Mason Named Interim HCAT Director

Mary Ellen Mason of Severna Park this month was named interim director of the Hospitality, Culinary Arts and Tourism Institute at Anne Arundel Community College.

In her new role, Mason will develop new programs, adapt current programs to meet statewide industry and labor market needs, identify and implement new areas to strengthen the overall curriculum and ensure that a variety of technologies are incorporated into program delivery.

As assistant director since 2001, Mason already is responsible for planning, development and implementation of HCAT initiatives in credit and noncredit programming, professional education and workforce development. She manages HCAT daily operations, marketing strategies, outreach activities and adjunct faculty.

She also coordinated the opening of the $2 million HCAT Institute facility in Glen Burnie in fall 2001, managed the Junior Culinary Team’s winning seasons, chaired the committee for the successful American Culinary Federation accreditation application, established an HCAT Business Advisory Board, directed the Italian internship and Napa Valley travel-study initiatives.

Mason joined AACC as a part-time faculty member in 1990 while she was still owner and operator of a full-service, off-site catering operation, Occasion Extraordinaire Ltd. Of Severna Park.  She became coordinator of the award-winning Chef Apprentice program in 1996.

She is a board member on the Governor’s Task Force for Hospitality and Tourism, the Maryland Hospitality Education Foundation and the International Food Service Executive Association. Mason also serves as president of the Maryland Restaurant Culinary Apprentice Committee, on the Culinary Advisory Board of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools’ Centers for Applied Technology North and South.

Honors and awards include the President’s Award from the Central Maryland Chefs & Cooks Association in 2000 and was named in the 2002 and 2003 editions of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.