Sarah Witt
Pioneertown,CA
Summary
Enthusiastic self-starter with a genuine desire to serve our local desert community. Passionate and dedicated teacher with nine semesters of experience as a culinary instructor in the California Community College system. Driven problem-solver with an upbeat attitude and unrelenting curiosity for learning new things about the world around me.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Desert Institute
Joshua Tree National Park Association
10.2022 - 11.2023
- Orchestrated 75+ distinct educational programs designed to connect people to the natural and cultural resources of Joshua Tree National Park and surrounding desert regions
- Managed team of 40 volunteers and 25 field class instructors, and directly supervised one full-time employee
- Expanded programming to feature more low-cost and family-friendly events, including a new science-focused lecture series and weekly naturalist hikes in Joshua Tree National Park
- Successfully acquired $90,000 through the 2023 Creative Corps Inland Socal grant
- Regularly collaborated with other local non-profits, cultural institutions, and NPS staff at Joshua Tree National Park to implement educational initiatives
- Education Roundtable Facilitator for Public Lands Alliance 2023 Convention and 2024 Convention Program Committee Member
Adjunct Instructor, Culinary Arts
College Of The Desert
08.2019 - 12.2022
- Courses taught include Kitchen Basics (online format), Culinary Fundamentals, Whole Food Natural Cooking, and Culture and Cuisine
- Developed hands-on cooking projects complimented by interactive lecture presentations for each class period in order to facilitate student learning and participation
- Created online course shells for all in-person classes, which included study materials, lesson plans, supplemental videos and text, quizzes and written assignments, and weekly class cooking project photo albums
- Performed regular technical demonstrations for equipment handling and essential cooking skills
- Provided one-on-one assistance in kitchen to ensure all students are receiving adequate guidance, and gave extensive feedback on written homework assignments to further student comprehension
- Facilitated group critiques after each cooking session so students learn to evaluate and articulate flavor, texture, and visual appeal of food.
Private Chef and Caterer
Self-employment
Pioneertown
08.2017 - 12.2021
- Provided customized chef services for a variety of clients and events, ranging from drop-off services for multi-day retreats to unique on-site, multi-course meals
- Oversaw all business operations, developed and regularly updated menus to reflect current trends, and prepared food for groups ranging in size from 2 to 200 people
- Managed kitchen and front-of-house staff during events taking place in unfamiliar venues with challenges such as no on-site refrigeration or limited space
Adjunct Instructor, Culinary Arts
Copper Mountain College
Joshua Tree, CA
08.2020 - 05.2021
- Courses taught: Recipes, Meals, and Menus (CULN002A), and Culinary Management and Hospitality (CULN002B)
- Developed hands-on cooking projects for in-person labs, and led online lecture presentations coupled with extensive online learning materials in Canvas (these courses were hybrid in format due to COVID-19)
- Performed regular technical demonstrations for equipment handling and essential cooking skills
- Provided one-on-one assistance in kitchen to ensure all students are receiving adequate guidance, and gave extensive feedback on written homework assignments to further student comprehension
- Facilitated group critiques after each cooking session so students learn to evaluate and articulate flavor, texture, and visual appeal of food.
Founding Organizer
High Desert Test Kitchen
Joshua Tree, CA
09.2016 - 08.2018
- Coordinated, marketed, and hosted monthly community potluck dinner featuring edible desert plants
- Developed educational materials and presentations related to foraging, desert ecology, and ethnobotany
- Collaborated with sponsoring organization, High Desert Test Sites, to produce subsidiary events, including plant identification hikes, communal cooking sessions, and special dining events
Line Cook
La Copine Kitchen
Yucca Valley, CA
08.2016 - 08.2018
- Maintained a clean and organized workspace, adhering to health department standards for safety and sanitation.
- Finished and plated hot and cold dishes in fast-paced, high pressure environment averaging 100+ covers per shift
- Mise en place and large batch production ahead of service (50+ portion recipes)
- Fluent in kitchen measurements, cooking techniques, following recipes, portioning, and professional kitchen equipment
- Team-player that accurately followed written and oral instruction from executive chef
Chef De Garde Manger
Brasserie By Niche
Saint Louis, MO
10.2015 - 05.2016
- Lead garde manger line cook in fast-paced traditional French restaurant owned by James Beard award-winning chef
- Daily management of 60+ item prep list for garde manger station, including charcuterie, custards, tarts, seasonal pickles, pate-a-choux, salad dressings and garnishes, and fresh cheeses
- Prepared vegetable and salad portion of daily staff meal for 20+ employees
- Disciplined and dedicated to meeting high-quality standards in high pressure environment with minimal supervision
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Film
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NYMaster of Science - Visual Studies
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MASkills
- Attentive teacher and mentor
- Course and program development
- Thorough student assessments
- Reliable and committed faculty member
- Adaptable quick-thinker
- Creative student engagement
- Excellent student rapport
- Team leadership
Accomplishments
- Summer Solstice wild food pop-up dinner, private home in Pioneertown, CA, June 2019
- Thai cooking class, private home in Pioneertown, CA, April 2019
- Curry Karaoke Night, Copper Mountain Mesa Community Association, Joshua Tree, CA, April 2019
- Winter Solstice Lunch and Moonrise Hike, Yogi Goat Farm, Pioneertown, CA, December 2018
- Small Plates and Cocktail Pairing, wild food event collaboration with mixologist Martha Burr, Copper Mountain Mesa Community Association, Joshua Tree, CA, December 2018
- Whole Beast Roast, Copper Mountain Mesa Community Association, Joshua Tree, CA, December 2018
- TGIF (Thank God It's Fall) wild foods pop-up dinner series, various locations in Morongo Basin, CA, Sept-Nov 2018
- Brunch! At the Hammer Museum, collaboration with High Desert Test Sites and Bob Dornberger, Los Angeles, CA, June 2018
- Memorial Day Mechoui, Yogi Goat Farm, Pioneertown, CA, May 2018
- Eat the Weeds! wild food pop-up dinner, private home in Joshua Tree, CA, April 2018
- Pinyon Pine wild food pop-up dinner, private home in Joshua Tree, CA, January 2018
- Hole Foods Pit Stop, collaboration with High Desert Test Sites and Bob Dornberger, Copper Mountain Mesa Community Association, Joshua Tree, CA, October 2017
Certification
- California Naturalist, University of California Riverside, Palm Desert Center (2024)
- Mentee of Faculty Mentor Program, College of the Desert (2021-2022)
- 40-hour Distance Education Training, College of the Desert (2020)
- CPR and First Aid (valid through Jan 2025)
- Graduate Student Teaching Certificate, Teaching and Learning Laboratory at MIT (2011)
Affiliations
- Friends of Joshua Tree, Board of Directors
- Mojave Desert Land Trust, Volunteer
Additional Information
I've traveled to 15 countries, mostly solo, and lived in Berlin, Germany for six months. Since 2020 I've taken three in-depth, food-focused research trips to study traditional cuisine in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Morocco, and Japan.
Timeline
Director of Desert Institute
Joshua Tree National Park Association
10.2022 - 11.2023
Adjunct Instructor, Culinary Arts
Copper Mountain College
08.2020 - 05.2021
Adjunct Instructor, Culinary Arts
College Of The Desert
08.2019 - 12.2022
Private Chef and Caterer
Self-employment
08.2017 - 12.2021
Founding Organizer
High Desert Test Kitchen
09.2016 - 08.2018
Line Cook
La Copine Kitchen
08.2016 - 08.2018
Chef De Garde Manger
Brasserie By Niche
10.2015 - 05.2016
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Film
Syracuse University
Master of Science - Visual Studies
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- California Naturalist, University of California Riverside, Palm Desert Center (2024)
- Mentee of Faculty Mentor Program, College of the Desert (2021-2022)
- 40-hour Distance Education Training, College of the Desert (2020)
- CPR and First Aid (valid through Jan 2025)
- Graduate Student Teaching Certificate, Teaching and Learning Laboratory at MIT (2011)
Similar Profiles
Wyatt TovesWyatt Toves
Crew Member at Joshua Tree National ParkCrew Member at Joshua Tree National Park
Ruben LedesmaRuben Ledesma
Janitor at Joshua National Tree ParkJanitor at Joshua National Tree Park
CARA MYERSCARA MYERS
Marketing & Engagement Manager at National Recreation and Park AssociationMarketing & Engagement Manager at National Recreation and Park Association