This Edition
A Message from Erick
Dear UMassD Community,
It’s been a full year since I was welcomed to the UMassD community. As I reflect on the accomplishments for the year the Chartwells team is thankful for the opportunity to enrich our campus life by participating in several Grove and catering events, the day-to-day food we served and relationships we built along the way with staff and departments. Your unwavering support and partnership have been instrumental in helping me better support you and making this year a successful one.
We eagerly anticipate another successful commencement and look forward to taking the summer to implement new programs, new menus, changes to stations, and other exciting enhancements that will continue to positively impact our community.
Thank you for your partnership and dedication to the students. Together, we can continue to build a great program for all new and returning students.
Warm regards, Erick Leon
Engagement features
APRIL/MAY 2025
Color•Ful
Our Color•Ful event brought a vibrant energy to the UMassD community with a variety of engaging activities centered around health, creativity, and color! Students enjoyed fresh-pressed wellness shots featuring flavorful and healthy combinations including pineapple and turmeric, beet and apple, and carrot and ginger. Students could take fresh ingredients from our mini farmers market to enjoy at home or in their dorm. Ingredients included fresh herbs, hand fruit, and vegetables. Students also sampled an assortment of chips and salas experiencing a range of spices and flavors. To round out the day, we also offered a Tastefully Tuesday cupcake decorating in the Campus Center where students could express their creative side while decorating cupcakes with rainbow frosting and sprinkles. Overall, Color•Ful was a lively celebration of wellness, community, and creativity that left our Corsairs feeling refreshed and inspired!
Earth Day
Happy Earth Day! We worked with a first year sustainability class to help promote our sustainability initiatives and celebrate Earth Day. The sustainability students created posters to highlight sustainability initiatives in the dining hall and best practices for students on campus. Our team also brought in High Time Foods who specialize in global plant-based foods. The High Time Foods team joined us on Earth Day for a station take over with Nepali Momo Dumplings on the Innovate station.
Engagement Event Highlights
Tastefully Tuesday: Brownie Sundaes
Cupcake Decorating
Caribbean
Cheesecake Milkshake at Birch Grill
Mango Smoothies at Smoothie Lab
Cultural Partnerships
International Cultural Series: Africa with the African Student Association
The UMassD Dining team and the African Student Association (ASA) hosted a vibrant International Cuisine Series dinner event, celebrating the rich flavors and culture of Africa. The culinary team collaborated closely with ASA students to craft an authentic and mouth-watering menu featuring traditional African dishes like Cameroonian beef suya, Ghanian jollof rice, and vegan samosas. The dining team also partnered with Global Village Foods, known for its allergen-friendly African menu options. The event was a true celebration of culinary diversity and cultural heritage.
International Cuisine Series: Cape Verde with the Cape Verdean Student Association
The UMassD Dining team partnered with the Cape Verdean Student Association to celebrate Cape Verdean culture and cuisines. Our culinary team collaborated with CVSA students to craft a delicious menu full of traditional Cape Verdean dishes, including Cachupa, Bacalhau, and Feijoada Congo. Each dish told a story of heritage and home.
Leading the culinary team for the Cape Verdean dinner was Helder Costa, Director of Residential Dining and former Catering Chef, who is from Cape Verde. Helder jumped back into the kitchen for this special event, lending his culinary expertise and love of Cape Verde to help prepare and cook the dishes for the night. He was joined by a talented group of Cape Verdean cooks including Ineida Cabral, Dina Cardoso, Romi Vieira, and Maria Lopes, who all brought a unique touch and cultural connection to the menu. Their shared passion helped lead the whole culinary team to collaborate and make a memorable experience for the UMassD community.
83% satisfaction March 2025
8,220 responses across all Dining Happy or Not terminals
+11.9% Increased Engagements Since Last Year +15.4% Increased Impressions Since Last Year
223 Most Liked and Viewed Reel Birch “Enjoy the Chow!” with 303 likes and 7.4K views
