September 16, 2002

Contact: Adrianne

Tucker

802-443-5629

satucker@middlebury.edu

Posted: September 16, 2002

MIDDLEBURY,

Vt.-Peter

J. Napolitano, director of dining services for Middlebury College, was

voted the 2002-2003 president-elect of the National Association of College

& University Food Services (NACUFS) at its national conference in

Orlando, Fla., on July 16-20.

NACUFS is a trade association

for campus dining departments at institutions of higher education in the

United States, Canada and abroad. A three-year term comprised of president-elect,

president and past-president roles, Napolitano’s leadership will include

serving as an active member of the board and on the executive and finance

committees. He also will direct workshops on leadership, professional

development, dining trends and other industry topics.

“I’ve been in the hospitality

business all of my life,” said Napolitano. “My parents, who

owned their own bakery and convenience store, served and helped others.

They taught me the value of service to others, and that humility is a

valued quality of one’s own character.”

Napolitano, who has 28 years

of foodservice experience, began his career in college as a student employee

for James Madison University’s dining services, ultimately joining the

department on a full-time basis as a manger. He subsequently became assistant

director of dining services at the University of Pennsylvania, and director

of dining services for the University of Rochester, Dartmouth College

and Middlebury College, respectively. He has been Middlebury’s director

since 1997.

“I chose college and

university dining services as a career because of the impact I can have

on students’ lives as they come through our doors each year. It’s something

I’ve always wanted to do professionally. There is no greater feeling than

that of helping others,” Napolitano said.

Under his leadership, Napolitano’s

campuses have won several NACUFS Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards, and, in

1999, Middlebury College received an Ivy Award of Distinction from Restaurants

& Institutions magazine.

An active NACUFS participant

since 1994, Napolitano has served as a member of the association’s board

of directors, co-chair of the 1997 national conference in Buffalo, N.Y.,

a chair of NACUFS environmental awareness committee, and a member of several

professional practices review teams. He is a former Region I president

and vice president, has twice co-chaired a Region I conference, and has

spoken at several regional and national conferences.

“NACUFS has helped me

in my career by offering opportunities for networking, education, training

and mentoring,” said Napolitano. “As its president-elect, I

will have the opportunity to help others in the profession, and give back

some of what I received. Now the work starts!” he said.

Napolitano, who lives in

Middlebury with his wife Ruth and their four children, also serves his

local community as a volunteer for both the summer and winter Vermont

Special Olympics.