Nishant Patel
The Lundberg Family Foundation President鈥檚 Scholar (Graduate)
Major: Master’s in Hospitality Management
The Collins College of Hospitality Management
Activities: Club Management Association of America; anime sketches; watching animations; singing; driving
is determined to become a successful restaurateur and industry leader, building businesses that set new standards for innovation and customer experience. That vision has shaped his academic and professional path, beginning with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management at D.Y. Patil University in Mumbai and continuing at Cal Poly Pomona, where he is pursuing a Master of Science in Hospitality Management with a 4.0 GPA. His studies focus on advanced operations, strategic management and leadership, paired with extensive professional experience. He has managed live kitchen operations at Marriott, collaborated with Pepsi and Sysco to raise sales by 20% as an assistant chef, and served as a culinary development specialist at Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises Dining Services, where he engineered menus that cut food costs while elevating quality. He also launched a home-operated cloud kitchen, where he introduced sustainable practices that reduced waste by 15%. Looking ahead, he sees himself as an entrepreneur whose restaurants thrive while also creating opportunities to give back through charitable work.