bubble.”
Loving implemented key learnings into Schoolcraft College’s operations to help culinary arts students continue their education despite the multiple challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to have taught at Schoolcraft College,” Loving said. “Only a tremendous, prestigious opportunity such as the one offered by the Detroit Athletic Club could have pulled me from the students, fellow chefs, instructors and school I love so much.”
Loving’s tremendous individual accomplishments at Schoolcraft College were in parallel to the Culinary Arts Department’s continued rise to be recognized internationally for excellence.
Students receive hands-on experience and knowledge, including learning from experienced chefs in a state-of-the-art kitchen and dining facilities. Schoolcraft College offers four certificate and degree options:
- Culinary and Dietary Operations Management Bachelor of Science
- Culinary Arts Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
- Culinary Baking and Pastry Arts Certificate
- Culinary Arts Certificate
The DAC has graciously allowed Loving to continue his association with Schoolcraft College as a consultant/industry expert.
“While we are certainly sorry to see Chef Loving depart as a full-time instructor and chair of our Culinary Arts Department, our students and our program will continue to benefit from his expertise, just in a new way,” said Dr. Glenn Cerny, Schoolcraft College President. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Shawn. We wish him the very best and look forward to him sharing his insights from his new role.”
Loving assumes the position previously held by Kevin Brennan, a 1976 graduate of Schoolcraft College’s Culinary Arts program.
“Given its reputation for excellence, it’s no surprise that our exhaustive, nationwide search for a new Executive Chef led us back to Schoolcraft College,” said Charles C. Johnson, Executive Manager of the Detroit Athletic Club. “Chef Brennan did an outstanding job during his 26-year tenure, and we are excited to now have Chef Loving leading our culinary staff.”