Employee News
New Culinary Arts Department Head Named
RALEIGH, N.C. (October 1, 2024) – Wake Tech has named Chef Aaron Stumb as the new department head for the Culinary Arts, Baking & Pastry Arts and Hospitality Management associate degree programs.
Stumb, an accomplished chef and Wake Tech alumnus, has been a culinary instructor at the college since 2010. He was executive chef at Mez Restaurant in Durham for more than 10 years, where he was responsible for purchasing, creating menus and hiring and training staff. As a chef consultant for the Chapel Hill Restaurant Group, he helped create the Mez concept and led management teams at a number of successful Triangle restaurants, including 518 West, 411 West and Spanky's. He also assisted in establishing Chapel Hill Restaurant Catering. Prior to that, he served as sous chef at Firebird's Grill and completed the company's management training program.
Stumb earned an AAS in Culinary Arts Technology from Wake Tech in 1997 and joined the college as an adjunct instructor in 2010. In 2019, he became a full-time instructor, teaching classes and helping develop the culinary curriculum. He completed a bachelor's degree in Leadership in the Public Sector from North Carolina State University in 2023 and became an assistant professor at Wake Tech in 2024.
Culinary Arts, Baking & Pastry Arts and Hospitality Management are among Wake Tech's most sought-after programs. Triangle-area restaurants, bakeries and hotels turn to Wake Tech to fill skilled positions at their establishments. In addition to the Southern Association of College and Schools, these programs are fully accredited by the American Culinary Federation. To learn more, visit culinary.waketech.edu.
