Baking and pastry assistant professor, Stacy Strand, wins regional Ivy Tech President’s Award

BLOOMINGTON – Ivy Tech Community College’s Bloomington campus has named Stacy Strand, assistant professor of baking and pastry, the 2017 recipient of Ivy Tech’s President’s Award for Excellence in Instruction. She was selected among 41 other full-time faculty nominees.

Strand’s student nominations highlighted her commitment to student learning and skill development, community volunteerism, and her ability to generate excitement for their future careers in baking.

“I’m proud of the work that Chef Stacy does. She is involved in the classroom and in our community,” said Jennie Vaughan, chancellor at Ivy Tech Bloomington. “She spearheads the First Friday dessert donations at our Ivy Tech Waldron galleries and steps up by making goods for charity such as cookies and macarons, and even large chocolate sculptures for an annual event that raises funds for various causes in the community.”

Strand will continue her community involvement this spring by working with the local school district to bring healthy initiatives like Meatless Monday to Bloomington High School South.

In her pastry program, Strand emphasizes learning the science of baking ingredients. She also incorporates opportunities for her students to serve the public, such as a summer bakery or dessert shop that students create and operate to gain real experience in a restaurant setting. Her students further develop their skills and become workforce-ready by completing internships with local establishments such as One World Catering, Piccoli Dolci, Feast, Uptown, and French Lick Resort.

In addition to her classroom duties and community service, Strand is adviser for the Culinary Club, teaches a monthly nutrition/cooking workshop for students, and is a member of both the Campus Learning and Sustainability Committees.

Currently, some of Strand’s pastry graduates are advancing their careers by becoming executive chefs and starting their own personal chef businesses.

In her nominations, a student wrote “Chef Stacy has the greatest attitude I have ever experienced in a classroom. She has made me so excited for the rest of my career.”

The President’s Award is given annually to a full-time faculty member from each of the 14 regions of the College. As recipient of this award, Strand is also the nominee for the statewide Ivy Tech Founder’s Award for Excellence in Instruction, to be presented by the College in June. The Founder’s Award is presented to one full-time faculty member statewide who best typifies the teaching and learning mission of the College.