An education is the bedrock of any success. For David A. Wilson, Ph.D. '99 Hon. P'98 and Jane Wilson P'98, making an exceptional education accessible to deserving students is a lifelong passion, which they've shared with Johnson & Wales University for more than 25 years. Today, the Wilsons are re-affirming that commitment and inviting the entire JWU community to join them in making experiential learning opportunities available to Wildcats in need.
In the early 90s, David Wilson knew very little about Johnson & Wales. As a member of the National Board of the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, he became acquainted with fellow board member and Chancellor Emeritus John Bowen '77 who began sharing stories from the university. David had long understood the transformative value of an education and donated to every school he'd ever attended. But through his conversations with Chancellor Bowen, he began to understand what makes the JWU model so unique and the students so special.
When David became the National Argentier (Treasurer), one of his objectives was to establish a foundation within the Chaîne to provide scholarships for culinary and hospitality students. In David's mind, none were more deserving of this support than JWU students, so he reached out to Chancellor Bowen with an offer of $25,000 for a needs-based scholarship. And so began a longstanding relationship between Johnson & Wales and The Chaîne Foundation, which has contributed more than $800,000 in charitable donations. David was hooked and has been involved with JWU ever since. During his career he served as a member of the Corporation and upon retirement, he was invited to serve on the Board of Trustees.
After Sean Wilson '98 graduated from high school, he spent a gap year working three jobs. David and Jane's son always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and as a kid he and a friend would build computer games on the family's 1985 Macintosh. Without any prompting or much discussion, Sean applied to Johnson & Wales in Providence and soon after was attending orientation with his parents. David began seeing JWU through an entirely new lens. "What I found most appealing was the university's commitment to experiential learning—the chance to practice what you learn," recalls David. Sean seized his opportunity, quickly becoming involved with the Computer Lab and graduating with a bachelor's degree from the College of Hospitality Management in just 32 months.
A proud JWU dad, David says, "The educational content was, without a doubt, exceptional. But, the most powerful values Sean cultivated at JWU were the commitment and dedication that one needs to thrive." David and Jane still see these core values in Sean's work ethic today. Like so many alumni, Sean was well-prepared for his first job after graduation and David points to this as one of the key differentiators between JWU and other schools. "The JWU student," he notes, "has already experienced a touch of the world outside the campus."
As a JWU alumnus, Sean accepted a position with Hyatt in Reston, VA. During a management training program, he met fellow JWU alum and Hyatt employee Erin Downs '98. Also a graduate of the College of Hospitality Management in Providence, Erin and Sean had somehow never met as students, but the wait was worth it. Sean and Erin tied the knot and are currently raising two children, Briggs and Maggie.
As the parent of an alum, a Trustee, an honorary degree recipient and a donor, David is fully immersed in Johnson & Wales. His family's philanthropic interests are diverse, but education remains a top priority and according to David, "the one school that ranks at the top of the list is JWU." His experience as a donor reinforces his belief that Wildcats have limitless potential when opportunities are accessible.