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
2022.10 - 2023.11
- 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
2019.08 - 2022.12
- 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
2017.08 - 2021.12
- 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
2020.08 - 2021.05
- 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
2016.09 - 2018.08
- 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
2016.08 - 2018.08
- 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
2015.10 - 2016.05
- 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
2022.10 - 2023.11
Adjunct Instructor, Culinary Arts
Copper Mountain College
2020.08 - 2021.05
Adjunct Instructor, Culinary Arts
College Of The Desert
2019.08 - 2022.12
Private Chef and Caterer
Self-employment
2017.08 - 2021.12
Founding Organizer
High Desert Test Kitchen
2016.09 - 2018.08
Line Cook
La Copine Kitchen
2016.08 - 2018.08
Chef De Garde Manger
Brasserie By Niche
2015.10 - 2016.05
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)
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