Petersen has devoted 25 years to promoting the professional development of foodservice educators. The successful director of a prominent business school in the 1970s and early-ʾ80s, she was enlisted by the St. Augustine, Fla.-based American Culinary Federation Educational Institute (ACFEI) in 1985 to pioneer the development of accreditation criteria based on minimum standards for formal culinary and baking/pastry training programs in the United States. During her 13 years as ACF’s accreditation director, the association grew to become the foremost accrediting entity in the foodservice industry. In 1999 Petersen cofounded the Foodservice Educators Network International (FENI) with Talcott Communications Corporation in Chicago and helped establish the first and still only national publication for foodservice educators, Chef Educator Today.

Five years after launching FENI, Petersen founded the Annapolis, Md.-based Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education (CAFÉ), which specializes in providing needed resources to educators by linking them with the foodservice industry. Through its online e-zine, “The Gold Medal Classroom,” Web site, www.CafeMeetingPlace.com, and series of regional skills and learning workshops, CAFÉ is dedicated to addressing the unique needs of highly specialized professionals who wear two hats as culinarians and teachers.

“It is so appropriate that Mary receive this very special inaugural award,” says Carol Kizer, CCE, RD, FMP, HAAC, chair emeritus of the Hospitality Management Department at Columbus State Community College, Columbus, Ohio, and past president of the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (International CHRIE). “She is truly the pioneer whose forward thinking and passion for high-quality foodservice and culinary education led her to organize and expand professional-development opportunities for culinary educators across the country. Her untiring efforts, superior organizational skills and innovative ideas continue to benefit today’s educators and our future culinarians.”

Petersen has a B.S. degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and an M.S. degree from Rochester Institute of Technology. In 2002 she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from The Art Institute of Colorado. The following year, Petersen was presented with the Chef Herman Breithaupt Award from International CHRIE for her leadership efforts on behalf of culinary-arts education. And in 2005, she was inducted into the Honorable Order of the Golden Toque as a lifetime honorary member (one of 15 honorary and only 100 members in the United States). Petersen is a past president and treasurer of the International Foodservice Editorial Council (IFEC), which in 2007 awarded her the “Betty” for outstanding service to the organization. She currently serves on several advisory boards of postsecondary culinary-arts programs.

About the Cordon d’Or - Gold Ribbon International “Cookbooks & Culinary Arts” Culinary Academy Awards—The Accolade of the 21st Century
Noreen Kinney, recognized globally as a culinary-arts instructor, author, celebrity chef, restaurant reviewer and culinary judge, established Cordon d'Or - Gold Ribbon in Europe in 1985 for use in her culinary-arts activities. She launched the International “Cookbooks & Culinary Arts” Culinary Academy Awards—The Accolade of the 21st Century program after relocating to Florida in 1995. Members of the Academy annually nominate and vote on awards for Culinary Hall of Fame, Culinary Life Achievement, Culinarian of the Year, Culinary Entrepreneur, Chef of the Year, Cuisine of the Year, Educator of the Year and Cooking School of the Year, as well as top written works.