Jeff Zalaznick, Psychology ’05, is a great example of the fact that Arts and Sciences graduates are forging new directions in careers we did not used to associate with our college.  Jeff built on his Cornell liberal arts education, taking advantage of the business climate and network opportunities to develop a successful career path in the restaurant industry.

Jeff grew up in New York City and attended Cornell, pursuing his academic interest in psychology. The breadth of knowledge he received at Cornell, along with the writing and critical thinking skills acquired at the College of Arts and Sciences, allowed him to enter the investment banking world with his psychology degree. It turned out that finance was not for him, though, and he instead turned to his growing passion for restaurants and the restaurant industry. Jeff decided to work on an entrepreneurial venture and start two restaurant-focused websites. Both websites enjoyed successes and he was able to sell both and focus more on restaurant management. His liberal arts education served him well as he formed Major Food group with two chefs and piloted the group to opening five restaurants and counting. He was able to use the liberal arts knowledge and skills learned at Cornell to enter and succeed in many different industries. Liberal arts students are known for being adaptable and well-rounded, and Jeff is a perfect example of that.

Jeff will be sharing his career story as this semester’s Arts & Sciences Career Services Munschauer Speaker. He will be discussing how he got his start, the challenges and rewards of working in the restaurant industry, and how his liberal arts education has helped him throughout the many stages of his career. The event will be held on Thursday, October 23rd, 2014 at 5:00pm in Physical Sciences Room 120 on Cornell’s campus.