Pittsburg native Peter Schoemer '16 saw Philadelphia as an opportunity to experience a new setting and connect with a vibrant community. With a passion for culinary culture, his desire to create that connection was through food. Schoemer saw the city's popular restaurant scene and Drexel's Culinary Arts program as the perfect combination to fulfill this wish.
The culinary arts provide Schoemer with time in the kitchen and with the required business minor, steps to successfully run a business. The culinary department at Drexel is close-knit culinary and enables students to build close relationships with chef-instructors, but he also wanted to develop his hands-on experience off campus.
That’s where co-op selection came in. Schoemer had the opportunity to spend four months in Italy on co-op for Expo Milano 2015 (formerly known as the World's Fair). As a student ambassador representing U.S.A. Pavilion, he learned Italian from his colleagues, met tens of thousands of visitors every day, and sampled dishes ranging from Japan to Eritrea!
Among the exciting experiences in Italy, Schoemer met a few recognizable national and local faces. He was part of the group who welcomed First Lady Michelle Obama and the Presidential delegation's visit to U.S.A. Pavilion. He also met two of the United States' best chefs, Mario Batali and Carla Hall. Hall and Schoemer were no strangers though; they previously worked together right here on Drexel's campus — thinking up recipes and ideas with other culinary students for her new restaurant location.
Schoemer believes cooking is a way to bring people together, bridge cultural gaps, and create memories. He carries this mantra into his future plans to help solve sustainability and food security issues, as well as open his own restaurant after completing LeBow College of Business' MBA program.
Schoemer knows the power that food has to nourish the body and the soul. If you’re on the same wavelength, see what the Culinary Arts and Science programs can offer you at Drexel's Center for Hospitality and Sport Management.