2027 Deans & Directors Retreat and Leadership Conference

2027 Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education (CAFÉ) Conferences 

June 22-24, 2027

Hosted by 

Day 1, Tuesday, June 22nd 

Deans & Directors Retreat (Drexel University)

Theme: Going Forward

• Breakfast (continental) 8:30 – 9:30 am 
• Welcome and Introductions – Mary Petersen (9:30 am)
• Keynote 9:45 – 10:45 am
• Speakers 11-12 pm
• Lunch 12-1 pm
• Round Tables 1-2:30 pm – Theme - Problem Solving
• Round Table Reports 2:30 – 4 pm
• Closing Remarks 4 – 5 pm

Leadership Conference Hands-On Master Classes (separate registration required) 

Master Classes (Drexel University)

• TBD (1:00 – 4:00 pm) $25 
• TBD (1:00 – 4:00 pm) $25 

Day 2, Wednesday, June 23rd

Leadership Conference - Industry Outreach Day (Community College of Philadelphia)

• Bus from Hotel to CCP 8:00 – 8:30 am
• Breakfast (continental) 8:30 – 9:30 am – Dining Room
• Keynoter 9:30 – 10:30 am 
• Breakout Session 10:30 – 11:30
• Breakout Sessions 11:30 – 12:30 pm
• Lunch/Reception 1- 2:30 pm 
• InfoFair 2:30 - 3:30 pm
• Breakout Session 3:30 – 4:30 pm
• Awards 4:30 – 5:00 pm
• Dinner on your own

Day 3, Thursday, June 24^th 

Leadership Conference - Educational Best Practices Day (Community College of Philadelphia)

• Bus from Hotel to CCP 8:00 – 8:30 am
• Breakfast (continental) 8:30 – 9:30 am
• Keynote Speaker 9:30 – 10:30 am
• Breakout Session1 (speakers – other building classroom) 10:30-11:30 am
• Lunch 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
• Breakout Session 2 (hands-on classes) 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
• Hand out certificates

Schedule and Times are Subject to Change

Updated 11/02/2026

Notes:

Membership Discount: CAFE members get a $25 discount. Please log into your account and register to get your discount.

Presenter Discount: Presenters get a $100 discount on conference registration.

Pennsylvania High School Teachers get a $100 discount on conference registration.

Hotel: Sheraton Philadelphia University City Hotel, 3549 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 215-387-8000
For more Hotel information, click here.

Certificates of Attendance: Certificates will be given at the end of each conference.

COVID-19: We will follow the current CDC guidelines and/or Drexel University and Community College of Philadelphia guidelines as of the date of the conference.

REGISTRATION AND PRICING:

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT: $50 discount to all that register prior to January 31, 2027.

Pennsylvania High School Teachers: For registration instructions, please contact Mary Young directly by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Due to space limitations the Deans and Directors Retreat is limited to the first 50 registrations.