We are pleased to share an email by John Barden, Vice President for Technology & Campus Services. It was originally circulated to stakeholders on January 3, 2025. We are looking forward to welcoming Jodi Smith Westwater!
Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to share that after conducting an extensive national search, Jodi Smith Westwater will join Yale as our new Assistant Vice President, Hospitality, effective February 24, 2025.
Jodi brings over 20 years of experience leading hospitality operations, customer experience strategy, and innovation within world-class organizations. Most recently, she led Dining and Experience Operations at Microsoft, where she oversaw a comprehensive hospitality portfolio that included dining, catering, events, conference services, and retail operations for more than 40,000 employees, visitors, and guests daily.
Throughout her career, Jodi has demonstrated a deep commitment to elevating hospitality. She has led large-scale real estate projects, curated exceptional food and beverage programs, and fostered meaningful partnerships with diverse vendors and leading hospitality brands.
Prior to Microsoft, Jodi held leadership roles at Compass Group and Aramark, where she specialized in hospitality marketing, customer experience design, and operational excellence across corporate and higher education environments. She will also complete her Executive Master of Management in Hospitality (EMMH) degree from Cornell University in May 2025.
“I am very excited to join the Yale community. Having begun my career in higher education hospitality many years ago as a student, this role feels incredibly full circle,” said Jodi. “I have long admired the programmatic reputation of Yale Hospitality. I look forward to joining the team and partnering with you all to drive future alignment with the university’s mission, strategic priorities, and campus planning.”
In her role as Assistant Vice President, Hospitality, Jodi will lead Yale’s hospitality operations, bringing her expertise in creating meaningful, high-quality experiences to enhance campus life for students, faculty, staff, and guests.
Please join me in welcoming Jodi to Yale and thanking both Stacey Hepburn-James and Adam Millman for their interim roles and their continued leadership within Hospitality.
Sincerely,
John Barden
Vice President for Technology & Campus Services