Feeding the Campus Community While Bleeding Orange: Stephanie Rose Is Living Out Her Dreams

Growing up in the Syracuse suburb of Manlius, New York, Stephanie Rose was a huge fan of Syracuse University’s athletics teams—especially the basketball and lacrosse squads—and in high school, Rose enjoyed working in the bakery of the P&C grocery store in town.

When she was serving in the U.S. Navy as a culinary specialist, the ship frequently held sports jersey days, where the crew could wear their favorite player’s or team’s jersey for all to see. Rose was notorious for representing the Orange, with her two favorite jerseys belonging to former men’s basketball standout Carmelo Anthony and legendary men’s lacrosse star Mike Powell ’04.

Stephanie Rose

Little did Rose know that, years later, her future occupation would combine her love for the Orange with her passion for food services.

“Everybody knew I was from Syracuse and that I bleed Orange. Whenever the men’s basketball tournament was playing [in the NCAA tournament], I’d have two screens going on my computer to watch the action. I’ve always loved Syracuse University and wanted to work for the University,” says Rose, who fulfilled that dream when she was hired by Syracuse Food Services as a campus catering manager on Aug. 15, 2022.

In her role, Rose handles staffing for catered events on campus, overseeing roughly 200 student workers and student supervisors. Among the biggest on-campus events she’s led are the University’s annual Commencement weekend and Convocation celebrations, tailgates before home football games and the recent Veterans Summit held at the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building.

Regardless of the size or scope of the event, Rose prides herself on ensuring that everyone in attendance enjoys themselves while feasting on carefully planned food selections.

“I know that the people are there to have fun and enjoy their get-together, and it literally makes my job when I see people enjoying themselves at an event. But I’m also all about making sure our students have the best possible experience. That’s my drive, that’s my goal. I especially love working events on the Quad for that reason. Our job is to make sure these students are having a great Syracuse experience, and our staff is here to do whatever they can to play a small part in that experience,” Rose says.

Get to know Rose, a decorated member of the Navy who still is active within the U.S. Navy Reserve. Rose and her husband, Jon, an aviation electronics technician in the Navy, are the proud parents of twin 4-year-old boys Asher and Logan.

• 01

  What are your favorite events to cater on campus?

  Anything on the Quad. Yes, those events are more intense and crazy and there’s people everywhere, but I try to relax and have fun. I try to make sure the staff, and everyone else, is having a fun experience. Plus, with the size of these events I can work with more students.

  The tailgates are just the best. You’ve got this crazy atmosphere, the marching band is there, everyone is there getting ready for the game. There’s such an energy and a positive vibe, especially when the team is winning like they were last year. It’s so much fun and there’s a feeling of camaraderie and joy.

• 02

  What does it mean to serve your country and how did your time in the U.S. Navy impact your life?

  I loved to be a part of something bigger than myself. I was doing something for the greater good in my mind. I come from a family that has a lot of people in the military, but no one had been in the Navy before. I love being part of a group, part of a team, part of something where everybody understood their role and their jobs.

  Everyone had the same mindset, the same work ethic and the same drive to want to do something better, to make our country better and to make a better future for our children. That’s really the biggest reason I joined, to help my country and provide a better life for my children and my grandchildren. Plus, we formed lifelong friendships with people that will do anything for you. You get to create a whole new family that’s always there for you.

• 03

  Are there similarities between preparing food for service members and catering events on campus?

  The quantities can be the same. For Commencement, we had to cater events for anywhere from 1,500 to 5,000 or more people. That was a normal event for us in the military. When it comes to the types of food I like to serve, I prefer making chicken, burgers, tacos, pizza, chicken wings and sloppy Joes. Those are the types of events that went over well on our ships, and knowing college students, that’s what they want, too.

  In the military, event planning was way more structured and we had to plan everything out well in advance. When you’re on a deployment, you have to order everything at least six weeks out for the food you’re going to prepare.

• 04

  How do you view your relationship with the students you supervise?

  Many of these students are away from home for the first time, and they don’t have their parents or their siblings with them. I try to be there for them and be someone they can open up to and discuss their issues with. With all my student workers, I try to learn as much as I can about each and every one of them. I want them to know I’m there for them, and I also love instilling a good work ethic in these students. I try to help them find out what they’re passionate about.