Chef Doug Ganhs earns Chef Educator of the Year
Chef Doug Ganhs, Department Chair and Instructor at Oakland Community College’s Culinary Studies Institute, recently won a Bronze Medal in the Chef Educator of the Year competition at the 2025 American Culinary Federation’s (ACF) convention in Las Vegas.
Competitors were challenged to create dishes based on a designated food trend in under two hours. The trend, “Pickles Galore,” inspired Chef Ganhs to create and present a meal to ACF judges that featured Filipino Pan-Seared Red Snapper Escabeche, Sweet and Sour Pickled Vegetables, and Banana Leaf Steamed Rice.
Chef Ganhs said attending the ACF conference and representing OCC’s culinary program at the competition was inspiring and rewarding.
“I wanted to win the Gold medal for the OCC culinary program and the College, but not all was lost,” he said. “I returned with much more knowledge and many new industry contacts. I learned many new teaching techniques and, honestly, I have a broader outlook on education.”
“My student judge reviews were the best in the group and this is exactly what our culinary department stands for: students first,” he added.
“We are so proud of Chef Doug. His dedication to our program and our students is unequaled. It takes weeks of planning and practice to prepare an entry like this, and the positive reaction from the students is a “gold” medal in our eyes!” said Cindy Carbone, OCC’s Academic Dean of Communications, Arts and Humanities. “
For more information about OCC’s Culinary Arts program and the College’s new, state-of-the-art Culinary facility on its Royal Oak campus, visit Culinary Arts.
About OCC
Celebrating 60 years, Oakland Community College (OCC) has educated over one million students since 1965. OCC offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs and is committed to student success with affordable tuition, support services, flexible class options and top transfer opportunities. The College serves more than 20,000 students annually while advancing our community through education, training and career support. OCC is nationally recognized as Michigan’s top online college, and seventh in the U.S., by Newsweek’s America’s Top Online Colleges 2025. Learn more at oaklandcc.edu.
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